A tropical depression formed in the Gulf on Monday, Aug. 31, and is forecast to strengthen into Tropical Storm Edouard before making landfall near Galveston on Tuesday, Sept. 1. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a tropical storm warning for the upper Texas coast, and forecasters expect 3 to 6 inches of rain across the region, with isolated totals up to 9 inches.
The NHC designated the system Tropical Depression Five in a 1 p.m. CDT advisory Monday. The depression sat about 120 miles south-southeast of Morgan City, Louisiana, and 230 miles southeast of Port Arthur, Texas. Maximum sustained winds were 35 mph with higher gusts, and the system was moving west-northwest at 5 mph.
The tropical storm warning stretches from Port Bolivar, Texas, to the Vermilion/Cameron Parish line in Louisiana. Tropical storm conditions are expected within that zone within 24 to 36 hours.
A Flood Watch is in effect from 1 a.m. CDT Tuesday through 7 a.m. CDT Wednesday for Inland Harris, Galveston, Montgomery, Chambers and several surrounding counties, FOX 26 Houston reported. Fort Bend and Waller counties are under a separate Tropical Weather Statement, though neither county was listed in the Flood Watch as of Monday afternoon.
The NHC advisory warned that rainfall "could produce flash flooding, especially in low-lying and urban areas." CNN reported rainfall rates could reach 2 to 4 inches per hour in limited spots. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center placed the Houston area in a Level 2 (slight) risk of flash flooding on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Storm surge of 1 to 3 feet above ground is possible from High Island, Texas, to the Vermilion/Iberia Parish line in Louisiana if peak surge coincides with high tide, the NHC said. Gulf water temperatures in the upper 80s and light wind shear favor additional strengthening, according to The Weather Channel.
The system had been tracked as Invest 97L over the weekend before being upgraded to Potential Tropical Cyclone Five and then Tropical Depression Five on Monday. If it reaches tropical storm strength, Edouard would be the fifth named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, CBS News reported.
No statement from the City of Katy or Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management specifically addressing Tropical Depression Five had been confirmed as of Monday afternoon. Residents can report drainage issues to Katy Public Works at 281-391-4820 and track the latest forecasts at weather.gov/houston. The NHC's next full advisory was scheduled for 4 p.m. CDT Monday.
