Flood watch extended for Houston as more heavy rain expected through the weekend

A flood watch for Houston has been extended through Sunday following devastating flooding that turned backyards and roads into rivers and required water rescues in nearby communities.

Heavy rains hit parts of southern Texas, including Harris County, where Houston is located. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, the county's top official, declared a disaster Thursday: forced evacuation It was ordered along the East Fork of the San Jacinto River.

Photos posted by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez on social media showed roads completely covered as first responders guided residents to safety.

“Heroes,” Gonzalez captioned a series of photos of rescue workers with young children and dogs.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said it rescued 73 people and 42 animals between Tuesday and Saturday morning. Hidalgo said at a news conference Saturday that the number of people rescued countywide increased to 178 people and 122 pets.

Trey Baxter of the Montgomery County Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said 52 people were rescued in “life-threatening” situations in Montgomery County, Texas, and 338 people had to be evacuated from their homes. More than 90 animals were also evacuated.

The American Red Cross was providing assistance to residents of Texas and had nine evacuation centers open.

“Since the conservation effort began, we have provided more than 370 overnight stays to approximately 230 residents, along with the support of local, county and state partners,” the organization said in a statement Saturday. “As of last night, we are caring for over 200 people. Our teams are ready to respond if demand increases.”

Four million people across Texas' Southern Highlands, including cities such as Austin, Odessa, Lubbock and Abilene, were at risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday night. Hail, a few tornadoes, and damaging wind gusts are possible.

Hidalgo said: video Water along the East Branch of the San Jacinto River has almost completely covered mailboxes in some areas and reached the roofs of homes in others, it posted Friday night.

A flood watch was in effect for Houston until 7 p.m. Friday and was extended until Sunday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Houston announced. X. Another 1 to 3 inches of rain is possible Saturday night into Sunday.

The agency said isolated thunderstorms were expected, but the main focus would be heavy rain again.

“Watch the weather!” the agency wrote. “The river continues to flood, so please stay away from the flood waters!”

Other parts of the country are also experiencing dangerous weather. By Sunday, rainfall will spread across parts of Oklahoma, Arkansas and eastern Texas, reducing the risk of severe weather. Approximately 18 million people in the region are under flood warnings.

In Las Vegas, the National Weather Service issued a high wind warning, saying wind gusts of 40 to 60 mph were expected.

Saturday's Usher's Lovers & Friends Festival has been canceled due to weather. The festival posted: X Ticket holders who used front gate tickets will receive a refund within 30 days.

Usher said he was “disappointed” by the cancellation, adding: “I was thinking of something special to express my heartfelt feelings to each and every one of you who continue to support me. ” he said.

On the West Coast, a low pressure system continues to push onto land, bringing rain, mountain snow, and strong winds to the region. Wind warnings are in place for 9 million people in the area, including Las Vegas, Reno, Nevada, and Santa Barbara, California.

Heavy rain will move from Northern California to Washington on Saturday. Showers will gradually move south and east toward the Rocky Mountains Saturday night into Sunday.