Houston under tornado, flood watch as heavy thunderstorms hit the area

Houston is under a tornado watch until 8 a.m. and a flood watch until 9 a.m. Tuesday as thunderstorms continue to pound parts of the region. A severe thunderstorm warning expired at 7:15 a.m.

The most heavily impacted areas are in the western parts of Harris County and Houston, but meteorologists say the storm is making its way east as a slowly moving cold front heads through the area. The National Weather Service expected widespread rain totals of 2-4 inches, with the possibility of higher totals in some local areas.

“The main threats will probably be some street flooding with this line of storms as it comes through,” said Cameron Baptiste, a Meterologist with the National Weather Service.

The Harris County Flood Control District reported winds up to 60 miles per hour approaching Sugarland, Spring Branch and Aldine.

There are reports of heavy rain at Buffalo Bayou along Highway 90 near Katy, where flooding is a possibility, along with Clay Road near Katy.