Heavy rains fueled by the meeting of two strong storm systems, one the remnants of Hurricane Patricia, pounded southeastern Texas triggering flash floods and derailing a freight train as the heavy weather descended upon Houston early on Sunday, Reuters reported. The National Weather Service predicted 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of rain for coastal areas including southwest Louisiana by Monday morning, exacerbated by tides up to 5 feet (1.5 meter) and wind gusts up to 35 mph. The rain systems were intensified by Patricia, downgraded to a tropical depression after crashing into Mexico's west coast as a powerful hurricane.. As the storms moved eastward early on Sunday, cities in the state's flood-prone Gulf of Mexico region including Houston, the state's second-most populous metropolitan area with 6.1 million people, braced for potential floods. Mayor Annise Parker warned residents to stay away from wet roads after dark and be aware that flooding is likely. A flash flood warning was issued late Saturday into early Sunday. The National Weather Service said the area could be swamped with more than a foot of additional rain. Officials urged vigilance, reminding residents of deadly past flooding. "Some people lost their lives in high-water incidents," said Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, whose county includes Houston. "We're going to get a lot of rain tonight and it's going to result in some high water situations so for heaven's sake be careful," Emmett warned.
