Rain, yes . . . hail, no

No mini-apocalypse for Houston: Shift in winds keeps heaviest rains in Gulf ofMexico

While tornados and hail were predicted early in the week, Houstonians dealt onlywith heavy rains on Wednesday.
Miir.com
Just in time for the storms, the Harris County Flood Control District unveiledits new mobile-friendly flood warning map this week.
Harris County Flood Warning System
Expected storms stayed in the Gulf of Mexico, which collected nearly 10 inchesof rain southeast of Galveston.
National Weather Service

While this recent batch of storms certainly has made its mark across the region, Wednesday's weather has proved relatively manageable for Houstonians thanks to a subtle shift in the winds.

On Monday, early reports anticipated nothing short of a mini apocalypse, unleashing everything from the usual Bayou City flooding to hail and tornadoes.

"Most of the instability has remained off the coast, where it's dumping up to 10 inches of rain," forecaster Josh Lichter tells CultureMap.

But according to National Weather Service forecaster Josh Lichter, the most extreme parts of the weather system are keeping to the Gulf of Mexico as the storms drift east.

"Most of the instability has remained off the coast, where it's dumping up to 10 inches of rain," he tells CultureMap. "We'll definitely see strong winds through the Houston area, but the potential for flooding is less than initially expected."

Flash flood warnings currently set to end at midnight could be downgraded in the early evening, Lichter notes. Surely much to the disappointment of the local TV weather forecasters, hail and tornadoes are very unlikely as the storms wind down in the late afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is testing a new flood warning system that allows residents to monitor bayou and creek levels online and via smartphone. (Check it out here — it's pretty cool.)

"Right now, we have 132 electronic stations set up across the county that report via radio," explains HCFCD meteorologist and flood watch manager Jeff Linder.

"Everything is working nicely so far. The rain has stopped long enough at different times to keep street flooding to a minimum."

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"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp