The National Weather Service had to change the way it maps storms just to illustrate Harvey's unprecedented rainfall
As frequent weather checkers will know, the National Weather Service signifies total rainfall on a map using an array of colors: varying shades of green mark areas where total rainfall ranges from 0.1 inch to 1.5 inches, while the deepest shade of red marks areas where the total rainfall is between 10 and 15 inches.
Prior to Tropical Storm Harvey, the National Weather Service's scale topped off at 15-plus inches of rain. But Harvey's record rainfall — which battered the Texas coast over the weekend and prompted historic flooding in the Houston area — forced the National Weather Service to add a few new colors to its key. Now, a deep purple hue, representing rainfall of 15 to 20 inches, shades much of southeastern Texas; two lighter shades of purple were also added to depict 20 to 30 inches of rain and "greater than 30 inches of rain."
Both colors are already on the map:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Some perspective on the amount of rainfall that Tropical Storm Harvey has put down across Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Louisiana. We've had to update the color charts on our precipitation graphics in order to effectively map it," the weather agency explained in a statement Monday.
In some areas of Houston, the total rainfall in the last 72 hours was as high as 39.72 inches. Some areas are expected to get up to 50 inches of rain.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Arid Gulf states hit with year's worth of rain
Speed Read The historic flooding in Dubai is tied to climate change
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
EPA limits carcinogenic emissions at 218 US plants
Speed Read The new rule aims to reduce cancer-causing air pollution in areas like Louisiana's 'Cancer Alley'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Strong Taiwan earthquake kills 9, injures hundreds
Speed Read At magnitude 7.4, this was Taiwan's biggest earthquake in 25 years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
EPA sets auto pollution rule that boosts EVs
Speed Read The Biden administration's new rules will push US automakers toward electric vehicles and hybrids
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
More than 150 people dead following earthquake in Nepal
Speed Read The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue digging through rubble
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nearly 1,000 birds dead in one night after striking building in Chicago
Speed Read The birds died after colliding with the McCormick Place convention center next to Lake Michigan
By Justin Klawans Published
-
At least 1 dead at Burning Man as thousands remain stranded from flooding
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Earthquake rattles Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary hits
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published