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The National Weather Service is predicting local heavy rainfall throughout today, and warned of a potential arctic outbreak later this week.

For the heavy rainfall, there is a marginal risk (level 1 out of 4) for excessive rainfall that may lead to flooding today with 1 to 3 inches of rainfall in areas that may cause flooding of poor urban drainage areas or other low spots.

The arctic outbreak has the potential for prolonged hard freeze conditions with dangerous wind  chills.

This air mass could burst pipes, kill tender vegetation, cause life threatening cold to people and pets.

The impact areas are all of Southeast Texas, as well as, central, south central and southwest Louisiana.

Showers and a few thunderstorms increasing by late morning through this afternoon are expected and will end this evening.

The Polar air mass arrives late Thursday behind an arctic cold front.

The bitterly cold air mass will likely linger through the Christmas Holiday weekend.