Water, water everywhere

And the water keeps coming: The Chronicle is now reporting that as much as 10.5 inches of rain has fallen on parts of the Houston area today, and there's more on the way. Among the hardest-hit areas is the east side, where the Red Cross has opened shelters at Channelview High School and Denver Harbor Community Center (6402 Market St.) and is looking at opening others. Near Hobby Airport and Pasadena, 6 inches of rain fell in 75 minutes this morning; neighborhoods along the Gulf Freeway in that area remain flooded now. Across the city, bayous are at or near capacity (including White Oak Bayou, which is now out of its banks near downtown) and health officials are warning people to look out for floating debris and snakes.

KHOU is reporting that MetroRail service through the Texas Medical Center has been suspended due to high water, and sections of several roads, including I-10, Beltway 8 and highways 225 and 288 have been closed, as has the Washburn Tunnel. Classes have been canceled at schools across town and officials are urging people to stay off the roads unless they absolutely have to go out — advice Houstonist intends to follow. (We're going to keep that snake thing in mind, too.)

More news: In Deer Park, there's reportedly a shelter-in-place order because of a leaking refinery tank, and Gov. Rick Perry has sent National Guard assistance to the Houston area, including swift-water rescue teams — probably for those people who think their Miatas will be able to make it through the flood waters. Also, news crews are reporting that the new Buffalo Bayou park is underwater. But remember, it's supposed to be a flood-control measure, too. We'll see.

Check the National Weather Service for updated weather warnings (Harris County is under a flood watch until 4 p.m.) and the county's rainfall totals map, which now shows nearly 11 inches near Hobby Airport and almost 8 inches downtown in the last 24 hours. The good news is that the radar shows most of the rain moving out of the area, but no one's sure how long the break will last.