Heavy rush-hour rains snarling Houston roads

Early morning rain showers have swamped some roads and made others slick, contributing to fender benders and other mishaps that are snarling traffic.

But emergency crews are working quickly to clear the wrecks and so far, few remain in traffic lanes for long.

Houston TranStar officials report water on the ramps at West Sam Houston Tollway north and sound bound at Clay Road.

Traffic also is backed up because of a single-car crash on the west tollway northbound at W. Gulf Bank.

A two-car collision is snarling northbound traffic on U.S. 59 near Texas 288. The wreck occurred about 8:20 a.m.

Traffic is stacking up after a two-car collision on the North Sam Houston Tollway westbound a T.C. Jester about 8:30 a.m.

Heavy downpours are expected throughout the day as a mild cold front approaches the Houston area.

As much as 3 inches of rain is expected in some spots today, making street flooding possible, according to the National Weather Service.

The front is expected to hit the region later today or early Wednesday and forecasters said the rainfall will continue through at least Friday as the weather system moves toward the coastline. Then it will shift north, taking the showers with it.

The area should dry out for the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to drop slightly behind the front.

Today, the high temperature will be in the mid 80s and the low will be about 70 degrees. An 80 percent chance of rain is forecast.

Some high winds are possible during the rainfall, but forecasters said few severe thunderstorms are likely.

More rain is on tap for Wednesday, when a 70-percent chance of thunderstorms and showers is forecast.

The high will struggle to reach about 80 degrees as the front passes through. The low will be near 70.

The front is expected to reach the coastline and move off shore by Thursday, but rain will continue to rake the area while the weather system moves north, said Kent Prochazka, a weather service meteorologist.

Temperatures begin to climb Thursday, when the high will be in the mid 80s and the low will be in the low 70s.

The high temperature Friday will be in the upper 80s and the low will be near 70.

Late Saturday, the area begins to dry out. Rain chances drop to 20 percent, and by Sunday only a slight chance of showers is predicted.

The high temperature each day will be near 88 degrees and the low will be in the low 70s under mostly cloudy skies.

Sunny skies and no rain are expected early next week with high temperatures near 90 degrees.