The Galveston County Daily News

GALVESTON — Forecasters with the National Weather Service predict high tides creeping ashore Sunday night will leave parts of the West End and the Bolivar Peninsula under water.

Although fall and spring high tide events are fairly common, forecasters are worried low-lying areas ravaged last year by Hurricane Ike will be more vulnerable than usual.

“Overall, this is a very minor event, but particularly in Bolivar, you’re probably going to see some flooding on roadways,” forecaster Matt Moreland said.

Tides are expected to peak between 3.5 and 4.5 feet about 3 a.m. Monday morning, Moreland said.

Before Hurricane Ike, tides that high usually topped FM 3005 in low-lying areas, Alicia Cahill, a city of Galveston spokeswoman, said.

Galveston officials are preparing to put up barricades if the water comes across the road, Cahill said. Police officers will redirect traffic to try to prevent drivers from getting caught in the high water, she said.

Jamaica Beach City Manager John Brick said he anticipated the bay would rise out of the canals, and Jamaica Cove, a particularly flood-prone street, would be under water.

County officials could not be reached for comment.

The high tides will be pushed ashore by a low pressure system forming in the Gulf of Mexico during the weekend. As it moves northwest across the Gulf, the system is expected to whip up winds to between 15 mph and 25 mph, just in time for high tide, Moreland said.

The low pressure system is moving through ahead of Tropical Depression Ida, which is expected to strengthen to a tropical storm today.

State officials do not expect the storm to pose a threat to Texas.

National Hurricane Center forecasts predict Ida will turn toward Florida on Tuesday afternoon.