This Weather Channel documentary Atmospheres from 2002 covers the massive Houston flooding from Tropical Storm Allison in early June 2001. As host Jim Cantore relates, this was the costliest tropical storm in US History. This is a look back at some of the worst effects of the storm, including boat rescues from entire neighborhoods under water up to the roofs.

I lived in NW Houston and experienced no flooding (it is higher ground than most of the city) but it rained all night Friday night June 8-9.. about a foot of rain. I'd never seen that much rain for so long, and parts of the city got about three times that much rain!

One thing the program touches on is the why.. why was there so much flooding? I'll elaborate. Allison formed in the Gulf and moved ashore, continuing north about 100 miles inland. But then it stalled out and drifted south again. By June 8 the center passed near my house, and the still strong circulation was like a pinwheel on the radar, drawing in moisture from the ocean, setting up almost stationary curved rain bands across many parts of the city. The rain bands seemed to grow larger and intensified for hours that night. I couldn't believe the next morning when I turned on local TV and saw big rigs floating in 10 feet deep water on I-10 near downtown.

The storm made such an impression on me that a handful of years later I named my daughter Allison after this storm. Allison was the first tropical storm to have its name retired. Enjoy this Weather Channel special on a historic storm.