Will 

Extreme weather events cause significant human and economic losses, and urban flooding specifically has become one of the most dangerous climate hazards in the United States. While common climate factors like precipitation, temperature, and soil moisture are known to impact flooding, their specific impacts on extreme urban flooding remain poorly quantified. Understanding these relationships is crucial for strengthening flood prevention initiatives in urban environments. This study aimed to quantify the impact of extreme temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture on the frequency and severity of extreme urban flooding events in Houston, Texas. Houston is especially prone to flooding due to its dense population and geographic location. Using NASA WLDAS data (1980-2015), I used Python to identify days with weather events that exceeded the 95th percentile (i.e., extreme events). Correlations were then calculated between the various extreme climate factors and extreme runoff (a proxy for flooding) using Pearson’s r value. Extreme heat days correlated negatively with extreme runoff frequency, while both extreme precipitation and soil moisture correlated positively with runoff frequency and severity. Soil moisture exhibited the most consistent and strongest positive correlations with extreme runoff, indicating that this factor could play a significant role in urban flooding events. These results also suggest that extreme soil moisture combined with heavy precipitation leads to the most severe flooding events. Identifying soil moisture as a major indicator of extreme flooding helps inform future decisions on urban planning and emphasizes the importance of implementing green infrastructure in urban environments to prevent flooding.