Flooding Downpours Continue Across Texas and Louisiana | WeatherBug
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Flooding Downpours Continue Across Texas and Louisiana

August 14, 2017
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Mark Ellinwood
The soggy Lone Star State can’t seem to get a break; another 1 to 2 inches of rain could soak the same areas today that have seen flooding this week.

A stubborn area of low pressure continues to spin across east-central Texas, drawing Gulf of Mexico moisture onshore. This is squeezing out waves of showers and thunderstorms, each one bringing rainfall of 1 to 2 inches. Some areas could receive locally higher amounts.

The focus of the heavy rain for today will be across southeastern Texas and southern Louisiana, with lighter amounts extending through the rest of central and eastern Texas and the lower Mississippi Valley. In the last 24 hours, places like LaPorte and Aldine, Texas and Merryville, La., have received up to 4 inches of rain and even more precipitation is expected throughout the rest of the day. 

This rain comes on top of all of the rain that has fallen since April in Texas. Much of Texas east of Amarillo received above-average rainfall in May. Dallas saw 1.35 inches more rainfall than a normal May, while Austin was more than 2 inches wetter than normal. The winner is San Antonio, with a rainfall total that was more than 5 inches above normal in May. Thus, any additional rain is likely to overwhelm small creeks and streams, leading to flash flooding.

Flash Flood Watches and Warnings and Flood Watches extend through most of southern, central, and northern Texas, as well as south-central Oklahoma. The Dallas/Fort Worth metro area, Del Rio, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, as well as Oklahoma City, are just a few of the cities included in the flood alerts.

If you come across water in the road, do not attempt to cross it. Water is typically higher and running faster than it appears... only 6 inches of water on the road can sweep a vehicle away. Remember, "Turn Around, Don't Drown," to avoid driving through a flood!