Texas prepares for more severe weather, possible flooding

AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — Parts of Texas are gearing up for more severe weather this weekend. The state has already experienced torrential downpours and flooding in the southeast part of Texas, along with tornadoes out west.

National Weather Service meteorologist Bob Fogarty advises residents to be cautious and smart.

It’s somewhat more nuisance flooding than anything else but some places could -the low water crossings get flooded, that could be a problem and people should be very aware of that and stay away,” he said.

He said there most likely won't be anything similar in Austin to what's been happening over the last few days in the Houston area, where people have been trapped and needed rescuing due to the torrential downpours.

Waters from the nearby San Jacinto River have continued to rise, from about 1 foot (0.30 meters) Friday to about 4 feet (1.22 meters) Saturday.

A flood watch remained in effect through Sunday afternoon as forecasters predicted additional rainfall Saturday night, bringing another 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.6 centimeters) of water to the soaked region and the likelihood of major flooding.

Wes Rapaport with the Texas Department of Emergency Management emphasized that residents should still be ready for anything.

It’s so important to acknowledge Texans need to keep their guard on weekends like this where there’s an ongoing severe weather and flash flooding threat and it’s really important to stay weather aware,” he said.

Rapaport recommends having a safety kit in your home filled with different items in the event you lose power or become stranded.

“The storm prediction center has a scale where they talk about the chance of severe thunderstorms and for the weekend right now, the way it looks right now in the Austin area, it’s a level 1 out of 5,” Fogarty said. But that weather will also likely affect travel.

Glynda Chu with the Texas Department of Transportation is warning residents to not venture out if you don't need to and stay home if you can.

She said to pull off of the highway and find shelter in the event of a hailstorm, but do not, under any circumstances, pull over underneath an overpass.

“Other drivers are seeking shelter, the visibility is limited which could increase the possibility of having a crash,” she said. “But also, overpasses are not safe when there’s high winds or tornadoes.”

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Editor's note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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