Flooding is threatening a wide stretch of the central United States Thursday as tropical moisture and a slow-moving weather system bring rounds of heavy rain from Texas into Oklahoma and other parts of the Plains.
The National Weather Service has placed portions of the Southern Plains under a moderate risk of excessive rainfall, with some of the greatest concern focused on Texas. The threat includes the heavily populated I-35 corridor stretching from Dallas-Fort Worth through Austin and San Antonio. Parts of the Texas Hill Country could receive another 2 to 4 inches of rain, with higher amounts possible in some areas.
The latest round of storms follows days of unusually heavy rain across the Southwest and central United States. Tropical moisture from former Hurricane Polo contributed to flooding in New Mexico, where the Rio Grande overflowed in some areas and the state declared an emergency. In Texas, heavy thunderstorms have already triggered flood warnings and advisories, while additional flooding remains possible as the system moves slowly across the state.
Forecasters say the slow movement of the system is adding to the danger. Repeated thunderstorms could pass over the same areas, producing several inches of rain in a short period. Flood watches Thursday morning covered large portions of Oklahoma and northern Texas, where excessive runoff could flood roads, streams and low-lying areas.
The threat is expected to gradually shift farther east and south as the week continues. Around Houston, periods of showers and thunderstorms are expected through the weekend, with locally heavy rainfall capable of producing additional flash flooding.
The Readovia Lens
This latest flood threat is arriving during an unusually active stretch of weather across the United States. In recent weeks, communities have faced hurricanes, flooding, severe storms and a powerful nor’easter affecting different parts of the country in rapid succession. No single event explains the larger pattern, but the frequency of major weather disruptions has made extreme conditions difficult to ignore — and provides more context for Readovia’s continuing look at what is happening with the weather.
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