Flooding in Central, Southeast Texas Prompts Evacuations

A flash flood watch remains in effect for Central Texas counties today after torrential rains – up to 14 inches reported in some areas – flooded hundreds of homes overnight.

Especially hard hit were southern Travis and northern Hays counties, with 12 to 14 inches being reported in Wimberley in Hays County from storms that began in the evening on Oct. 30.

The Austin American Statesman reported that more than a 100 people had been rescued from rising waters and as many as 625 homes could be evacuated in the Onion Creek area in Southeast Austin.

The National Weather Service reported that another 5 inches of rain could be expected in some places before the storm completely vacates the area and a strong cold front moves in.

Counties in Southeast Texas are currently under flash flood warnings as well.

The NWS said rain rates of 1.2 inches per hour have been measured at the Johnson Space Center south of Houston, where nearly 4.4 inches of rain has fallen since 6AM CDT.

Parts of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston and Harris counties are under flash flood warnings until 2 pm CDT today, the NWS reported.