Go Back
  • For Business
  • |
  • Warnings
  • Data Suite
  • Newsletters
  • Advertising
  • Superior Accuracy™
Unconfirmed number of fatalities in Texas flooding amid catastrophic rainfall. Read here Chevron right
Tropical rainstorm develops off US Atlantic coast. Get details Chevron right

Columbus, OH

93°F
Location Chevron down
Location News Videos
Use Current Location
Recent

Columbus

Ohio

93°
No results found.
Try searching for a city, zip code or point of interest.
settings
Columbus, OH Weather
Today WinterCast Local {stormName} Tracker Hourly Daily Radar MinuteCast Monthly Air Quality Health & Activities

Around the Globe

Hurricane Tracker

Severe Weather

Radar & Maps

News

News & Features

Astronomy

Business

Climate

Health

Recreation

Sports

Travel

For Business

Warnings

Data Suite

Newsletters

Advertising

Superior Accuracy™

Video

Winter Center

AccuWeather Early Hurricane Center Top Stories Trending Today Astronomy Heat Climate Health Recreation In Memoriam Case Studies Blogs & Webinars
Air Quality Alert

News / Weather News

Downpours in Texas, Oklahoma through Monday could bring both flash flooding and drought relief

By Courtney Travis, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

Published Aug 11, 2018 3:45 PM EDT | Updated Jul 1, 2019 5:07 PM EDT

Copied

Repeated rounds of rain and thunderstorms for much of the south-central United States will be a double-edged sword for the drought-stricken area.

The combination of Gulf of Mexico moisture and a nearby storm will fuel the widespread wet pattern through Monday for central and northern Texas and Oklahoma.

There is a silver lining to the wet forecast in the south-central United States, as many places could use the rain.

“The vast majority of the region has been abnormally dry this summer,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Steve D. Travis.

According to the United States Drought Monitor, parts of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana are in severe and extreme drought.

“For the long term, this rain could be beneficial for the south-central United States; however, too much rain in a short period of time could lead to flooding problems,” Travis added.

static SC regional 8/13

Persistent rounds of rain will bring the potential for 5-10 inches of rain in Texas and Oklahoma over a period of a few days. A significant amount of that rain may fall in just a few hours, increasing the threat for flash flooding.

The cities most at risk for this flooding include Dallas, San Angelo, Abilene, Waco, Odessa, San Antonio, Austin and Longview, Texas, and Oklahoma City.

Big-time flash flooding this morning east of Del Rio, TX with over 5" of rain overnight in Uvalde County. That warning expires in a few minutes but the Kinney County warning goes for a few more hours with 2" estimated in the last hour #flashfloodalley @breakingweather #txwx pic.twitter.com/gMgZl2vqoK

— Reed Timmer, PhD (@ReedTimmerUSA) August 12, 2018

On Monday, the heaviest rain will slowly shift northward, spreading the more persistent downpours into parts of western Missouri and Kansas as well. Cities like Springfield, Missouri as well as Tulsa, Oklahoma and Wichita, Kansas will see a noticeable surge in moisture.

Where the downpours linger and repeat, the risk of flash flooding will be greatest. Normally dry stream beds in the summer can become raging torrents with no notice in parts of Texas. Small streams can quickly overflow their banks.

Here's a comparison of what the Nueces River at the 19 Mile Bridge on Highway 55 in Uvalde County looks like normally vs. what it looks like right now after up to 8 inches of rain has fallen in the area. Photo courtesy of Lonnie Davenport. pic.twitter.com/m9MEuqzh7a

— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) August 12, 2018

RELATED:

What you should do if you get stuck driving in floodwaters
7 lightning safety tips if you’re caught outside during a thunderstorm
August hurricane analysis: Where Atlantic storms form and which US states are most vulnerable

The downpours may be intense enough to flood some underpasses and city streets, and collect in poor drainage areas along highways in a matter of minutes.

Low water crossings may be impassable. Motorists are reminded never to attempt to drive through flooded roads as the water may be much deeper than it appears, risking not only damage to your vehicle but your life and other lives as well.

Download the free AccuWeather app for the latest information, including flood advisories.

EarlyWeekGraph

Rain will continue to shift northward on Tuesday, bringing the heaviest downpours into northern Oklahoma and the central Plains, and allowing the rest of the south-central United States a much-needed break.

Midweek dry weather, following the repeated downpours, will increase the chances of busting the drought in the region. The break in the rain gives the ground a chance to soak up all the pools of rain that have collected earlier in the week.

A slow-moving front could bring more rain back to Oklahoma and northern Texas at the end of next week. This would renew the threat for flash flooding as well as the promise for drought-busting rain.

Report a Typo

Weather News

Weather News

Wildfires are tearing through a popular tourist hotspot in Greece

Jul. 4, 2025
Weather News

Record sargassum seaweed piles up on Caribbean islands, Gulf

Jul. 2, 2025
Weather News

Alabama teen in ICU after lightning strike hits boat, causing burns an...

Jul. 2, 2025
Show more Show less Chevron down

Topics

AccuWeather Early

Hurricane Center

Top Stories

Trending Today

Astronomy

Heat

Climate

Health

Recreation

In Memoriam

Case Studies

Blogs & Webinars

Top Stories

Weather Forecasts

Storms to spark on July 4th in parts of the Plains and Southeast

1 hour ago

Severe Weather

Storms kill 3 in New Jersey, knock out power across Northeast

6 hours ago

Hurricane

Tropical rainstorm develops off US Atlantic coast

1 hour ago

Weather News

Fatalities in Texas amid catastrophic rainfall, water rescues

2 hours ago

Weather Forecasts

Heat, humidity return to the East

2 hours ago

More Stories

Featured Stories

Weather News

‘Shark Whisperer’ swims its way into our shark obsession

2 days ago

Weather News

How to keep pets calm during 4th of July fireworks

1 week ago

Travel

Fourth of July gas hasn’t been this cheap since 2021

3 days ago

Weather News

What makes fireworks burst with vibrant colors?

1 week ago

Health

There is no safe amount of processed meat to eat, new research shows

1 day ago

AccuWeather Weather News Downpours in Texas, Oklahoma through Monday could bring both flash flooding and drought relief
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
Company
Proven Superior Accuracy About AccuWeather Digital Advertising Careers Press Contact Us
Products & Services
For Business For Partners For Advertising AccuWeather APIs AccuWeather Connect RealFeel® and RealFeel Shade™ Personal Weather Stations
Apps & Downloads
iPhone App Android App See all Apps & Downloads
Subscription Services
AccuWeather Premium AccuWeather Professional
More
AccuWeather Ready Business Health Hurricane Leisure and Recreation Severe Weather Space and Astronomy Sports Travel Weather News Winter Center
© 2025 AccuWeather, Inc. "AccuWeather" and sun design are registered trademarks of AccuWeather, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | About Your Privacy Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information

...

...

...