Rounds of heavy rain to threaten flooding across Texas at midweek
Despite already having received drought-busting rainfall in excess earlier this month, a large swath of the southern United States is poised to receive another round of potentially dangerous wet weather.
Tropical moisture will continue to surge northward into the southern Plains into midweek. On Tuesday alone, Albuquerque, New Mexico, received 0.84 inches of rain - over 80 percent of its normal October rainfall. In El Paso, Texas, more rain fell in one day than usually falls over the course of the whole month.
On Wednesday, this area of heaviest rain will to shift into Texas.
"Many areas in Texas have already experienced their wettest autumn on record, and streams and rivers are still experiencing moderate to major flooding across a good portion of the state," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Elliott. "Dallas has received nearly 500 percent of their normal rainfall since Sept. 1, picking up over 2 feet of rain in less than 50 days."
Most places will receive a general 1-3 inches of rain through Wednesday night. However, central and eastern portions of the state, including San Antonio, Austin and College Station, could be targeted by another 6 inches of rain, according to Elliott.
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Travel delays are likely due to both low visibility conditions and ponding or flooding on roadways. Airline delays at Dallas- and Houston-area airports may have ripple effects throughout the country.
Motorists should drive slowly in these conditions to decrease the chances of getting in an accident or hydroplaning. Flooded or otherwise closed roadways should be avoided.
Anyone living in areas prone to flooding should prepare for such conditions and even potential evacuations at midweek.
"The downpours will expand eastward along the central Gulf Coast by Wednesday and Thursday, and eventually target areas of the Florida Panhandle and Georgia that were ravaged by powerful Hurricane Michael," Elliott warned.
As the downpours shift eastward a long stretch of dry weather is in store for Texas starting on Thursday.
"It may not rain for a week or more beginning on Thursday, which is just what Texas needs right now," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
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