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Creeks and Rivers Swell Creating Dangerous Flash Flood Situations

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Texas has been inundated with heavy rainfall, which is causing dangerous flooding. The big focus is on Central and South Texas, where urban streams and creeks are swelling at a concerning rate. Flash Flood Warnings were issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for Salado Creek and Leon Creek, but have since been cancelled. However, the flood warnings are still in effect for Medina River at LaCoste in Medina County and at Hwy 281 in Bexar County, the San Antonio River near Elmendorf, and Cibolo Creek near Falls City. The flash flood warnings are in effect until June 4, 2016.

Flash FloodPhoto: YouTube/Tim Morrow

To give you an idea of what we are dealing with, the flood stage for the San Antonio River is 35 feet. At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 2, 2016, the stage of the River was at 41.3 feet and will continue to rise. The NWS expects the stage of the San Antonio river to reach 43 feet by Saturday, June 4, 2016 as heavy rainfall continues to let loose on Texas. These flooding creeks and rivers have led to extremely dangerous flooding capable of carrying cars away, destroying pastures, endangering livestock, and flooding bridges. The NWS also reports that oil well pumps jacks and irrigation pumps are being flooded and damaged.

Flash FloodPhoto: Mark D. Wilson

Hold on to your britches, folks, there’s more rain coming, and it is expected to last at least into Saturday and possibly into Sunday. Mother nature is expected to dump an additional two to four inches of rain on South-Central Texas, with some areas reaching rain totals of a whopping eight inches.

This is the time we need to be extra careful no matter if we are out traveling the roadways or staying in our homes. Take the precautions necessary to keep yourselves safe and please, please, please do not try to drive through water on flooded roads. It doesn’t take much water to carry away a vehicle, trucks included. It certainly isn’t worth your life.