Travis, Bastrop Counties Under Flash Flood Warning

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a flash flood warning for Travis and Bastrop counties as the region was hit with a second straight day of powerful storms accompanied by heavy rain.

The warning was put into effect until 12:15 p.m. The already-saturated soil after heavy rain on Saturday was drenched again on Sunday morning, making the landscape ripe for flash flooding to occur. Those conditions prompted the National Weather Service to issue the flash flood warning at 9:05 am. on Sunday.

Some areas of the city were beset with high water, prompting police to close off some streets to traffic. The northbound lane of Interstate 35 near Highway 183 and Rundberg Lane were closed on Sunday given high water. In Pflugerville, police alerted residents to the closure of East Pecan Street for the same reason.

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In Round Rock, police were kept busy closing multiple flooded streets, including the 300 block Dell Way, Harrell Parkway and Memorial Park. The Old Bowman low-water crossing was closed on Sunday before being reopened once high water there dissipated.

Moderate to occasionally heavy rain continues across eastern Travis and western Bastrop counties, weather officials wrote. "Up to two and one-half inches of rain has already fallen adding to the 2 to 4 inches of rain that fell on Saturday," meteorologists wrote. "Flash flooding is likely occurring over parts of eastern Travis County, and rapid rises along creeks and streams are expected to cut off some crossings at secondary roadways.

Weather officials listed the locations that will experience flooding: Austin, Round Rock, Pflugerville, Elgin, Tanglewood Forest, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, Windemere, Manor, West Lake Hills, Rollingwood, Mustang Ridge, Onion Creek, Cedar Creek, Wyldwood,

Shady Hollow, Hornsby Bend, Manchaca, Sunset Valley, San Leanna and Webberville.

"Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses as well as other drainage areas and low lying spots," the National Weather Service said.

Drivers are urged to exercise caution while avoiding areas with high water. For a list of low-water crossings in the region, consult ATXfloods.com. At last check, some 70 such crossings were closed off to traffic.

Sunday's flash flood warning signifies a short duration of intense flooding of counties, communities, streams, or urban areas with high peak rate of flow, weather officials explained. "Flash floods may result from such things as torrential downpours, dam breaks, or ice jam breaks," officials added. "They are issued by the local National Weather Service Office for 4 hours or less. Since flash flooding can occur in severe thunderstorms, this type of warning can be combined with either a Tornado Warning or a Severe Thunderstorm Warning."

A tornado warning was issued on Saturday when the storms first arrived, but no tornadic activity materialized during that first phase of heavy rainfall.

The National Weather Center urged residents to move to higher ground immediately if there is any possibility of a flash flood. "Do not wait for instructions to move," officials added. Residents forced to evacuate are urged to follow these steps:

• Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do not touch electrical equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.

"Be aware of stream, drainage channels, canyons and other areas known to flood suddenly," the NWS wrote. "Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without typical warnings such as rain clouds or heavy rain." Those forced to leave their homes should heed the following advice from the NWS:

• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be swept away quickly.
• Do not camp or park your vehicle along streams, rivers or creeks, particularly during threatening conditions.

This is a developing story. Patch will updates as developments warrant.

Throughout the region, community events that had been highly anticipated by residents were canceled, including the Capitol 10K race that draws thousands of runners annually on a course encompassing some of the city's most iconic vistas. Also canceled was the Heritage Festival in Cedar Park, an annual, family-friendly event for residents there. City officials had prepared the recently renovated Republic Square in downtown Austin for a New Orleans-style party, only to alert it would have to be rescheduled to a later date due to relentless rainfall this weekend.

Also canceled was the highly anticipated Chingona Fest Texas, a conference and musical event that had been slated April 5-6. The event's organizers focused on promoting under-served communities, particularly women of color characterized as chingonas, a slang term to denote strong, passionate and driven woman. The event had been scheduled to kick off on Friday at 6 p.m. at The Studio ATX, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., with panelists that included Austin Mayor Pro Tem Delia Garza; Carisa Lopez, political director of Texas Freedom Network; Samantha Najera, owner of HeartFire Media; Rachel Basoco, founder of Trenza; and Nelly Garcia Caballero, founder of Rocheli Patisserie.