Yet More Rain Coming To Austin Area (As If We Hadn't Had Enough Already)

AUSTIN, TX -- The area is under a flash flood watch, with even more storms -- some expected to be heavy -- descending upon Central Texas.

It's been a rainy season thus far, and we ain't done yet. Much of Central Texas is under a flash flood watch from tonight until Thursday evening. The danger posed by such seemingly relentless rainfall in the past few days is that the soil is already saturated, which enhances the risk of flooding.

Already saturated earth is, in fact, the key factor for meteorologists to call a flash flood watch. They're issued when conditions are favorable for flash flooding in flood-prone areas, typically when grounds already soaked from previous rainfall.

According to the National Weather Service, there is a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms for tonight in the Austin area. The conditions are cloudy, with a low of 65 degrees and north-northeast winds of five to ten miles per hour.

As far as rainfall, that's still up in the air (no pun-like phrase intended). New rainfall amounts are expected to be between a tenth and a quarter inch but higher amounts are possible if the major storms materialize, NWS officials said.

Come Thursday, showers and thunderstorms are expected primarily after 8 a.m. Some of those storm could produce heavy rainfall, NWS officials said.

The high on Thursday is expected to be 75 degrees, and this is the day to expect greater rainfall amounts, too. NWS officials are saying anywhere from one to two inches of rain may fall with the chance of precipitation increasing to 80 percent.

Come Thursday night, another half to three-quarters of an inch of rain are possible before 8 p.m., forecasters say.

On Friday, rain chances diminish to 40 percent, with a chance of showers and thunderstorm before 8 a.m. Then, it becomes partly sunny with a high temperature of 82 degrees. Friday evening is expected to be calm.

Your best day to re-engage into society without the anxiety of more rain comes on Saturday, when it's expected to be mostly sunny with a high near 86 degrees and a gente east-to-southeast wind of five to ten miles per hour.

Before then, however, don't put away the umbrellas just yet. Unless you enjoy walking in the rain, as some people do. On the heaviest rain, however, it's best to limit one's driving given the risk of flooding. If you do drive, it's important to avoid high water areas and "Turn Around, Don't Drown."

The Lower Colorado River Authority. people like to collect rainfall amounts. Well, it's part of their job, but undoubtedly a fun part of it. They've tallied the rainfall amounts in our coverage area recorded since midnight, and here they are, in descending amounts:

• 1.22 inches of rain reported at Gilleland Creek near Manor;
• 1.02 inches of rain near Walnut Creek at Webberville Road;
• 0.60 inch fell near Lake Bastrop in central Bastrop County;
• 0.45 of an inch at the ironically named Dry Creek near Elroy in southeast Travis County;
• 0.39 of an inch at Manchaca near the Travis-Hays county line.

Recap: Don't put the umbrella away just yet.

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