Texas road – Flash flooding in parts of Central Texas left roads impassable, including on Interstate 35 in Waco, where stranded drivers prompted search-and-rescue responses. A flood watch remains in effect through Tuesday evening, with heavy rain and the risk of more than
Flash flooding tore through parts of Central Texas overnight, and by early Monday, June 15, drivers were still trying to get out of the places the water left behind.
In Waco, floodwaters made roads on Interstate 35 impassable, leaving drivers trapped inside their vehicles, Texas Game Wardens said. Search-and-rescue responses began early Monday. While some vehicles were swept away, no injuries were reported, the Waco Police Department said in a Facebook post. Crews were out assessing damage to roadways.
As flash-flood reports continued. a flood watch stayed in place for South Central Texas—including Waco and San Antonio—through 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The National Weather Service forecast heavy rain and lightning, with isolated pockets of more than 8 inches of rain possible. Forecasters warned that the conditions could produce “life threatening” flooding.
The rain is tied to deep tropical moisture streaming into the region from a disturbance over northeastern Mexico. The National Weather Service said the combination of a stalled frontal boundary. saturated soils. and unusually high atmospheric moisture is setting up the potential for rapid runoff and dangerous flooding. particularly in low-lying and urban areas.
That fast-moving risk is showing up in the road network. As of 7 a.m. MT/8 a.m. CT, the Texas Department of Transportation map showed several roads across Central Texas still closed due to flooding. Closures were reported in areas near Austin and San Antonio.
The weather service’s guidance was blunt: avoid areas already flooded. especially if the water is moving fast. and do not attempt to cross flowing streams. Roadbeds may be washed out. it warned. even when water appears shallow enough to “pass.” “NEVER drive through flooded roadways — you do not know the condition of the road under the water.”.
The same cautions apply to getting out. The National Weather Service advised not to camp or park along streams and washes during threatening conditions. and to move to higher ground if heavy rain or rising water occurs because creeks and streams can rise quickly. It also urged extra care at night, when flood dangers are harder to recognize.
If evacuation becomes necessary. the service recommended securing the home and. if instructed. turning off utilities at the main switches or valves. It said to disconnect electrical appliances and to avoid touching electrical equipment if wet or standing in water. It also warned against walking through moving water—saying six inches of moving water can make a person fall—and to check ground firmness with a stick where movement is unavoidable.
For vehicles, the numbers were stark. If floodwaters rise around a car. the guidance says to abandon the car and move to higher ground if it can be done safely. It warned that you and the vehicle can be swept away quickly: six inches of moving water can reach the bottom of most passenger cars and cause loss of control and possible stalling; a foot of water can float many vehicles; and two feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles. including SUVs and pick-ups.
Even with rescues underway, the flood watch means more storms could arrive before the danger window closes on Tuesday, June 16.
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