Some areas in northeastern Texas may receive an entire month’s worth of rain within just two to three days this week, as ongoing thunderstorms continue to unleash heavy downpours across the region.
Why It Matters
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Texas often sees severe thunderstorms during the summer, but the current system carries more moisture than usual, resulting in significantly higher rainfall.
Many of the areas expected to be hit hardest are no longer in drought, thanks to similar storms earlier this spring. Still, flooding remains a major concern, especially in places where the ground is already saturated. “The biggest worry is dangerous flooding in the most affected areas,” said AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tom Kines in an interview with Newsweek.
What To Know
Forecasts indicate that Dallas and other parts of northeastern Texas could receive more than their average rainfall for June in just two days. Heavy showers have already begun soaking the region and are expected to persist through Friday.
AccuWeather predicts some places could see between 4 to 8 inches of rain—well beyond Dallas’s typical June total of 3.7 inches.
Austin and Waco are also in line for intense rainfall. Meanwhile, cities like Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Houston will likely experience lighter but still notable amounts of rain.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a Flood Watch for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, lasting through Thursday evening. While most areas will likely see at least 1 to 4 inches of rain, meteorologists warn that isolated locations could get much more—especially during morning commutes midweek and into Thursday, according to FOX 4 News.
Although much of central and eastern Texas recently escaped drought conditions, the rapid, heavy rain now forecast could overwhelm already-soaked soils, making flash flooding more likely, AccuWeather experts explained.
Storm systems are expected to move through the I-10 and I-20 corridors, with particular focus on the I-35 stretch passing through Dallas. The unstable weather pattern is being driven by Gulf moisture and a slow-moving upper-level system pushing in from northern Mexico, setting the stage for intense thunderstorms and prolonged downpours.
What People Are Saying
Tom Kines told Newsweek, “The normal rainfall for the month of June is between 4.5 and 5 inches [for northeast Texas]. It’s not out of the question that somebody in that area picks up a month’s worth of rain over the course of two to three days.
“If you are getting a month’s worth of rain in two or three days, you’re going to have some flooding problems to deal with.”
A flash flood warning from the NWS Fort Worth office emphasized the risk:
“Life-threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and underpasses. Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
What Happens Next
Rainfall is likely to continue east of Dallas through Friday, according to Kines. While some flash flood warnings are set to expire Wednesday night, many flood watches will stay in effect through Thursday evening.
