NOAA UPDATE AT 4:26 AM: Hays County, San Marcos Under Flash Flood Watch, Forecast Of 10 – 20 Inches Of Rain

This page has been updated. You can find most updated information from NOAA at https://smcorridornews.com/noaa-update-at-824-am-hays-county-san-marcos-under-flash-flood-watch-forecast-of-10-20-inches-of-rain/

FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING…

***NEXT UPDATE FROM NOAA WILL BE 12:00 PM — UNLESS OUTLOOK CHANGES

Flash Flood Watch — Flood Watch

National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX – Updated 4:26 AM

Hays – Bastrop – Lee – Bexar – Comal – Guadalupe – Caldwell – Fayette – Atascosa – Wilson – Karnes -Gonzales – De Witt – Lavaca

Including the cities of;

San Marcos • Bastrop • Giddings • San Antonio • New Braunfels • Seguin• Lockhart • La Grange • Pleasanton • Floresville • Karnes City • Gonzales • Cuero, and Halletsville

FLASH FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY MORNING…

The Flash Flood Watch is now in effect for a portion of south central Texas, including the following areas;

Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, De Witt,  Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hays, Karnes, Lavaca, Lee, and Wilson.

* From Friday afternoon through Monday morning

* Copious amounts of rain are expected beginning Friday Afternoon and lasting through at least Monday morning as Tropical Storm Harvey moves onshore.

This watch may need to be expanded in time and area over the next several days as Harvey lingers around the area through the weekend into early Monday.

Rainfall totals in the watch area through early next week will average 10 to 20 inches along and east of Interstate 35 with isolated amounts in excess of 25 inches possible along and south of Interstate 10.

Significant flash flooding is possible as Harvey slowly moves or even stalls.

Devastating mainstream river flooding is possible east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10.

*PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding. Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation.

You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

Hurricane Local Statement — Hurricane Harvey Local Statement Advisory 

*COVERING SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS

**Hurricane Harvey expected to bring a life-threatening heavy rainfall event across South Central Texas**

* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:

    – None

* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS

    – A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for Atascosa, Bastrop, Bexar, Caldwell, Fayette, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Lavaca, and Wilson

    – A Hurricane Warning is in effect for De Witt and Karnes

* STORM INFORMATION

    – About 340 miles south-southeast of Austin TX or about 310 miles

      southeast of San Antonio TX

    – 25.9N 95.4W

    – Storm Intensity 105 mph

    – Movement Northwest or 320 degrees at 9 mph

*SITUATION OVERVIEW

Harvey is still moving slowly northwestward in the Gulf of Mexico, currently as a category 2 hurricane, and continuing to strengthen as it approaches the Texas coastline. This northwestward movement is expected to continue and Harvey should make landfall Saturday morning.

Confidence remains high in a major rainfall event taking place across much of South Central Texas, in addition to some locations closer to the coast experiencing hurricane force and tropical storm force winds.

At this stage, life-threatening rainfall and flash flooding appears imminent for much of South Central Texas, specifically from San Antonio and areas south and east, along the Interstate 37 and Interstate 10 corridors.

Storm total rainfall amounts from Friday through Tuesday could be in the 10 to 20 inch range along and east of Interstate 35 with isolated totals in excess of 25 inches possible.

Harvey is expected to stall or move very slowly over the area. Devastating river flooding is also very likely east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10.

Additionally, hurricane force winds of 70 to 80 mph will be possible for the counties within the Hurricane Warning, while 40 to 50 mph winds with some gusts to 60 mph will be possible for areas within the Tropical Storm Warning.

The timing of these winds look to arrive Friday night through Saturday morning. There is a low risk of brief tornadoes east of Interstate 35 and south of Interstate 10 Friday evening into the weekend associated with tropical rain bands.

* POTENTIAL IMPACTS

* FLOODING RAIN

Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible devastating impacts across areas along and east of I-35 and along and south of I-10. Potential impacts include:

    – Extreme rainfall flooding may prompt numerous evacuations and rescues.

    – Rivers and tributaries may overwhelmingly overflow their banks in many places with deep moving water. Small streams, creeks, canals, arroyos, and ditches may become raging rivers. In mountain areas, deadly runoff may rage down valleys while increasing susceptibility to rockslides and mudslides. Flood control systems and barriers may become stressed.

    – Flood waters can enter numerous structures within multiple communities, some structures becoming uninhabitable or washed away. Numerous places where flood waters may cover escape routes. Streets and parking lots become rivers of raging water with underpasses submerged. Driving conditions become very dangerous. Numerous road and bridge closures with some weakened or washed out.

Prepare for life-threatening rainfall flooding having possible limited to extensive impacts across the Flash Flood Watch area.

* WIND

Prepare for life-threatening wind having possible devastating impacts across the Hurricane and Tropical Storm warned areas. Potential impacts in this area include:

    – Structural damage to sturdy buildings, some with complete roof and wall failures. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Damage greatly accentuated by large airborne projectiles.

Locations may be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

    – Numerous large trees snapped or uprooted along with fences and roadway signs blown over.

    – Many roads impassable from large debris, and more within urban or heavily wooded places. Many bridges, causeways, and access routes impassable.

    – Widespread power and communications outages.

* TORNADOES

Prepare for isolated tornadoes having possible limited impacts across east of I-35. Potential impacts include:

    – The occurrence of isolated tornadoes can hinder the execution of emergency plans during tropical events.

    – A few places may experience tornado damage, along with power and communications disruptions.

    – Locations could realize roofs peeled off buildings, chimneys toppled, mobile homes pushed off foundations or overturned, large tree tops and branches snapped off, shallow-rooted trees knocked over, moving vehicles blown off roads, and small boats pulled from moorings.

Elsewhere across SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS, little to no impact is anticipated.

* PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS

* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION

Now is the time to bring to completion all preparations to protect life and property in accordance with your emergency plan.

Check-in with your emergency points of contact among family, friends, and workmates. Inform them of your status and well-being. Let them know how you intend to ride out the storm and when you plan to check-in again.

In emergencies it is best to remain calm. Stay informed and focused on the situation at hand. Exercise patience with those you encounter.

Be a Good Samaritan and helpful to others.

If relocating to a nearby shelter or to the home of a family member or friend, drive with extra caution, especially on secondary roads.

Remember, many bridges and causeways will be closed once higher winds arrive. Also, if you encounter water covering the road, seek an alternate route. Always obey official road signs for closures and detours.

Closely monitor NOAA Weather radio or other local news outlets for official storm information. Be ready to adapt to possible changes to the forecast.

* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

– For information on appropriate preparations see ready.gov
– For information on creating an emergency plan see getagameplan.org
– For additional disaster preparedness information see redcross.org