More rain in Dallas-Fort Worth forecast leads to flood warnings, high water rescue calls
Several rounds of heavy rain led to flood advisories and warnings in Tarrant County and North Texas on Monday.
There have been isolated embedded thunderstorms, but the main hazard on Monday was flooding. Parts of North Texas were expected to get 2 or more inches of rain.
The Fort Worth Fire Department began responding to swift water rescue calls on Monday evening. Shortly after 7 p.m., a woman reported being trapped in her car in water off Wagley Robertson Road and Bent Oak Drive. The fire department rescued the woman using a rope system after she got out of her car and was swept away by the water, WFAA-TV reported.
The department responded to other calls about cars stalled in high water, but the woman on Bent Oak was the only driver who had to be rescued.
Here’s a closer look at the car.
Fire department says this is the only true swift water rescue today but they’ve had several cars stalled in high water.
It can be tough to see potholes or how deep the water is sometimes
(@wfaa) pic.twitter.com/EF5rdf3LCb— William Joy (@WilliamJoy) May 25, 2021
A flood advisory was in effect for Tarrant County until 8 p.m. At 6:28 p.m., Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms moving northward across much of Tarrant County, which was expected to create or worsen any ongoing urban and small stream flooding. Low-lying and/or poor-drainage areas were expected to experience flooding in the advisory area, which includes Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Haltom City, Keller, Coppell, Hurst, Burleson, Southlake, Watauga, Colleyville, Saginaw, Forest Hill, Richland Hills and River Oaks.
A flash flood warning is in effect for eastern Johnson County until 10:15 p.m. At 7:08 p.m., emergency management reported flooding across the northeastern parts of the county. Several roads have become impassable due to flood water. Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen with up to 1 to 2 inches of additional rain possible. Flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor-drainage and low-lying areas was expected. Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Mansfield, Burleson, Cleburne, Keene, Joshua, Alvarado, Venus, Grandview, Cross Timber and Briaroaks.
A flood warning was in effect until 9 p.m. for northwestern Hood County and southwestern Parker County. At 3:18 p.m., Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain. Between 1 and 3 inches of rain had fallen since 1 p.m. and another 1 to 2 inches were possible. At 6:27 p.m., the heavy rain in the area had ended but the National Weather Service said flooding might continue for a few hours until the water has had a chance to recede. Some locations in the warning area were Weatherford, Hudson Oaks, Lipan and Annetta North.
Phone were down briefly at the Parker County Sheriff’s Office due to flooding, the sheriff’s office said on Facebook. The department posted photos of standing water that rose quickly in its parking lot and hallways.
Johnson County Emergency Management shared video of flooding on the eastern side of the county and a photo showing part of FM 2838 under water.
Flooding across eastern Johnson County pic.twitter.com/ja7d5Dnvsv
— Johnson County EM (@jocotx_em) May 25, 2021
The county reported several calls for water rescues and said to be exceptionally cautious if you’re driving on the east side of I-35 and north of Highway 67.
A snippet from FM 2738. pic.twitter.com/PwJJ8WXmiP
— Johnson County EM (@jocotx_em) May 25, 2021
For the region overall, “an inch of rain will probably be the average,” said meteorologist Ted Ryan with the National Weather Service in Fort Worth on Monday morning. “Some people may only get a trace, but Monday will be our best chance this week for rain.”
A few of the strong storms will have small hail and gusty winds.
From Tuesday through Sunday, meteorologists at the NWS in Fort Worth are predicting at least slight storm chances will continue each day during the early morning hours and once again in the afternoon.
Rain chances are 40 percent on Tuesday, 20 percent Wednesday, 40 percent Thursday, and 50 percent on Friday.
The chance of severe weather is low for the next several days, but a few storms could have strong wind gusts.
High temperatures will be in the low to mid-80s in North Texas for the rest of the week.
3-Day Storm Outlook
This map shows the 3-day weather outlook for storms by the National Weather Service's Storm Prediction Center. Sources: National Weather Service, Esri.
