Flash-flood warning in effect as El Paso grapples with hail, flooding

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
Updated ·2 min read
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A fierce but short rainstorm brought hail and some street flooding to parts of El Paso on Tuesday evening.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash-flood warning until  8:15 p.m. Tuesday for parts of El Paso. Residents are advised against travel unless leaving an area prone to flooding.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jason Grzywacz said the best chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms, including hail, will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

"There is an equal chance throughout El Paso," he said, adding he could not pinpoint if a specific side of town would get more or less rain. The greatest risk is for the area east of the Rio Grande Valley.

He said hail could be the size of golf balls and damaging winds could be over 60 miles per hour.

Grzywacz said it hasn't been a strong monsoon season this year so this will add some moisture to the dry area.

"This is pretty typical for this time of year for late September into October," he said.

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150, mcortes@elpasotimes.com and @EPTMaria on Twitter.

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Thunderstorms and hail are expected late Tuesday, Sept. 26 in areas east of the Rio Grande Valley.
Thunderstorms and hail are expected late Tuesday, Sept. 26 in areas east of the Rio Grande Valley.

Tips for driving in a hail storm

  • Don't leave your vehicle. You've got a solid roof over your head already, so hunker down and wait it out.

  • Pull over to a safe location. As you're driving, the speed of your vehicle and the falling of hail combine to do more damage to your vehicle and its windows, increasing the risk of breaking them. Pullover under a freeway overpass if you can or to the side of the road away from traffic and turn on your hazard lights.

  • Drive into hail if it's already coming down to protect your side windows. Your windshield tends to be made of stronger glass than the windows on the side of your car.

  • Don't have room in the garage? Throw floor mats over your windshields if you don't have a cover or blankets. Place floor mats with fabric side facing up to keep mats from sliding around in high winds.

  • Drive to safety and check your vehicle. Once the hail, rain and lightning have stopped, get your car to a safe location and check it for any damage.

Source: www.amfam.com

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso weather: Expect thunderstorms, rain and hail Tuesday