Heavy Rain Returns to Texas This Weekend

It has been a week since the devastating floods swept through the Texas Hill Country, and our hearts remain with the communities still recovering. The thought of more heavy rain is the last thing anyone wants to hear right now, but unfortunately, rain is expected to return this weekend. Flood Watches have been issued for Oklahoma, West Texas, and the High Plains of New Mexico in anticipation of heavy rains on the way. These watches will be in effect through Sunday.

One of the main factors will be an incoming cold front that stalls out and remains draped across the area. This boundary will be the focus for repeated showers and thunderstorm development. Instability and a very moist atmosphere could lead to high-end rainfall rates.

Our in-house model currently shows the heaviest of the rains falling across the Trans-Pecos region, with another bullseye across the Red River and into Oklahoma. Please note that forecasting exactly where the heaviest of the rains is extremely difficult, and anyone in the Flood Watch should remain prepared, especially in flood-prone areas. A slight shift in the location of the front would mean changes in where the heaviest of the rain would fall.

On top of the flooding threat, a severe thunderstorm threat will also remain throughout the weekend. Saturday's risk will be highest from the Trans-Pecos up through the Permian Basin. Damaging straight-line winds will be the primary hazard.