Severe Storms Expected in the Austin Area Starting Wednesday Afternoon
Austin, Texas – The city braces for a significant tempest starting Wednesday afternoon and extending into early Thursday, according to new forecasts from the National Weather Service. The chance of heavy rain leading to potential flash flooding in south Central Texas is cited to be at least 40%.
Storm Conditions and Expected Impact
Residents in Travis County can expect about 1 to 2 inches of rain. However, some areas might witness the rainfall amounting to as much as five inches, warns National Weather Service meteorologist Emily Heller. In addition to heavy rains, the region’s populace should also prepare for damaging winds, hailstorms, and a possibility of an isolated tornado.
A flood watch is currently active in the city of Austin and its vicinity until 7 AM on Thursday morning. The counties that are encompassed in the flood watch list include Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Burnet. Therefore, it is crucial for the inhabitants in these regions to activate emergency alerts on their cellphones to receive timely and critical updates about flash floods or severe thunderstorm warnings.
Tracking Flooding and Impacts
Several online resources have been put in place to aid the residents in staying informed:
- The Lower Colorado River Authority’s HydroMet monitoring system allows residents to check rainfall totals for the designated area in near real-time.
- ATXFloods.com aims to provide up-to-date information on the roads in Central Texas that are closed due to flooding. The initiative discourages citizens from driving on the low-lying streets that are flooded and pose a threat to safety.
- Austin Energy, along with several other electricity providers in Central Texas such as Bluebonnet Electric Co-op, Pedernales Electric Co-op, and Oncor have incorporated outage maps that display active power outages, the number of impacted customers, and estimated restoration timings in their respective service areas.
Stay Informed
Vital weather updates can also be accessed by following specific accounts that regularly post about local weather conditions. For the most current information from National Weather Service, it is recommended to follow their official Twitter account.
In times of severe weather conditions, it is pivotal to be aware, stay prepared, and follow recommended safety protocols to ensure the well-being of oneself and their community. Stay safe, Austin!
