AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott urged Texans Monday to prepare for heavy rain and possible flash flooding as storms move across parts of the state over the next several days.
“There is still time for Texans to be able to take action ahead of this heavy rain hitting your region,” Abbott said during a briefing in Austin.
Abbott urged residents in West Texas and the Panhandle, including Amarillo, Lubbock and El Paso, to prepare to take protective action within the next 24 hours.
The National Weather Service expects storms around El Paso Monday night and Tuesday, with a flood watch in effect through early Wednesday. Forecasters expect the heaviest rain in the Dallas-Fort Worth area from Wednesday night through Thursday night.
The flash flood threat around Austin and San Antonio could continue into Friday morning.
Abbott said a slow-moving cold front could produce prolonged rainfall in some areas. He compared the potential flooding to storms that affected Central and South Central Texas in July but said officials cannot yet determine which rivers could overflow.
“At this moment in time, we can’t tell you which ones are going to flood,” Abbott said.
The state has deployed 1,900 responders and more than 1,500 pieces of equipment in preparation for the weather.
Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said the rainfall could help drought-stricken areas but warned that some locations could receive significant amounts of rain.
Kidd also urged motorists to avoid flooded roads and turn around if they encounter standing or moving water. He advised residents to monitor updates on road conditions as the storms develop.
