Major flooding persists in Texas rivers

River and creek gauges all over eastern Texas are reading at some type of flood stage with even record heights being recorded.

No, it’s not raining currently, but eastern Texas is soggy from recent rainfall events. Many river and creek gauges east of I-35 are reading at least minor flood stage.

In about 5 of the last 7 days, eastern Texas has endured severe storms with heavy rainfall embedded within. This is great for the drought situation – which is currently non-existent in eastern Texas – but it causes short-term issues when it comes to localized flooding in the rivers and creeks.

The waters are starting to drain slowly into the Gulf of Mexico, but more than 10 gauges are reading at moderate to major flood stage still as of Wednesday afternoon on May 8.

For example, the Trinity River has many gauges along its path and is currently responsible for 3 out of the 4 major flood stage readings in eastern Texas, with the exception of the Neches River gauge near Beaumont, Texas, where it only takes the water being higher than 4 feet for the gauge to be at minor flood stage.

In fact, the Trinity River is close to levels recorded back when Hurricane Harvey dropped several feet of rain across Texas in 2017.

Today, showers and thunderstorms – some severe – are in the forecast across eastern Texas, with an isolated excessive rainfall risk in the northeastern corner of the Lone Star State.

By Thursday, the I-35 corridor from Dallas to Austin is in an enhanced risk for severe weather, meaning more heavy rain and severe thunderstorms could add to the already swollen creeks and rivers.

Remember, turn around, don’t drown. Have at least three ways to receive a weather warning and keep your eyes on the WeatherRadar.