Cloudy, muggy and already feeling like a wet blanket, Austin is waking up to temperatures around 74°F and humidity near 100%. A Flood Watch is in effect for the metro through Thursday evening, July 16, as repeated rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms threaten flash and urban flooding across the area.
What To Expect Today
Showers and thunderstorms are likely through the afternoon, with a high near 84°F and light southeast winds. Many neighborhoods can expect brief but intense downpours. Forecasters say new rainfall amounts of roughly a half to three-quarters of an inch are possible, with localized higher totals where storms keep forming over the same spots.
Safety And Commute Impacts
Local streets, underpasses and creek crossings can flood quickly during the heaviest cells, turning familiar cut-throughs into sudden hazards. Do not drive into standing water and avoid low-water crossings. “You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings,” the National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio advised. Keep phones charged, plan alternate routes and have a way to get to higher ground if necessary. If you must drive, slow down and turn around if you encounter flooded roads.
Looking Ahead
The Flood Watch is scheduled to remain in place through 7:00 p.m. CDT on Thursday, July 16, with additional rounds of storms possible Thursday and Friday before a gradual drying trend sets in this weekend. Temperatures are expected to climb into the low-to-mid 90s by Saturday and into next week, which could increase heat stress where soils remain saturated. For more background on how Austin landed in this soggy setup, see our soaked-then-scorched forecast.
