Heavy morning thunderstorms dumped 2 to 4 inches of rain across North Texas, turning roads treacherous around Wichita Falls and triggering flash-flood warnings from the National Weather Service. The downpours soaked the region as a broader storm system pushed across the Southern Plains, leaving drivers across the South Plains and Rolling Plains to contend with standing water and road closures, while conditions around Wichita Falls were hazardous.
According to FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, the National Weather Service kept flash-flood warnings active for portions of northern Texas, including central and western Foard County, southeastern Hardeman County, and northwestern Wilbarger County. The same report described high water and flooding affecting multiple major travel corridors stretching from Muleshoe southeast to Jayton, and east toward Vernon — a wide swath of the region left dealing with hazardous driving conditions at once.
TxDOT Map Shows Dozens of Alerts Across 11 Counties
The Texas Department of Transportation's interactive tracking map showed dozens of active high-water advisories and flooded-roadway alerts spread across 11 counties, the station's report noted.
The storms arrived as part of a larger weather pattern stretching well beyond North Texas. FOX Weather reported that NOAA issued a Level 3 out of 4 flash-flood risk for areas south and east of the Davis Mountains on Thursday, with periods of heavy rain extending into North Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri. A Level 2 flash-flood threat covered parts of West and north-central Texas through Friday morning, and flood watches remained posted from parts of West Texas through Central Oklahoma and into southeastern Kansas through Thursday evening.
Oklahoma Saw Even Heavier Rainfall and Rescues
The same tropically enhanced storm system battered Oklahoma especially hard in the days before reaching North Texas. The NWS Area Forecast Discussion reported an axis of 8 to 11 inches of rain across western Oklahoma and nearby areas. The Oklahoman reported that Elk City recorded 8.5 inches of rain over 24 hours and Hinton's rain gauge measured 9.26 inches.
Accounts of Oklahoma City's rainfall total varied by source: The Oklahoman reported that rain gauges around the county likely showed between 4 and 5 inches, while FOX Weather put the Wednesday total at more than 5 inches, calling it the city's second-wettest day since record-keeping began in 1890.
The flooding led to numerous vehicle crashes in the Oklahoma City metro area and the deployment of water rescue teams, per the Oklahoman's reporting. Oklahoma City firefighters said they responded to 35 accidents and five water assists during the heavy rain early Wednesday, in addition to calls about downed power lines, according to FOX Weather. A portion of Highway 4 in Canadian County was temporarily shut down due to water over the roadway, the Oklahoman reported.
What Comes Next for North Texas
With flood watches and flash-flood risks still active across parts of West Texas, Central Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas, drivers around Wichita Falls should expect continued hazards on low-lying roads and underpasses in the hours ahead. The National Weather Service's hazardous weather outlook for the area continues to flag the same radar-indicated flash-flood concerns for small creeks, streams and poorly drained urban areas.
