From Cracked Earth to Floods

The weather in Texas has done it again. We’ve gone from baking hot temperatures and cracking earth to this:

Some areas have already had more than 6 inches. The Guadalupe River in New Braunfels has flooded, and several water rescues have already taken place. Here in Austin, there have been several road closures as well. Our biggest flooding area, as usual, is around Onion Creek.

Central Texas is one of the most flash-flood prone areas in the world. It holds half of the twelve world records in amount of rainfall in 48 hours or less. In 1921 in Thrall, a storm brought 36 inches of rain in 18 hours. In 1935 in D’Hanis another storm brought 22 inches of rain in 2 hours and 45 minutes. Isn’t that info surprising considering how often we are also in drought? One meteorologist said it well — “Flood or drought; and there doesn’t seem to be much in between.” We are quite well positioned geographically to receive a lot of rain, with all our creeks and tributaries, not being too far from the coast, the Balcones Escarpment playing a factor as well, and weather coming in from the north and the Pacific. In particular, between Dallas and San Antonio, with Austin right in the middle, is an area known as Flash Flood Alley.

Now I understand why the meteorologists all talk about heavy rain along the IH-35 corridor, and why so much flooding occurs along the interstate. IH-35 completely follows and is right in the middle of Flash Flood Alley. Brilliant. Check this out: http://floodsafety.com/media/maps/texas/index.htm

Here’s an interesting look at some of the biggest storms to hit the Austin area: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/watershed/floodhistory.htm

My family and I got caught coming back from Uvalde to Austin during the 1998 floods that wreaked havoc between San Antonio and Austin, especially in San Marcos. Along the way, we saw cars washed away and standing vertically in drainage spots off the highway, and flooding to rooftops along the Guadalupe River. We’d manage to travel between storms, trying to get home to our dogs, but then we found ourselves trapped in traffic on IH-35 in San Marcos, stuck in a small small car in a spot where water was flowing over the highway with yet another storm arriving, and the San Marcos police were forcing everyone to drive through it (yeah, don’t get me started on that one). I can honestly say, it was about as scared as I’ve ever been. Needless to say, we purchased a larger vehicle within 3 months and never traveled that way again without being better aware of pending weather.

Be safe out there, everyone. Stay out of low-water crossings, please. And avoid traveling between San Antonio and Austin until the weather has passed. Take it from me.

Poor Grover was not too keen on having to go out into the rain to go potty. I had to go get soaked with him so he’d do his thing. I don’t mind staying in and being a bit lazy today, but we were scheduled to cover the above concrete slab with flagstone today, creating a much prettier patio. Ah well, I never refuse the rain. Of course, our house is not in an actual flood zone, either.

Well, we’ll have some green happy plants for awhile. I’m not excited about the mosquitoes that will follow in a few days, though!

EDIT: I don’t usually participate in Wordless Wednesday because the only time I’m truly wordless (or silent as the case may be) is when I’m REALLY mad at my husband, but if I could pick a photo for Wordless Wednesday, it might be this:

I’ll say it again — poor Grover!