Skies Clearing For Trick-Or-Treating

Update:  8 a.m. Saturday

Another round of heavy rain rolled through San Antonio and South-Central Texas overnight, but the National Weather Service is not reporting major flooding in the area this morning.

In Bastrop County, however, flooding along the Colorado River has forced evacuations and the opening of an emergency shelter.

The forecast for Saturday calls for a 40 percent chance of showers before 1 p.m.  and skies clearing up in time for dry, trick-or-treating weather.   The high will be near 78 with tonight's low around 52 degrees. 

Update:  6:15 p.m.  Friday

More rain is moving in and the National  Service has issued a flash flood warning through 10 a.m. Saturday for parts Central and South Texas. 

Meteorologist Jason Runyon says the area along the I-35 corridor between San Antonio and Austin received five to 10 inches in most places Friday, with isolated pockets getting pounded with up to 16 includes.

Runyon says up to four more inches could fall before early afternoon Saturday.

“It’s been particularly wet here the last week and the ground is completely saturated,” Runyon said. “The dangers of flash flooding overnight can be hard to recognize when you can’t see how much water is over low-water crossings," he said.

Runyon says the hardest hit counties Friday were Comal, Hays, Travis and Bastrop. They’ll also be the most flood-prone over the next 24 hours. 

Update: 5:15 p.m.

Flooding has claimed the life of a person whose vehicle at Camp Bullis was washed downstream this morning.

Military officials at the in San Antonio training base aren’t releasing the name of the flood victim because relatives are still being notified.
 
As a precaution some areas within Camp Bullis have been closed and military members evacuated.

 
 
In Wimberley and Hays County, the latest from the National Weather Service is that around 1:30 today, the Blanco River crested at 42.56 feet. The bridge over the Blanco on Route 12 had already been closed and emergency crews had been evacuating some residents to a shelter. 

City officials from Wimberley, where at least 11 people died in Memorial Day flooding, were also urging others living along the river to evacuate to higher ground.  

The city opened up its command center at the Wimberley Community Center and there were two water rescues in Wimberley along Cypress Creek. Wimberley ISDcancelled classes for the day, officials are urging those who already have sought higher ground to remain in place as more rain is expected to dump on this area throughout the day.

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San Marcos, Hays County

The City of San Marcos reported a tornado touchdown around 8:30 a.m., which must be verified by the National Weather Service at a later time. Texas State University has issued a 2-hour delay to the start of the school day as residents reported the funnel cloud sightings near the outlet mall. Officials continue to urge people to stay indoors and off the roads.

The National Weather Service urged San Marcos residents to take cover at 7:40 a.m. today as doppler radar showed "good tornadic circulation near I-35. If you do venture out, avoid low water crossings and turn around at any barricades.

New Braunfels, Comal County

Comal County declared a local state of disaster this morning as rain continues to cause flooding in the area. The county “has suffered widespread or severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property ... resulting from disastrous flooding and flash flooding,” according to the declaration.

Flooding has been reported from Bulverde and Spring Branch, and the county has sounded its flood-alert sirens on River Road between Canyon Lake and New Braunfels, according to a Comal County news release.

The National Weather Service is also forecasting “significant flooding along the Guadalupe River.” The river is expected to crest at over 25 feet this afternoon.

Debris from the storm and flooding is littering Comal County roads and county officials are urging residents to stay off roads if possible.

Comal ISD and New Braunfels ISDs have canceled all classes today.

The City of New Braunfels Emergency Operations Center has activated a non-emergency information line. Residents can ask questions, report damage, or pass along information by calling 830-221-4351.

Bexar County

In Bexar County, the sheriffs's office was reporting several high water rescues around 8:30 this morning. Two busses were caught in high waters on Scenic Loop where two adults and four special needs students needed to be rescued.  

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San Antonio

Doppler radar showed numerous thunderstorms, as of 6:24 this morning, according to the NWS. Most of San Antonio is getting heavy rain and “radar estimates and surface reports suggest 3 to 4 inches of rain has already fallen.”

Rainfall accumulations could be up to 6 inches in some areas, according to the NWS. The weather service says flash flooding is likely to occur near SeaWorld, Rio Medina, Castle Hills and northward between Boerne and Timberwood Park.

Olmos Creek at Dresden Drive has risen to above flood stage and road closures are being reported across the city. For San Antonio road closures, check here. For Bexar County road closures, check here.

“The heavy rain and strong to severe thunderstorms will continue Friday through Saturday morning,” the NWS reported. Heavy rainfall could result in flash flooding. There is also a threat of damaging winds and frequent lightening.

Eastern Bexar County is also under a flash flood warning, as well as northwestern Wilson and southwestern Guadalupe counties until 9 a.m. today.

Doppler radar showed thunderstorms producing heavy rain moving across the areas under the warning, the NWS reported, including the eastern part of San Antonio including an area between Highway 281 and Interstate 35.

Floresville, Wilson County

The Floresville Independent School District canceled school today, according to a Twitter post, because at least one campus has been damaged by a reported tornado. Photos shared on social media show Floresville High School has a big hole that has been ripped into the roof and a nearby barbecue restuarant was also damaged in the storm.

Students who were en route to class earlier this morning werere-routed to Floresville North Elementary School for parents to pick them up.

Other communities affected include Marion, New Berlin, Lavernia and Poth. Flooding could affect San Antonio, New Braunfels, Universal City, Floresville, Poth, Schertz, Cibolo, Live Oak, Kirby, Selma and Windcrest.

American Red Cross Shelters

The American Red Cross is working closely with county officials and emergency management across central and south Texas to help in supporting communities dealing with the impact of severe weather and flooding. Red Cross staff and supplies are stationed around the area. Anyone in need of shelter can call 1-800-928-4271 (central Texas) or 1-800-775-6803 (San Antonio area). 

Shelters are open in the following locations:

Travis County

• Dittmar Rec Center, 1009 W. Dittmar Road, Austin, TX 78745
• Manor City Hall, 105 E. Eggleston St., Manor, TX 78653

Hays County

• Lehman High School, 1700 Lehman Road, Kyle, TX
• Wimberley High School, 14401 Ranch Road 12, Wimberley, TX
• Kyle Elementary School, 500 Blanco Street, Kyle, TX

Comal County

• Canyon High School, 1510 Interstate 35 East, New Braunfels, TX

Guadalupe County

• Geronimo Civic Center, 280 Navarro Drive, Seguin, TX
• Caldwell County
• Luling High School, 218 E Travis St., Luling, TX