Areas northwest of Dallas-Fort Worth are seeing lots of rain. Since Tuesday, some areas have recorded 2 to 4 inches – and the National Weather Service says another 1 to 3 inches are expected today.
The weather service says a stagnant upper disturbance and associated weak surface front are the culprits.
A flash flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday afternoon for Tarrant and Denton counties, as well as several counties to the west and north, including Cooke, Montague, Wise, Parker and Hood counties.
The weather service says there’s a “localized threat of flash flooding in those areas.”
Abilene has had its wettest day since forecasters began keeping rainfall records for the area in 1886.
The National Weather Service says Abilene on Tuesday received 8.26 inches of rain, leading to street flooding and high-water rescues. Abilene remained under a flash flood watch until Wednesday afternoon, with a 50 percent chance of showers.
Forecaster Jim Wingenroth says a frontal boundary stalled over the area Tuesday, at times dumping 2-3 inches of rain per hour.
He says the previous daily rainfall record for Abilene was set on May 11, 1928, with 6.54 inches. The prior record rainfall for July 7 in Abilene happened in 1905, with 2.47 inches of rain.
Abilene police officers Tuesday responded to at least 70 reports of stalled vehicles or accidents.
National Weather Service radar