Patricia boasted 200 mph winds Friday, making it the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the western hemisphere, but a collision with Mexico's mountains left the former champion hurricane only a tropical depression by Saturday.
Still, Patricia is a nasty rainmaker even if its not a blowhard. Texas, already drenched with too much rain in recent days, is bracing for much more.
"The heavy rain threat ahead of Patricia or its remnants will increase Saturday across northeast Mexico into coastal sections of Texas," the National Hurricane Center said in its 10aCT advisory Saturday. "This heavy rain threat will continue across the western Gulf Coast through this weekend and spread into the central Gulf Coast by early next week.
These rains are likely to produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides."
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for southeast Texas Saturday. "Widespread heavy rainfall is expected to develop and spread across the region through Sunday morning," the advisory said. "Rainfall amounts of 4 to 6 inches are possible north of a line from Columbus to Cleveland Line with rainfall amounts of 6 to 12 inches possible across the remainder of southeast Texas by Monday morning."
We have several reports over 20" of rainfall in the past 24 hrs. https://t.co/ewJNHGiwaX
-- Navarro County OEM (@NavarroOEM) October 24, 2015
Flash flooding has forced the closing of several major highways between Dallas and Houston.
Rising flood water in Corsicana has forced closure of both NB and SB I-45. Check https://t.co/1CrX53I39W for latest conditions statewide.
-- TxDOTDallas District (@TxDOTDallasPIO) October 24, 2015
A Union Pacific freight train loaded with concrete shipments was swept off the tracks in Corsicana, Texas, although the train crew swam to safety.
Swift water teams preparing to launch to rescue 2 UP team members from partially submerged train on NW 0020. #dfwwx pic.twitter.com/jT2zDZIVQV
-- Navarro County OEM (@NavarroOEM) October 24, 2015
Lead Stories' Trendolizer scours social nets for trending content on flash flooding. Scroll down to see the latest.
