Fort Worth's low-water crossings could become dangerous during the approaching wet spell, with Tarrant County included in a flood watch that now extends into Friday morning.
The National Weather Service in Fort Worth says the watch begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, and ends at 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2. The updated notice was issued at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29. All times are Central Daylight Time.
Slow-moving showers and thunderstorms are expected to bring 2 to 4 inches of rain across the watch area, with localized totals of 4 to 6 inches. The forecast describes regional amounts; rainfall can differ from one part of Fort Worth to another. Excessive runoff could flood streams, creeks and other low-lying places.
For motorists, the city's High-Water Warning System is worth understanding before a road becomes hazardous. Fort Worth says the system measures water levels at approximately 55 low-water road crossings. Roadside flashers warn approaching drivers, while rising water can trigger alerts to first responders, who place barricades to keep vehicles out.
A flashing warning or a barricade is a reason to turn around safely. Do not go around a barrier to reach a familiar shortcut. The city links a map of its high-water warning locations from its flood-warning page; that resource explains the monitoring network, rather than establishing that every listed location is flooded.
The alert in this update is a flood watch: flooding is possible during the stated period. A watch is not evidence that water is already over a roadway. Residents should monitor later National Weather Service notices, particularly if they live or travel through flood-prone areas.
