Heavy storms hit San Antonio on Father’s Day, knocking out power for 13,800.
The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for much of Bexar County early today, covering the San Antonio metro area through 6 a.m. as a powerful, nearly stationary thunderstorm sat overhead and dumped rainfall at rates fast enough to flood streets within minutes. The storms arrived just after midnight on Father’s Day weekend.
Flooding risks across the San Antonio area
The warning covered a broad stretch of the region, including downtown San Antonio, Alamo Heights, Castle Hills, Leon Valley, Hollywood Park, Shavano Park, Timberwood Park, Scenic Oaks, Helotes, Castroville and the area around Lackland Air Force Base. Flooding was expected along creeks and streams as well as in urban areas, on highways and in streets and underpasses across the affected zone.
Emergency alerts were pushed directly to cell phones of residents in the warning area. The National Weather Service characterized the situation as dangerous and potentially fatal, urging people to stay off the roads unless they were evacuating a flooded area under an official order. Heavy rainfall was also affecting parts of the Hill Country to the north and west.
What the storm looks like and when it will ease
As of 2:15 a.m., the thunderstorm was nearly stationary over Bexar County, producing rainfall rates of 2 to 5 inches per hour. At those rates, flood conditions can develop within minutes. The heaviest downpours were expected to move out of the San Antonio area after 3 a.m., though light to moderate rain was forecast to continue through 5 a.m.
Officials from the National Weather Service in Austin and San Antonio were monitoring the storm. When a thunderstorm stalls over an area rather than moving through, rainfall accumulates rapidly in drainage channels and streets rather than spreading across a wider region, increasing the risk of sudden flooding.
Power outages and road closures across Bexar County
The storms knocked out electricity for more than 13,800 CPS Energy customers across the San Antonio area by 1:30 a.m. Road closures due to high water were reported in multiple communities throughout the metro. The CPS Energy outage map tracked the affected areas in real time as crews worked to restore service.
Drivers who encounter flooded roads should not attempt to cross them. Water on roadways is frequently deeper than it appears and can move with enough force to carry a vehicle. Travel in the warning area is not advisable through 6 a.m. Anyone who must be on the road should slow down and stay away from any street or underpass showing signs of water.
SOURCE: Express-News