Holiday travelers and residents were warned Saturday of potential flash flooding in north-central Texas and western Oklahoma, the National Weather Service said.
Meanwhile, preliminary data showed that Oklahoma City in May has measured its wettest month ever recorded there as rain continued to fall on Saturday at a rate of 2.19 inches in one hour, according to CNN Meteorologist Sean Morris.
Other central and southern Plains states also were under flash flood watches Saturday, as heavy rain was falling or expected to fall on soil already saturated from recent rains, the service said.
Those areas are western portions of Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri and the eastern parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, the agency said. Northeast Colorado was under a similar watch, too.
Thunderstorms pummeled parts of Oklahoma on Saturday morning with 2 inches of rain, and the service gave a precautionary warning to “move to higher ground now” for people in several western counties.
“Turn around,” the service said. “Don’t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.”
A flash flood warning was also issued for several counties in the Texas panhandle where up to 4 inches of rain fell Saturday morning, the service said.
“Campers and hikers should seek higher ground,” the service said.
Flash flood watches were posted in Oklahoma and northern Texas for the weekend, until Monday, CNN meteorologists said.
In general, western Oklahoma and parts of the Texas panhandle and central Texas are still facing moderate drought or abnormally dry conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
In 2011, drought and wildfire left heavy damages to Texas. The drought caused at least $5 billion in economic damages, and wildfires damages amounted to several tens of millions of dollars, authorities said.