(January 25, 2012)—Flash flood watches and flood advisories remained in effect for some Central Texas counties as storms that produced heavy rain through the morning hours moved to the east.
A flood warning is in effect until Thursday morning for the Navasota River above Groesbeck.
Early Wednesday afternoon, the river was about six inches below flood stage and minor flooding was forecast as the river crests near eight feet Wednesday afternoon.
An urban and small stream advisory is in effect until 2 p.m. Wednesday that includes Freestone, Limestone, Navarro and Leon Counties.
Navarro, Freestone, Limestone, Leon and Robertson Counties were under a flash flood watch until noon.
An urban and small stream flood advisory was also in effect until noon for Bosque, Hill and McLennan Counties.
Showers are is still possible through the afternoon, tonight and Thursday, but rainfall totals should be small, forecasters said.
Many parts of the region received 2 to 3 inches of rain and in isolated areas totals of as much as 4 inches were possible Wednesday.
Heavy rain left some streets underwater in Jewett in Leon County, according to a spotter report.
Damage Reported
Two barns and two houses were damaged along County Road 271-A near the intersection with FM 2027 southeast of Rosebud between Baileyville and Crossroads in Milam County, a Cameron volunteer firefighter said.
Tree damage was also reported in the area.
The firefighter said tornadoes were seen in the area.
Heavy Rain Leads To Some Road Closures
At the height of the storm Wednesday morning, there were scattered reports of street flooding in low lying areas, but some roads remained closed as the rain moved out.
At Fort Hood, a six-mile stretch of Tank Destroyer Road from Copperas Cove to Clark Road was closed after the crossing at Turkey Creek was washed out.
Repairs could take as long a six months to complete.
Access control point 8 also was closed.
In Milam County, FM 908 over Reese Creek was closed until further notice Wednesday.
Storms Cause Problems For Some Area Schools
Temple High School and Edwards Academy in Temple were forced to close Wednesday after rains caused power outages.
TISD spokeswoman Regina Corley said the rest of the city’s campuses were holding classes as scheduled.
The Coolidge ISD said it was releasing students at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday because of flooding.
Weather Likely A Factor In Deadly Crash
One person died and two others were injured early Wednesday morning in a one-vehicle accident in Belton
The accident happened at around 4:50 a.m. Wednesday on U.S. Highway 190 about a half mile west of Loop 121 where an eastbound Chrysler minivan left the highway and struck a tree in the median, police said.
A backseat passenger died at the scene.
The driver and a front seat passenger were taken to Scott & White Hospital in Temple.
The names of the victims weren’t immediately released.
Power Outages Reported In Some Areas
Power outages were reported Wednesday morning in parts of the region.
About 500 were without power in north Temple after lightning struck insulators on a power pole.
Outages in Temple were causing problems for morning commuters because power lights were out at West Central Avenue and West Adams Avenue at 31st Street.
Long delays were reported in the area.
In Killeen as many as 800 customers were without power at one point because of lightning strikes.
Power outages were also reported in Riesel.
In Waco, about 50 customers were reported to be without power Wednesday morning.
Storms Prompt Early-Morning Warnings
The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Falls and Robertson counties just after 6:15 a.m. Wednesday, saying there was an indication of rotation within a storm system that was 16 miles south of Marlin.
Warning sirens sounded in Belton just before 6 a.m. but a check with police there indicated the warning sirens sounded as a result of a lightning strike and there was no emergency.
McLennan, Hamilton and Coryell counties were placed under a flash flood warning Wednesday morning and sheriff’s departments in each location reported heavy rains just before 5 a.m.
Each county had dispatched deputies to locations where water routinely runs over roadways during periods of heavy rain but no road closures or flooding was reported early.
