National Weather Service: Laredo under flood advisory, flash flood warning

NWS: Laredo under flood advisory, flash flood warning

The National Weather Service placed Laredo under a flood advisory and a flash flood warning on Friday night.

The folks in Laredo were in for quite a weather rollercoaster last night. The flood advisory was supposed to keep everyone on their toes until 12:30 a.m., followed by a flash flood warning that stretched until 12:45 a.m. It was a night to stay vigilant.

Around 10:20 p.m., a message was sent out to our fellow Laredo residents, urging us to stay safe. It was a simple yet crucial message: “These storms are creeping along, so be cautious. Flash flood warning in effect until midnight.”

The reason for all this commotion was a flood advisory that was issued for Webb County. It was all due to some pesky minor flooding in the low-lying areas and spots with poor drainage, as well as water spilling onto our roads.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Doppler radar had a hunch that we were in for some heavy rain thanks to those thunderstorms. They predicted minor flooding, with the south and central parts of Webb County, especially the rural corners, taking the brunt of it.

But the roads weren’t playing nice either. The Laredo Police Department had to release a list of 18 street sections around 10:20 p.m. that were basically turning into swimming pools. Our brave police officers were already out there making rescues.

By 10:23 p.m., we had seen anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of rain, and there was more in store, about 1 to 2 inches more.

As for that flash flood warning, NWS wanted us to know that it wasn’t discriminating. Small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, streets, and even underpasses were all feeling the heat.

NWS had some solid advice for us – “turn around, don’t drown” if we stumbled upon flooded roads. It’s a serious business because most flood-related deaths happen in vehicles.

Now, let’s look ahead to the weekend. After Friday’s stormy affair, Saturday’s forecast includes a chance of showers and thunderstorms, followed by likely showers and maybe even a thunderstorm after 4 p.m. Expect a high near 95. Sunday isn’t off the hook either, as there’s still a chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 93.

So, Laredo, keep those umbrellas and rain boots handy. It looks like Mother Nature has some plans for us this weekend. Stay safe out there!

Flash Flood Warning including Laredo TX, Rio Bravo TX and La Presa TX until 12:45 AM CDT pic.twitter.com/3sMk3NjbgW

— NWS Corpus Christi (@NWSCorpus) September 16, 2023