Days of widespread and heavy rains have left the Texas and Oklahoma areas ravaged with road closures and infrastructure concerns to address after the series of weather systems, being funneled into the area by a dipping jet stream, leave the states later this week.
According to a spokesperson for the Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT), there are no major bridge or infrastructure concerns as of this morning, but there are numerous road closures in the state, many of those are centered in the lower half of the state near the Houston area.
The agency maintains both a website (Drivetexas.org) and a hotline number (1-800-452-9292) that lists all closures that truckers can utilize to identify areas that are unsuitable for travel.
There was concern a few days ago about conditions along I-35 at Red River in north Texas, but those have subsided.
According to Weather.com, some parts of Texas have received more than 20 in. of rain in May, making it the wettest month on record. The Houston area seen more than 10 in. in just the past few days. Officials are warning that river flooding could continue for weeks, even after the rains stop.
At least 19 deaths have been attributed to the series of storms and 14 more people are missing. Some estimates have the death toll above 30. Heavy rains are expected to continue for several more days in the form of severe storms, some of which may be slow-moving, allowing for additional heavy rainfall in those areas.
In the Houston area, a drone video from ABC Eyewitness News 13 shows the devastation caused by the Buffalo Bayou river.
Video: Drone video shows massive flooding in Houston
Up to 3 in. of rain was expected this morning in Texas and the Padera Lake Dam in Midlothian, just outside Dallas, was in danger of failing, local authorities told NBC News. Engineers have since said that danger is not as severe as first thought, though.
The storms have also spawned tornadoes, one of which killed 13 people in Mexico.
In Oklahoma, at least 30 roads were closed as of this morning due to current flooding conditions or damage from floods. A full list of closures in that state is available at: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/OKDOT-1065948?wgt_ref=OKDOT_WIDGET_1.
Social media has also provided plenty of pictures of the situation.
This video from House Park in Austin, Texas, shows how quickly a flash flood can strike.
