Rain expected to stop, but cold is on the way
After weekend storms, the Austin area should be drier and warmer until a cold snap hits Wednesday.
The majority of Central Texas storms were expected to clear by Monday morning, but not before several inches of rain pounded the region over the weekend.
Areas to the east of Austin, including Bastrop, Smithville and Lockhart, saw as much as 4 inches of rain from Friday through Sunday, according to Lower Colorado River Authority hydromet data. The constant rain added to already saturated grounds, prompting the National Weather Service to issue flash flood watches for Bastrop and Caldwell counties until Monday morning.
On Friday, emergency officials were forced to close FM 535 between Rosanky and Rockne in response to rising water. Dozens of other low water crossings were closed across Central Texas through the weekend, according to atxfloods.com.
The Austin metro area did not see quite as much rainfall as areas to the east — with most of the city registering 1 to 2 inches by Sunday afternoon.
Lowtemperatures fell to around 50, creating chilly conditions amid wet weather through the weekend.
By Sunday night, most of the major storms had dissipated, but forecasters warned of an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain overnight, contributing to flood risks.
Meteorologist Cory Van Pelt said some light rain would continue
Monday morning before stopping altogether by the afternoon and being replaced by sunny skies and surprisingly warm temperatures by Tuesday. Van Pelt said to expect highs in the 70s that day.
But the warm weather won’t stick. Temperatures will drop again Wednesday, when a strong cold front moves in overnight, forecasters said.
From Thursday through Saturday, highs are expected only in the 50s and overnight freezing conditions are possible, the weather service said.
Wet weekend weather did create hazards on Central Texas roads.
Four people were killed Saturday morning and four were taken to a hospital after a three-vehicle collision on U.S. 290 outside Fredericksburg, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Investigators said weather could have been a factor in the crash. The dead were identified Sunday as Evan Langbein, 15, of Fredericksburg; Destiny Conaster, 17, 0f Round Rock; and Azel residents Keith Hoover, 58, and Don Corley Jr., 61.
Five people, including three under the age of 12, were sent to a hospital Saturday after a pin-in crash on Ed Bluestein Boulevard (U.S. 183) in East Austin.
Additionally, some events were forced to close in Central Texas.
For the first time in 20 years, the Pflugerville Christmas Parade and Pfestival of Lights was canceled. The Sights and Sounds Christmas Festival in San Marcos was also called off and will not be rescheduled, organizers said. The Rock ’N Lights Holiday Light Tour and Christmas Towne events in Round Rock both closed Saturday. They have since resumed their normal schedules through the end of December.