Tropical Storm Bill Moves Inland, Downgraded to Tropical Depression
HOUSTON, June 17 (UPI) — Tropical Storm Bill was downgraded to a tropical depression early Wednesday, but more flooding and possible tornadoes are expected in parts of Texas.
Flash flood watches are posted through most of East Texas for more than a dozen counties, including Guadalupe, Hays and Travis. Already the storm has dumped some seven inches of water on the waterlogged state. A tornado watch has been extended until 7 a.m. in several counties.
In Dallas, city officials are preparing for more flooding ahead of the rain setting up barricades on flood-prone streets and using the reverse-911 system to warn residents of potential dangers. The city opened its emergency operations center at 6 a.m. Wednesday. North Texas is under a flash flood watch until 7 p.m. Thursday. Some eight inches are expected in Dallas through Thursday.
The storm made landfall on the Texas coast at Matagorda Island, located between Houston and Corpus Christi, at 11:45 a.m. local time Tuesday with wind speeds topping out at 60 miles per hour. The most serious impact continues to be expected rainfall giving rise to flash flooding in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri.
