Published Thursday, October 29, 2009 9:22 AM

Brazos Valley under flood watch

National Weather Service officials warned of possible flooding along with a cold front in the Brazos Valley area on Thursday and Friday.

The weather service on Thursday issued a flash flood watch effective through Friday morning for southeast Texas, including Brazos, Burleson, Grimes, Madison and Washington counties.

A flash flood watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding.

Weather officials said excessive rainfall from showers and thunderstorms is expected to develop ahead of and along a slowly advancing cold front, forecast to hit the southeast Texas area Thursday morning and last throughout the day. Additional storms are expected to move into the area tonight and early Friday morning, according to the weather service. Most areas can expect two to four inches of rainfall, with isolated totals expected at from five to eight inches, officials said.

The weather service on Wednesday night also issued a flash flood watch for north Texas -- including Leon, Milam and Robertson counties -- that was effective at 4 a.m. Thursday and continues through the evening. A cold front and rain was expected to hit the area late Wednesday and continue through Thursday, according to the weather service.

One to two inches of rainfall with higher isolated amounts are expected in the north Texas region, officials said.

Weather officials said the ground is already saturated and waterways swollen from recent rains in both the southeast and north Texas watch areas, increasing the likelihood of flooding and rising water levels.

A river flood warning remains in effect through late Saturday night for the Navasota River near Easterly, affecting Leon and Robertson counties, according to the weather service. At 8 p.m. Wednesday the river was at 22.5 feet, and the flood stage is 19 feet, officials said. The river has crested and is expected to continue to recede and fall below the flood stage by Saturday afternoon.

Another flood warning is in effect for the Navasota River near Normangee until Sunday evening. Weather officials said the river was at 14.2 feet at 1 p.m. Wednesday, just below the flood stage of 15 feet.  Forecasters expected the river to rise above flood stage Wednesday night and continue to rise by tonight. 

In the vicinity of the river, flooding of Long Trussel Road in northeast Brazos County below Texas 21 is possible, according to the weather service. The river was expected to fall below flood stage by late Sunday morning, according to the weather service.

See The Eagle's weather page for more information.

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