Multiple storms pound Texas

Much of the Texas heartland was under a flash flood watch early Saturday as the National Weather Service forecast up to a foot of rain inthe Austin-San Antonio area.

Aerial footage of a Union Pacific freight train after it derailed in south-east Texas on Saturday following heavy flooding.

The 64-car train was carrying loose gravel when several of its cars tipped over and partially sank, Union Pacific spokesman Jeff DeGraff said.

The NWS is warning that another 6-8 inches of rain could fall in the area on Saturday, and more is expected as the remnants of Hurricane Patricia move northeast.

Saturday’s rainfall led to the cancellation of about 100 flights at Dallas/Fort Worth worldwide Airport, one of the country’s busiest air hubs, according to tracking service FlightAware.

The dog was safely retrieved.

Interstate 45 between Dallas and Houston has reopened in both directions after heavy rain and flooding forced overnight closures in the Corsicana area.

The rain was not expected to taper off for a few time, forecasters warned.

“Chances will remain fairly high throughout the day – 50 to 80 percent for most of us”, says Bain.

However, authorities fear that the remnants of Patricia will bring more rain to Texas this weekend.

Another Flash Flood Warning, for the northwestern portion of Anderson County, will be in effect until 2:15 p.m. Law enforcement has reported flooding over Highway 287 in Cayuga. The latest update on Hurricane Patricia reveals that the storm touched down Friday in Mexico as a category five, lost strength to a category one, and is now a tropical depression. “And there’s a lot more rain on the way”.

Rains which have beaten central Texas and north wreaked havoc Saturday and Friday.

“This is a situation that Houstonians should be familiar with”, Parker said, referring to the city’s vulnerability to flooding.

Scientists have cited an abundance of unusually mild ocean waters as well as favorable atmospheric conditions as the main causes of the rapid intensification, with a major assist from a near-record strong El Niño and a possible contribution from global warming-related trends.

As long as rain does not come down all at once, localized flooding should be minimal. “There could be local rainfall amounts of up to one foot northwest of Houston between Saturday and Monday”.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management urged rescue groups to have equipment and personnel in place in case of high-water rescues.