Flooding cuts off Rio Grande area

River water covers a portion of FM 170 between Lajitas and Presidio on Monday.

Record rainfalls continue, bringing the danger of flooding throughout the Big Bend area.

Cumulative rainfall for Alpine has exceeded the mean rainfall of roughly 14 inches per year. There is more of the rainy season to come as well.

There has been extensive flooding along FM 170 southeast of Presidio. This flooding is the result of rainfall Monday and water releases from the Luis Leon Reservoir in northern Mexico. This has resulted in high water levels along the Rio Grande.

Reports from the Texas Department of Transportation indicate that a substantial portion of FM 170 will be closed until further notice because of high water. In addition, fields were flooded Tuesday night in Redford.

The flood warning continues for the Rio Grande at Castolon. Tuesday, the river was at 15.1 feet. The National Weather Service predicted the river would continue rising to near 19.1 feet on Friday. If this happens, Big Bend National Park’s Cottonwood Campground begins to flood, restrooms upstream at Santa Elena Canyon parking lot will be inundated and water will begin to close all roads in the area.

The Texas Department of Public Safety has reported two incidents of motorists being stranded in the floodwaters. No fatalities have been reported.

If driving in these areas, officials say to exercise caution. Do not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway. The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely. It is never safe to drive on flooded roads. It takes only a few inches of rapidly flowing water to quickly carry away your vehicle.

Hurricanes Gustave and Ike have contributed to a wetter year than usual, not only along the coast of Texas but into our area.

West Texas has a subtropical steppe climate that is nearly an arid desert climate. It is generally cooler and wetter the greater the altitude.

Our annual rains are caused by warm masses of moisture thrown off by Pacific and Gulf Coast hurricanes that meet either the cool, dry jet stream or cold fronts from the North. When moisture and coolness meet, it results in storms and precipitation.

Flooding cuts off Rio Grande area

Record rainfalls continue, bringing the danger of flooding throughout the Big Bend area.

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