TL;DR: The National Weather Service in Fort Worth extended a Flash Flood Warning for northwestern Dallas County, Denton County and Tarrant County until 12:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, October 1, 2026, after gauges showed up to 4 inches of rain had fallen and another 2 inches were possible.

Warning extended to 12:30 p.m. for three counties

The National Weather Service in Fort Worth extended the morning Flash Flood Warning for northwestern Dallas County in north central Texas, Denton County in north central Texas and Tarrant County in north central Texas until 12:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, October 1, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The extension added two hours to an initial warning that had been set to expire at 10:30 a.m. CDT, according to The Dallas Morning News.

At 10:17 a.m. CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area, with up to 4 inches of rain already fallen and an additional 2 inches possible, according to The Dallas Morning News account of the National Weather Service alert.

The National Weather Service said in the alert that flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly, according to The Dallas Morning News.

A separate Flash Flood Warning for northwestern Ellis County and most of Johnson County was also in effect until 12:30 p.m. Thursday, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Johnson County faced the greatest near-term flash flood threat at mid-morning because the heaviest rain had trained over the area for more than an hour, according to The Dallas Morning News account of a National Weather Service social media post.

A broader flood watch remained in effect for much of the Metroplex through 7 a.m. Friday, October 2, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Earlier morning alert listed cities and highways at risk

The earlier Flash Flood Warning, issued at 7:24 a.m. CDT and valid until 10:30 a.m. CDT, covered northwestern Dallas County, Denton County and Tarrant County, according to the National Weather Service alert republished by Forth.

At 7:24 a.m. CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area, with up to 2 inches of rain fallen and an expected rainfall rate of 2 to 3 inches in 1 hour, according to the National Weather Service alert republished by Forth.

The National Weather Service identified the hazard as flash flooding caused by thunderstorms, with radar and automated gauges as the source, according to the alert republished by Forth.

The expected impact was flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas, according to the alert republished by Forth.

Some locations listed as expected to experience flash flooding included Fort Worth, Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, Frisco, Denton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Mansfield, Euless, Bedford, Grapevine, Haltom City, Keller, Coppell and Hurst, according to the alert republished by Forth.

The same alert listed Interstate 35E between mile markers 437 and 466, Interstate 35W between mile markers 38 and 85, Interstate 35 between mile markers 468 and 470, Interstate 20 between mile markers 423 and 456 and Interstate 30 between mile markers 2 and 37, according to the alert republished by Forth.

New rainfall totals prompted the extension

By 10:17 a.m., observed totals had doubled from the early-morning report, rising from up to 2 inches to up to 4 inches in the Dallas, Denton and Tarrant warning area, according to The Dallas Morning News.

An additional 2 inches of rain remained possible in that warned area, according to The Dallas Morning News.

In the Ellis and Johnson county warning area, up to 3.5 inches of rain had fallen as of 10:10 a.m., with an additional 2 inches possible, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The National Weather Service said a flash flood threat would continue for the Metroplex over the next few hours due to the high rainfall rates seen with the line of storms, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The weather service said a line of showers and storms continued to make slow eastward progress and would take most, if not all, of the morning to work its way across the Interstate 35 corridor, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Average rainfall totals through Friday were expected to reach between 2 and 4 inches for most areas, with isolated totals of 4 to 6 inches in some areas, according to the National Weather Service as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Storms were expected to continue moving east across North Texas through Thursday and overnight into Friday, with flooding and strong winds as the main threats, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Roads closed and drivers stranded in high water

The Texas Department of Transportation reported that Interstate 30 westbound was closed at Chapel Creek due to high water, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

As of 9:50 a.m., Fort Worth police were responding to at least seven water emergency calls in the area, according to the agency's 911 call portal as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

People reporting those emergencies said they were stuck in their vehicles in high water, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Officials reminded people not to drive through water if the depth is unknown and to check drivetexas.org for highway closures due to flooding, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Texas Department of Transportation said flash floods are the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Texas, according to Yahoo News coverage of the October 1 North Texas high-water event.

The National Weather Service urges drivers to turn around and not attempt to cross flooded roads, noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles, according to the alert republished by Forth.

The weather service also advises drivers to be aware of surroundings and not drive on flooded roads, according to the alert republished by Forth.

The Dallas Morning News reported that the weather service encourages drivers to avoid driving through flooded roads, use extra caution at low-water crossings and in areas of poor drainage and allow extra time for travel.

Power outages and flight disruptions spread

More than 6,800 Tarrant County residents and 2,600 Dallas County residents were without power as of 9:50 a.m., according to electric service provider Oncor as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Oncor said teams will respond quickly to any power outages as soon as it is safe to do so, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Oncor said flooding in some areas may cause delays and access challenges for field resources, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Oncor encouraged customers to stay weather aware and keep safety first, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

More than 200 flights scheduled to leave Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on Thursday were delayed and more than 80 had been canceled as of 9 a.m., according to FlightAware as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

More than 65 flights had been delayed out of Dallas Love Field with nearly 10 cancellations as of 9 a.m., according to FlightAware as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Dallas Morning News advised North Texas drivers to allow extra commuting time Thursday morning because heavy rain and storms could affect the morning rush hour.

Additional warnings covered Ellis, Johnson, Collin and Dallas counties

Some locations that may experience flash flooding in the Ellis and Johnson warning included Mansfield, Burleson, Cleburne, Midlothian, Keene, Joshua, Alvarado, Venus, Grandview, Godley, Cross Timber, Lake Pat Cleburne and Cleburne State Park, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Parts of Collin County and Dallas County were under a flood advisory until 1 p.m. Thursday due to excessive rainfall and minor flooding, according to The Dallas Morning News.

That advisory covered southwestern Collin County and most of Dallas County, according to The Dallas Morning News.

A flood advisory is issued when flooding is expected to be hazardous but not severe enough to issue a warning, according to the National Weather Service as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Overflowing poor-drainage areas were expected to cause minor flooding in the advisory area, with up to 2 inches of rain fallen and another inch possible, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Some cities listed for that flooding included Dallas, Plano, Garland, Mesquite, McKinney, Frisco, Richardson, Allen, Rowlett, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Wylie, Duncanville, Lancaster, Farmers Branch, Balch Springs and University Park, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Ellis and Hill counties were also under a separate flood advisory until 2 p.m. Thursday, covering mainly central Hill County and portions of Ellis County, according to The Dallas Morning News.

Cities that may see flooding in that advisory included Waxahachie, Ennis, Midlothian and Red Oak, according to The Dallas Morning News.

What households should do during the warning period

A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is about to begin or is already occurring, according to the National Weather Service as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Anyone who receives the alert should move to higher ground immediately and avoid flooded areas, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The National Weather Service shared safety guidance to have weather warnings set up on a phone, get to higher ground immediately when alerted to a flash flood, and never enter floodwaters in a vehicle or on foot, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

If a vehicle stalls or gets stuck in a flood, occupants should abandon it and move to higher ground, according to Yahoo News coverage of Texas Department of Transportation guidance.

Drivers should never go around barricades blocking flooded roads, according to News9 coverage of National Weather Service flood guidance.

Rain chances were expected to continue into the weekend with diminishing coverage, including 60% on Saturday, October 3, and 20% on Sunday, October 4, according to the National Weather Service as reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

By late Sunday, rain chances were expected to end and give way to sunny skies at the top of next week, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Daily highs over the next few days were expected to remain between the upper 70s and low 80s, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Sources referenced