UPDATE: LCRA will open the gates at Mansfield and Tom Miller roadblocks at noon – News – Austin American-Statesman



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11:00 am Update: The Lower Colorado River Authority will open the gates of the Mansfield and Tom Miller dams at noon in response to widespread flooding in the Highland Lakes on Tuesday. Evacuations have been ordered from Marble Falls, Granite Shoals, Llano and Kingsland as rain continues to pack down the area.

"It is a serious situation and people should take steps to protect people and property," said LCRA officials.

LCRA has announced that it will open a flood gate at the Mansfield Dam at noon, a second at 2 pm and a third at 4 pm. and a fourth door at 6 pm

"It is a dynamic situation that is likely to change," officials said.

Travis, Marble Falls, LBJ, Inks and Buchanan Lakes are closed until further notice due to dangerous weather conditions, including fast-moving seas and floods.

Flooding operations are already underway at the Starcke, Wirtz and Inks dams, officials said.

The Llano River has greatly exceeded the flood level in Llano, Mason and Junction, which has triggered flood warnings along these parts of the river. Sandy Creek near Kingsland also exceeded the flood level and the Pedernales River near Johnson City, according to LCRA hydromet data.

A flood warning was also issued for the South Fork San Gabriel River in Georgetown, and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office announced that it would evacuate the Shady River motorhome into the block of flats. 800 from Highway 29 to the east of the city due to the rising waters.

The Town of Marble Falls has stated that its wastewater treatment plant was disrupted by floods and invited residents and businesses to limit all wastewater activities. They ask people not to do laundry, wash dishes and minimize showers and flushing.

9:30 am update: The RM 2900 bridge in Kingsland collapsed on Tuesday morning under the flood of rains, according to the National Weather Service.

The bridge spans the Llano River, which rose well above the flood stage on Tuesday and is expected to reach a record high of 21 meters. A flood warning is in effect for the Llano River until Friday 6:20 pm. Heavy rains continue to pound the region, forcing evacuations and quick rescues.

The Austin Fire Department sent a boat with seven people and two helicopter rescuers as part of the Texas Task Force 1 to the area to assist in the rescue operations. Staff from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office and the Round Rock and Cedar Park fire departments were also sent.

The RM 1431 in Kingsland is closed between Bonnie Cove and CR 132B-Oak Springs Road due to high water, the Texas Department of Transportation announced.

Flood warnings are also in effect for Sandy Creek near Kingsland, the Pedernales River at Johnson City, the Guadalupe River at Kerrville, and the South Fork San Gabriel River in Georgetown, all of which were largely out of date. the flood on Tuesday morning.

The city of Marble Falls has ordered evacuations on Live Oak, Lakeshore Drive, Pecan Circle, Backbone, Barrier Lane, Louise, Edith, South J Avenue and 2147 West, including Waterside and RV Park. Shelters were installed at Meadowlakes Town Hall and Marble Falls High School, officials said.

"If you have not evacuated, do it," officials said.

A flash flood warning is in effect for the counties of Gillespie and Llano until 3:30 pm. has been expanded to include Burnet County. Meteorologists say heavy rains in Llano County have caused rising waters in Colorado and its tributaries in central and southern Burnet County. Evacuations were ordered along the Colorado and Marble Falls. In Llano County, there has been a rainfall of 9.27 inches in the last 24 hours, and some areas have accumulated more than 13 inches in the past 48 hours, the meteorological service said.

The Granite Shoals police ordered the evacuation of all residents living on Lake LBJ.

The Lower Colorado River Authority has shut down Lakes Travis, Marble Falls, LBJ, Inks and Buchanan with immediate effect until further notice, officials said on Twitter.

The TxDOT said that the RM 150 of Onion Creek had been closed due to floods. According to atxfloods.com, more than 200 low-water crossings through central Texas are closed.

Continuous rains are expected Tuesday on Austin and Hill Country. Texas Governor Greg Abbot elevated the Texas State Operations Center to operational readiness due to bad weather and floods, which means state resources will be made available to the authorities local authorities to help them intervene.

"When the weather is tough, Texas will ensure that our stakeholders and local officials have what they need to respond and protect those at risk," said Abbott. "I also urge all Texans to take their safety in hand by closely monitoring weather conditions and taking into account warnings from local officials."

BREAK: The FM 2900 bridge in Kingsland has collapsed. Pieces of the bridge are precipitated on the Llano River #CBSAustinWX #atxwx pic.twitter.com/e8RdYUcgBw

– Nicole Hartford ⚡️ (@NHartfordWX) October 16, 2018

9 am update: The National Meteorological Service has extended the flash flood warning for Llano and Gillespie counties until 3:30 pm Tuesday, while heavy rains continue to falling on the region, the rivers have grown and the rescue teams have been looking for people in the rising waters.

The meteorological service reported that no less than 10 inches of rain had fallen in the warned area in the last 36 hours, with no sign of a stop.

Several roads are closed due to flood waters and the Llano River has already reached 39 feet, well above the flood level, resulting in evacuations in the area. According to the meteorological service, it should reach 41 feet.

"It's a very dangerous situation for vulnerable areas," forecasters say. "All areas within 400 meters of the river are welcome to evacuate."

Fredericksburg, Kingsland, Llano and Horseshoe Bay are among the areas affected by the floods.

Williamson County officials said white water rescue teams had been sent to Llano and Kingsland to rescue people affected by the floods. We do not know how many people were in danger.

The Round Rock Fire Department, the Cedar Park Fire Department and the Williamson County Sheriff's Office all sent boats with a total of 10 people and a battalion commander to assist in the rescue. . The Williamson County Fire Marshal's office has also sent a captain to help coordinate, officials said.

The town of Marble Falls has also ordered evacuations along the Colorado River to Marble Falls as the river rises.

The Lower Colorado River Authority reported that water was flowing over the spillway of the Inks Dam near Buchanan Lake. The dam of the inks has no valves. LCRA officials are asking people in the area to protect themselves and their property.

Tuesday forecast for Austin: Showers move in much of the Hill Country, which caused an elevation of the Llano River in Llano more than 13 meters, causing evacuations in the region, announced the National Meteorological Service.

Forecasters urged residents of low and vulnerable areas near the river to seek higher land. According to them, the crest of the river should reach 41 feet at 7 o'clock, making it the second highest peak since June 14, 1935, when it reached 41.5 feet. The Llano houses of Robinson Municipal Park, Scotts Acres near Castell, Kingsland FM 2900 Bridge, Kingsland Lodge and houses below Marble Falls are expected to be flooded or seriously damaged when the Llano River reaches 38 feet, according to reports. the forecasters.

In nearby Mason County, along the Llano River, 6.64-inch rainfall has fallen since midnight, according to the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Closer to Austin in Williamson County, a flood warning was in effect for the southern spur of the San Gabriel River in Georgetown until Wednesday morning, National Weather announced. Service. The flooding scene on the San Gabriel is 9 feet, and at 6 am the river was 9.2 feet away, the meteorological service announced. The river could continue to rise to nearly 9.6 feet by Tuesday afternoon, forecasters said.

Further west in the Hill Country, flash flood warnings are still in effect for parts of Edwards, Real, Kerr, Gillespie and Llano counties, forecasters said.

Rainfall averaging half an inch in the Austin area is expected Tuesday with 80 percent chance of showers, forecasters said. Temperatures are expected to hover around 47 degrees all day and into the night, when the probability of rain drops to 40%.

Since midnight, 2.17 inches of rain has been recorded near Leander while more than an inch of rain has fallen in western Travis County, including Lakeway, Bee Cave and Lago Vista, according to LCRA.

According to the long-term forecast of the meteorological service, the rains should continue as temperatures remain below normal for the rest of the week:

Wednesday: Cloudy with a high of 55 and 40 per cent chance of rain. Cloudy with temperatures around 50 and 60 percent chance of rain.

Thursday: Cloudy with highs near 58 with 70 percent chance of rain. Cloudy in the night with minimums around 53 and a 70 percent chance of rain.

Friday: Cloudy with highs of 62 and 60 percent chance of rain. Cloudy with temperatures around 56 and over 50 percent chance of rain.

Saturday: Cloudy with a high of 67 and 50 percent chance of rain. Cloudy with temperatures around 56 and 20 percent chance of rain, usually cloudy at night.

Sunday: Partly sunny with highs of 69 and 20 percent chance of rain. Partly cloudy at night with temperatures around 54 and 20 percent chance of rain.

Monday: Cloudy with a high of 67 and 20 percent chance of rain.

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