A flood watch covering Dallas now runs from 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, to 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, giving residents and businesses a reason to check how they receive urgent weather information before the rain arrives. All times are Central Daylight Time.
The National Weather Service's Fort Worth office extended the watch in its 2:15 p.m. Sept. 29 update. Dallas County is in the affected area. Forecasters expect widespread rainfall of 2 to 4 inches across the watch area, with localized amounts of 4 to 6 inches as showers and thunderstorms move slowly.
A watch signals the possibility of flooding. Residents should follow later forecasts and any warnings, which can require action as the threat becomes more immediate. The rainfall range applies to the wider watch area; it is not a prediction that every Dallas block will receive the same amount.
For people who move between home and work, DallasAlert offers a practical way to follow both locations. The city's opt-in service allows users to add multiple addresses, with most notices targeted geographically. Its weather notifications cover National Weather Service flood, severe-thunderstorm and tornado watches and warnings for the areas associated with those addresses.
The service can send texts, voice calls and emails. English and Spanish notification lists are available; people who want Spanish notices should select those lists in their profile. Registration is required, and the city provides the sign-up link on its DallasAlert page.
Do not rely on hearing a siren inside a building. Dallas describes its outdoor warning system as a signal for people outdoors to get inside and seek further information from trusted sources, including NOAA weather radio and local news.
The weather service says excessive runoff could affect streams, creeks and other low-lying places, including low-water crossings. Treat a water-covered road as a reason to turn around. This report does not establish that a Dallas roadway is already flooded or closed. Check current official conditions before traveling.
