Thunderstorms drenched already soggy south Texas on Monday — and in some parts of Corpus Christi it was easier to get around by canoe than by car.
The National Weather Service declared a flash flooding emergency for the beleaguered city and surrounding counties, while up to a foot of torrential rain stranded dozens of cars, according to NBC affiliate KRISTV.
No injuries were reported, but in the southeastern part of town some cars were completely inundated by water, the Weather Channel reported. Some residents in the Ingleside neighborhood had to be rescued from their flooded homes.
The most severely soaked area was southeast of the city, where 11.51 inches of rain fell in the 24-hour period ending Monday morning, according to the Weather Channel.
The National Weather Service also declared a flash flood watch for Houston and Galveston as the storms moved in a south-easterly direction.
"Do not drive your vehicle into areas where the water covers the roadway," the Weather Service warned. "The water depth may be too great to allow your car to cross safely. Vehicles caught in rising water should be abandoned quickly."
Low-lying Houston is no stranger to flooding.
Citing statistics compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Weather Channel reported that the city and county have experienced flooding 96 times between 1996 and 2015, including severe flooding as recently as April 18.
Severe storms are in the forecast Tuesday from central and eastern Texas to southwest Arkansas, southeast Oklahoma and western Louisiana. While the system could bring damaging wind gusts and large hail, there is also the threat of tornadoes.
