‘Waves and waves of rain’ bring record to DFW

Police and firefighters scrambled to block streets under water and help motorists stranded in flooded roads Thursday night as heavy rain fell and 2015 became the wettest year on record in DFW.

Early Friday, the National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office announced on Twitter, “As of 12:14 AM CST DFW airport recorded 53.56 [inches] of rain for the year. This sets our all time record for highest rainfall in a year!”

The previous record of 53.54 was set in 1991.

About 45 minutes later, another record fell — this one for total rainfall for Nov. 27. “NEW RECORD for DFW: Already broke the record rainfall for today (11/27). Previous record was 0.76 [inches] in 1958. So far 0.88 [inches],” the weather service said on Twitter.

Several streets and a service roads were flooded Thursday night, and additional flooding calls were being reported throughout Fort Worth. Some areas flooded included Camp Bowie Boulevard/Fairfield Avenue, Northeast 28th Street at Decatur Avenue, West Freeway at Altamere Drive, Bryant Irvin Road at Oakmont Boulevard and the 3000 block of South Hulen Street near Central Market.

Numerous traffic accidents blamed on wet roads were reported in Fort Worth and Arlington.

Thanksgiving started off somewhat dry as walkers and runners at the annual Moritz Fort Worth YMCA Turkey Trot got through their routes with just a few sprinkles Thursday morning.

But the rain came for early shoppers Thursday afternoon, and forecasters say more is on the way.

“We are going to see waves and waves of rain with a few breaks from time to time,” WFAA meteorologist Colleen Coyle said.

The rain arrived just after 1 p.m. Thursday in Tarrant County.

A flash-flood watch is in effect until Sunday, when forecasters say the area could see 4 to 6 inches of rain.

The heaviest rains will arrive Friday along with a cold front.

“The cold front will just add to the chances of rain,” weather service meteorologist Jamie Gudmestad said.

Forecasters are calling for a 100 percent chance of rain Friday and Saturday, and an 80 percent chance Sunday.

“The biggest threat will be flooding,” Gudmestad said.

Along with the rain, the front will bring lower temperatures. The highs Friday should be in the mid-50s, and temperatures will fall to the lower 40s.

On Saturday, daytime temperatures will only reach the upper 30s.

The sun should reappear Monday.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 4:05 PM with the headline "‘Waves and waves of rain’ bring record to DFW."