Abbott warns Texas to prepare for flash flooding as storms move from El Paso to Dallas this week

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday urged Texans to prepare for heavy rain and possible flash flooding through Friday.

Speaking at a briefing in Austin, Abbott said residents still had time to act before the storms arrived.

"There is still time for Texans to be able to take action ahead of this heavy rain hitting your region," Abbott said.

Abbott issued his first warning for West Texas and the Panhandle. "From Amarillo to Lubbock to El Paso, be prepared in the next 24 hours to take action needed to protect yourself," he said.

The National Weather Service forecast storms around El Paso on Monday night and Tuesday, with a flood watch in effect through early Wednesday. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the heaviest rain is expected Wednesday night through Thursday night. The flash flood threat around Austin and San Antonio could continue into Friday morning.

Abbott said a slow-moving cold front could bring prolonged rain to some areas. He compared the potential flooding to storms that struck Central and South Central Texas last July, though he said officials could not yet predict which rivers might overflow.

"At this moment in time, we can’t tell you which ones are going to flood," Abbott said.

Abbott said the state has deployed 1,900 responders and more than 1,500 pieces of equipment.

Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd said the rain would help drought-stricken areas, but cautioned that "there will be a lot of rain in some places."

Kidd urged drivers to turn around when they encounter flooded roads and to check road conditions at drivetexas.org.