Waco, Texas — Rain is spreading across Central Texas Friday, with pockets of heavy downpours expected to slow travel and flood low-lying roads from midafternoon into early evening. Drivers in Waco, Killeen, and Cisco could encounter water pooling within minutes on streets and underpasses between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., while lightning and brief hail add hazards.
According to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth, the highest rain coverage will center on Central Texas, including Waco, Killeen, and surrounding areas, with isolated stronger storms extending north toward Dallas-Fort Worth and Sherman from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Rainfall rates may overwhelm drainage in construction zones and flood-prone intersections, especially along I-35 near Waco and Killeen and I-20 near Cisco. Reduced visibility and slick pavement could disrupt the evening commute in Dallas and Fort Worth. Frequent lightning raises the risk for outdoor crews, while small hail could damage vehicles in isolated cells.
This is part of a broader system pushing moisture across North and Central Texas, increasing instability just enough for scattered stronger storms despite otherwise cool temperatures in the upper 50s to near 60.
Avoid driving through water-covered roads, slow down on highways during heavy rain, and secure outdoor items ahead of gusty storms.
The most dangerous travel window runs 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., when heavy rain and lightning peak across Central Texas.
