By Trey Mewes and Jason Schoonover

Photos by Jason Schoonover

Flood waters are receding after a series of thunderstorms and at least 3 inches of rain caused Interstate 90 near the 11th Street Northeast exit in Austin to shut down for several minutes, along with minor flooding in other areas Monday.

Austin’s Turtle Creek remained in a flood warning this morning with water levels reported above the 10.5-foot flood stage at 10.7 feet. But waters were expected to drop below the flood stage by Wednesday morning.

Water levels rose quickly around Austin Monday afternoon after morning storms.

Turtle Creek rose about 2.4 feet between 6:40 and 8:40 a.m. The creek rose to 6.6 feet by 7:30 a.m. and waters rose to 10.64 feet by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Dobbins Creek also rose into the flood stage Monday, with peaking at 11.9 feet — above the 11.5-foot minor flood state. Water levels had dropped to 9.71 feet by 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Water levels on the Cedar River topped out between 11 and 12 feet in Austin, which was below the minor flood stage of 15 feet. In Lansing, the Cedar rose to about 16.5 feet, which was below the 18-foot minor flood stage.

I-90 flood waters recede 

Severe weather caused a number of accidents and closures early Monday.

The rains caused flooding on Interstate 90 Monday morning and closed the eastbound lanes near 11th Street Northeast for several minutes. By 11:30 a.m., the flooded portions of I-90 had dried.

Austin Police Chief Brian Krueger said there were several areas of the city were blocked off due to flash floods, but much of the flooding on roadways was receding by late Monday morning. Two on-ramps on Interstate 90 — the eastbound Fourth Street Northwest entrance ramp and the eastbound Sixth Street Northeast entrance ramp, were temporarily closed as waters rose due to heavy rains.

In addition, city workers closed off parts of Sixth Avenue Southeast as well as several underpasses throughout town due to standing water.

Car totaled after hitting firetruck

A car was totaled after running into a fire truck on the flooded portion of Interstate 90 this morning, according a press release from the fire department. No one was injured.

Several other accidents were also reported, including crashes on County Road 4 east of County Road 7 and on 170th Street.

Storm summary

The heavy rains ceased by mid-morning, but Austin city employees found standing water in several places throughout the city, including Highway 218 near Oakland Avenue East.

A van stalled and was left in flood waters along 14th Street Northeast just south of Todd Park.

Sixth Avenue Northeast just west of Highway 218 was under water for a good portion of the morning, but waters were receding around noon.

“This seems to be the worst part,” Alex Kinnear said just before noon after driving to a home on the flooded Sixth Street.

Kinnear had been driving around town since about 6:30 a.m. for work with Northern Green Gardening, and he said the flooded drainage ditch near Grace Lutheran Church was some of the highest water he’d seen.

Though the weather service previously said storms could redevelop this afternoon and evening as a cold front moves through, the chance of move weather has since been reduced.