The watch covers Bailey, Cochran and Lamb counties in northwest Texas, plus Castro, Parmer and Swisher counties in the Panhandle. Forecasters say excessive rainfall could trigger flooding of rivers, creeks and streams, along with low-lying and flood-prone spots in general.
Low-water crossings are the specific concern the weather service flagged. Those crossings can look passable and then fill fast once runoff picks up, which is how most flood deaths happen in this part of Texas. Anyone driving through the six affected counties over the next two days should watch for water on the road and turn around rather than push through it.
For folks in Lubbock and the surrounding farm and ranch country, this is the kind of watch that matters most for people commuting on rural roads or moving livestock and equipment ahead of storms. The six counties named span a wide stretch of the region, so the runoff risk isn't limited to one town or highway.
A watch means conditions are favorable for flooding, not that it's happening yet, but the Weather Service picked a 36-hour window for a reason.