The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for Austin County from 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31, through late this evening.

“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas,” the statement said. “Periods of heavy rainfall will begin this morning and continue through late this evening. Rain totals in the Watch area will be between two to four inches with localized amounts of five to seven inches. Rainfall rates of up to two inches per hour or higher will be possible with embedded thunderstorms that develop this afternoon.”

The watch included Austin County as well as neighboring Colorado, Fort Bend, Waller, Washington and Wharton Counties, among others in southeast and south-central Texas.

NWS reminded residents to always “Turn around, don’t down,” if encountering a flooded area and provided more tips and resources at weather.gov/safety/flood.

“You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop,” the Flood Watch statement said.

Although some forecasts had Austin County in an area that was estimated to get two to four inches of rain, NWS Houston/Galveston reminded to not focus on individual amounts or locations, as “the storm could track slightly shift left or right, and the axis of the heaviest rain will follow.”

“The bulk of the heavy rainfall will occur this afternoon and continue into the evening,” NWSHG said Monday. “Light rain showers early this morning. Moderate to heavy rainfall beginning in the late morning that will continue through the late evening. The heaviest rains will move south and east of the area shortly after midnight.”

Stay tuned to sealynews.com and The Sealy News’ social media pages for updates throughout the storm.