Texas Flood Watch: Polo Rain From El Paso to Amarillo

What happened

A Texas flood watch now covers a big part of West Texas. The rain comes from what is left of Hurricane Polo. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued four flood watches early Monday, Sept. 28, 2026.

Here is where and when:

• El Paso and Hudspeth counties: from noon Monday (Mountain time) through late Tuesday night. Repeated rounds of rain could bring up to 4 inches. Low-water crossings may flood.
• Van Horn, the Highway 54 corridor and eastern Culberson County: from Monday evening through late Tuesday night, plus the Guadalupe and Delaware Mountains.
• Lubbock area: Bailey, Cochran, Lamb, Castro, Parmer and Swisher counties, from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon.
• Amarillo and the Panhandle: Potter, Randall, Deaf Smith, Oldham, Moore, Hutchinson, Carson, Armstrong, Dallam, Hartley, Sherman and Hansford counties, from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon.

The NWS says the ground is already soaked from rain last week. Wet ground cannot take more water, so it runs off fast. KTSM in El Paso says the worst case is 2 to 6 inches of rain there. It also says strong winds are not expected, because Polo will be much weaker by then.

What it means for owner-operators

This Texas flood watch hits some of the main freight roads in the West. I-10 runs through El Paso and Van Horn. I-40 and I-27 meet in Amarillo. Many of these areas are farm and oil country, with low roads and dips.

A watch is not a warning. It means flooding is possible, so you should be ready. If a flash flood warning comes, flooding is happening or about to happen.

Water on the road is hard to judge. You cannot see how deep it is or if the road under it is gone. A loaded truck can still be pushed off the road by moving water.

A flood can also stop you for hours. That can mean a late load, a damaged truck or wet cargo.

What to do next

• Check the forecast and road conditions before you leave. Use DriveTexas.org for Texas roads.
• Never drive into water over the road. Turn around and find another way.
• Stay away from low-water crossings and dips, most of all at night.
• Plan fuel, food and a safe place to park in case roads close.
• Tell your dispatcher or broker early if the weather will make you late.
• Know what your policy covers before a storm. Our guide on physical damage coverage for trucks explains the basics.

Questions about protecting your truck and cargo? Call TCZ Insurance Agency at 956-526-6727.