10.10.2023

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Today’s Forecast

69º | Rainy | 87% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:28 a.m. | Sunset 5:42 p.m.

🌊 Living in Flash Flood Alley

Why Central Texas is known as ‘Flash Flood Alley’

A sign reading "Watch for Water on Road"

Austin lies in the heart of the Flash Flood Alley, which stretches as far as Dallas to Uvalde. | Photo by ATXtoday

When it rains in Austin, it pours, and sometimes it flash floods.

Austin sits in the heart of “Flash Flood Alley,” a stretch of land from Dallas to Uvalde that is very prone to rapid flooding and the flash flood capital of the US.

With some light rain in the forecast — and because October is one of the stormiest months of the year — we’re talking about how Flash Flood Alley got its name.

Unique terrain + rainfall events

ATX_MansfieldDam — The Mansfield Dam was completed in 1941 to help alleviate downstream flooding.
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Photo by shanntastic

The combination of Central Texas’ hilly landscape, clay-rich and thin soil, and high rainfall intensity make the area susceptible to flooding — especially during a drought.

Although we Austinites like to bemoan the lack of rain, rapid intense rainfall (when we get it) can fall too fast for the soil to absorb it all, causing the water run to the nearest stream.

Of the six Highland Lakes — which includes Lakes Travis, Austin, and Lady Bird — only Lake Travis, via the Mansfield Dam, is designed to contain flood waters that flow downstream. Learn more about how the Highland Lakes System works.

Between June 2022 and June 2023, more than 300 flash flood events were recorded in Texas. Of them, 13 were in the Austin area. Major flash flooding in Austin happened as recently as last April, when rising water left 21 cars stranded in northwest Austin.

Stay safe during a flash flood

Like any other time it rains in Texas, avoid driving as much as you can. If you must drive, stick to higher ground, never attempt to drive on a flooded road, and observe all barricades. Just two feet of rushing water can carry cars away.

Follow ATXFloods for up-to-date information on flooding.

Events

Tuesday, Oct. 10

Celebrate Ten-Ten Day | Tuesday, Oct. 10 | 4:30-9 p.m. | TenTen, 501 W. 6th St., Austin | Free | TenTen will offer half-off cocktails and plates to honor Oct. 10.
ACL-Themed Cycle Class | Tuesday, Oct. 10 | 4:45 p.m. | Studio Three Austin, 501 Brazos St., Austin | $35 | Celebrate ACL season with some themed cycling classes.

Wednesday, Oct. 11

Janelle Monáe | Wednesday, Oct. 11 | 6 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater, 1401 Trinity St., Austin | $45-$95 | Don’t miss “The Age of Pleasure” tour’s stop in ATX.

Thursday, Oct. 12

Nature Nights - Spooky Pollinators | Thursday, Oct. 12 | 6-9 p.m. | Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, 4801 La Crosse Ave., Austin | Free | Enjoy interactive presentations, hikes with experts, and nature crafting.

Friday, Oct. 13

Avenged Sevenfold: North American Tour | Friday, Oct. 13 | 6:30 p.m. | Germania Insurance Amphitheater, 9201 Circuit of the Americas Blvd., Austin | $35-$750 | Catch this metal band alongside Falling in Reverse.
Lukas Nelson + POTR | Friday, Oct. 13 | 8 p.m. | ACL Live, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd., Austin | $35-$157 | Enjoy live tunes from Nelson’s newest album, “Sticks and Stones.”

Saturday, Oct. 14

Hill Country Mile Rod Run | Saturday, Oct. 14 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Hill Country Mile, 100 S. Main St., Boerne | Free | Get ready for a day of live music, local craft beer, food, vendors + cars — and don’t forget your eclipse glasses, since the festivities coincide with the annular eclipse at 11:51 a.m.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Tech

Send a shark after your compromised data floating around the web

data breach alert computer unlocked steal.jpg

Surfshark One is a cybersecurity bundle for all-over protection. | Photo by Surfshark

DYK? Online data leaks give hackers an easy opportunity to gain access to your personal information and accounts — potentially leading to financial fraud and identity theft.

That’s why it’s essential to take your cybersecurity into your own hands.

For an easy way to manage it all, consider 24/7 breach monitoring with Surfshark Alert, which keeps you safe with:

Real-time credit card + ID breach alerts
Instant email data breach notifications
Regular personal data security reports

Stop worrying about data breaches — get Surfshark Alert

News Notes

Biz

Local real estate firm StoryBuilt put its $2 billion pipeline up for sale amid ongoing financial problems. Comprised of 28 projects in Austin and across the US, the portfolio can be purchased in its entirety or in parcels. The company hopes to sell by the end of the year. (Austin Business Journal)

Try This

The local foodie collaboration you never expected is here: Terry Black’s Barbecue x Sushi | Bar. The Terry Black’s Bite, part of Sushi | Bar’s 17-course omakase experience, is made with cold smoked ocean trout, bacon jam, and topped with the barbecue restaurant’s signature glaze.

Transit

CapMetro’s MetroRail will suspend service on Saturday, Oct. 21 through at least Monday, Oct. 23 as crews work on the McKalla Station near Q2 Stadium. CapMetro has alternate routes planned — view the schedule. (KXAN)

Watch

The Austin High School marching band opened up for headliner Mumford and Sons at ACL Fest on Sunday evening. This isn’t the first time Mumford has extended the invitation to the Maroon Marching Band — they also joined for a rendition of “The Cave” in 2019. (KVUE)

Festival

Lose your phone, wallet, keys, or a piece of jewelry at ACL Fest? You’re not alone. You can browse and claim items lost during weekend one on ACL’s digital lost and found platform.

State

The State Fair of Texas is open now through Sunday, Oct. 22. For all the Austinites planning a trip, our Fort Worth sister market FTWtoday has you covered on guides to the fair. Get the 4-1-1 on best rides, must-try foods, and more.

Trending

It’s day one of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. Shop deals on home, kitchen, fashion, and tech, like 11% off the Bissell Little Green Carpet Cleaner.*

Food

🍯 Oh honey, honey

We’re buzzing for locally sourced Austin honey

Screen Shot 2023-10-09 at 3.42.51 PM.png

Honey from Austin Honey Co. comes from bees that reside within 30 miles of the Texas Capitol. | Photo by @austin_honey_co

Did you know the Texas honey industry is one of the largest in the country? According to the USDA, Texas produced 7.5 million pounds of honey from 126,000 honey-producing bee colonies in 2019.

Whether you like it in your tea, on a biscuit, or by itself, here are a few local bee farms where you can grab a jar of the sweet syrup.

Austin Honey Company
All the bees that make Austin Honey Co.'s products reside within 30 miles of the Texas Capitol — find the honey at four farmers markets and a handful of local grocery stores. Pro tip: don’t skip the creamed honey.

Good Flow Honey Co.
This family-owned honey producer has been operating since the 1970s and has hives all along the I-35 corridor.

Two Hives Honey
You can also take beekeeping classes, a hive tour, and honey tastings at this local maker’s hive.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Figi

From the editor

I’m back after three days at ACL Fest, and the post-concert FOMO has already set in. My favorite performance of the weekend? I’m glad you asked.

I’m a local listener through and through — Die Spitz took the cake for my favorite set. Check out the local performers coming to weekend two.

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