Flash Flooding Swamps North Texas, Shuts Down Interstate

A band of torrential rain early Thursday morning triggered flash flooding over parts of north Texas, shutting down an interstate.

Interstate 35 was shutdown in both directions in Cooke County from mile marker 491 to the Denton County line, closing the main north-south artery between Oklahoma and the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area.

It was reopened about 1-2 hours later in both directions according to Cooke County Emergency Manager Ray Fletcher. Several county roads and access roads remained flooding, as of 8:41 a.m. CDT.

NBC5 Dallas morning reporter Jeff Smith posted photos of Interstate 35 near Sanger, Texas.

There have been approximately 30 rescues this morning in the Valley View area according to Cooke County Emergency Management.

The Weather Channel Twitter follower Adam Barnes said approximately 30-40 vehicles were either stalled, abandoned, or in the ditch along this stretch of Interstate 35.

(MORE: The Biggest Flash Flood Danger)

In Krum, Texas 5 people were rescued from 2 homes on Odneal Road, according to Denton County Emergency Services. Emergency Management used a boat to get them all safely out of their homes.

Flash flooding was also reported on Thursday morning in Abilene, Texas where several roads were reported closed and cars stalled due to the high water.

(INTERACTIVE: North Texas radar)

Flash flood watches stretched from northeast Texas into Oklahoma and western Arkansas, including much of the Red River Valley currently in extreme to exceptional drought.

On a positive note, the rain is beneficial for the lakes in the area and they should see a rise over the next day or two. According to the National Weather Service Lake Ray Roberts has gone up about 1.5 feet already.

The threat for heavy rain continues as an upper-air disturbance moves southeast and a frontal boundary remains over the region. The heavy rain should shift east out of north Texas by late Friday.

Here are some additional reports and photos from this flash flood.