Tropical Depression Bill moves across Texas, Oklahoma, more rain expected

DALLAS, June 18 (UPI) -- As Tropical Depression Bill continues its northeastern trek Thursday, officials in the nation's midsection, including rain-soaked Texas and Oklahoma, are warning of more flooding from already swollen rivers.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for potentially life-threatening rains for the eastern half of Texas and Oklahoma and northeast across the mid-Mississippi valley and the midwest.

Early Thursday, Bill was located northwest of Dallas, moving about 10 miles per hour with winds up to 50 miles per hour. The storm is expected to slowly weaken in the next few days.

"Bill is expected to produce total rain accumulations of four to eight inches across eastern Oklahoma, northwest Arkansas and into southwest Missouri," the National Weather Service said, adding that up to two inches are possible in southeast Texas. "Isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches are possible across Oklahoma. These rains may produce life-threatening flash floods."

Already some areas have seen record rainfalls. In the tiny city of Ganado, Texas, in the northeastern part of the state, 11.77 inches of rain fell in 14 hours. In Waco, Texas, some 3.55 inches were recorded. In southern Oklahoma, up to 10 inches of rain dropped.

In May, record amounts of rain fell, causing deadly flooding in Texas and Oklahoma. The tropical depression has ramped up fears of the same problems.

Early Thursday, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was expected to resume a search for a two-year-old who remains missing after an attempted water rescue. Officials said the girl was in her father's arms to escape the rising creek when the toddler was swept away.