Update: Floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams closed Friday evening, and the flood watch ended.
The Lower Colorado River Authority opened floodgates at Wirtz and Starcke dams Friday morning, passing floodwaters from the Llano River down to Lake Travis.
“Flows downstream of the dams will be higher and faster than usual,” said the agency, which manages the Highland Lakes system on the Colorado River.
Wirtz Dam forms Lake LBJ, while Starcke Dam forms Lake Marble Falls.
The LCRA said flood operations at other dams aren’t expected at this time, but that could change depending on rainfall.
The Austin area is still under a flood watch as the threat of heavy rain lingers on the first day of the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
The flood watch from the National Weather Service is active through 7 p.m. It covers a large part of Central Texas, including Travis, Hays and Williamson counties. Areas in the watch could get 1 to 3 more inches of rain, with 6 inches possible in isolated spots.
The NWS said life-threatening flooding is possible. “Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” it said.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms continue across the area today. Additional rain amounts will generally range from 0.5 to 3 inches, though locally higher amounts up to 6 inches remain possible. Stay weather aware if you have outdoor plans today! #txwx pic.twitter.com/6GbaI6AOsS
— NWS Austin/San Antonio (@NWSSanAntonio) October 2, 2026
Rain gauges around Travis County have recorded around 1 to 3 inches of rain over the past three days, according to the LCRA’s Hydromet monitoring system.
ACL Fest has not announced significant delays or cancellations Friday related to the rain. On Thursday, the festival said on social media that it was monitoring the forecast and staff were “preparing for a range of weather conditions.”
Here are a few ways to stay informed during severe weather: