Driving in heavy rain can be hazardous, but understanding wet-weather road conditions is key to staying safe. Being careful during Austin's storms means knowing how to check local road closures and having a plan to avoid flood-prone areas.

The need is especially acute in Central Texas and the Hill Country, which are experiencing an ongoing drought. According to the flood barrier company Flood Risk America, dry soil is hydrophobic, causing water to overflow quickly.

The good news is that checking driving conditions is easier than ever, thanks to online tools. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) frequently tweets weather updates and closures and maintains a real-time map showing travel dangers at DriveTexas.org.

Users can use toggles to filter out various driving headaches, including scheduled closures, road damage, construction, and flooding. The information is updated 24 hours a day in five-minute intervals.

Drivers should be warned, however, that the map only covers roadways maintained by the TxDOT system. While this does include rural Farm- and Ranch-to-Market routes, it does not include roads maintained by counties or municipalities.

Even with online information, driving safety can deteriorate quickly, especially during flash flooding. TxDOT reminds Texas motorists that water accumulations can appear to be more shallow than they actually are. It’s always best to “turn around, don’t drown.”

According to the agency, drivers can lose control of their vehicle — even if it is a truck or SUV — in as little as six inches of rapidly moving water. TxDOT recommends that drivers adhere to the following laws and guidelines:

• Never walk, swim, or drive through still or moving flood waters, which can hide dangers such as debris or downed power lines.
• Be especially mindful when driving at night when visibility is decreased.
• If you can do so safely, leave your vehicle if it stalls in deep water and head to higher ground.
• Driving around barriers blocking flooded roadways is illegal, subject to 180 days in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.
• Tampering with signs is punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years in jail.