UPDATE: EAST TEXAS (TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH) - The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning for Smith County lasting until 10:45 a.m., with widespread reports of flooding, fires and power outages.
Up to 3 inches of precipitation has fallen this morning, with up to 2 inches expected in the next two hours and rain expected to continue through the weekend, according to NWS.
Charles Hill, spokesman for Oncor, said a growing number of customers were out of power in Smith County, including in Tyler.
"We have about 6,300 customers out of power in Smith County, and these are new numbers," he said shortly before 10 a.m. "They (outages) are pretty well scattered, everything from Lindale to the north and then south to Jacksonville."
Smith County Fire Marshal's Office sent fire crews from Red Springs, Winona and Dixie departments to work multiple accidents on U.S. 271 north of Tyler and FM 14 north of Interstate 20.
Heavy runoff could cause flooding in creeks and streams and spill over onto streets and low-lying areas, the NWS warned. Motorists should avoid these areas.
A flash flood warning means flooding is imminent or occurring.
Tyler firefighters were battling a blaze in the 3400 block of Timber Lane off Old Omen Road, fire officials said.
Several stations responded to the fire, which was called in around 9:15 a.m.
It was unclear if the fire was weather-related.
In a separate incident, emergency personnel were responding to a report of a downed power line off Santa Rosa Drive in Tyler.
The line reportedly ignited portions of a tree, but there were no confirmed numbers of people without power in that area.
Today's forecast calls for a 40 percent chance of rain, with those chances increasing to 50 percent tonight, according to the NWS. Saturday's forecast calls for a 60 percent chance of rain during the day and then 50 percent at night.
Some storms could be severe, according to the NWS.
Showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue Sunday, with a 60 percent chance of precipitation. The rain chances decrease to 40 percent Sunday night.
EAST TEXAS (KYTX) - Scattered showers and embedded thunderstorms will continue to slowly move east of the region this morning.
Rainfall totals have averaged between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. A front will sag into the I-20 corridor this afternoon/evening - triggering another outbreak of rain and thunderstorms. One or two could possibly be severe. There is a slight risk of severe weather Saturday also as the front stalls out overhead and upper level impulses cross East Texas.
There is a 40% chance of rain and thunderstorms today and a 60% chance on Saturday and Sunday. Highs this weekend will be in the upper 80's.
This morning's storms have left thousands in the dark. Right now Oncor is reporting 28 outages in Cherokee County, Smith County has the most with just over 4,900. Van Zandt County has 196.
SWEPCO is reporting around 1,400 in Gregg County and 1,700 in Harrison County.
