The storm brought lightning, thunder and heavy winds around 4 a.m. Friday. Within minutes, rain water was overtaking area creeks.
At Interstate 635 and Hillcrest in Dallas, the water level was rising dangerously close to a bridge. At nearby Goodnight Lane and Webb Chapel, street crews were busily shutting flood gates to keep drivers from getting stuck.
There were no warnings near a low-lying are on Park Central where two women were stranded. Massaran Aourouma called 911 and sid Dallas Fire and Rescue got there just in time.
"When they came, the water was already inside my car," says Aourouma.
State Highway 114 at Loop 12 looked more like a stream than a roadway for most of the morning. It was shut down in both directions slowing the commute to a mere crawl for thousands of drivers.