Texas flooding blamed in five deaths

Relentless thunderstorms have rumbled across central Texas for more than two days, causing severe flooding that has been blamed for the deaths of five people.

Widespread rains were expected to continue through the weekend, prompting the National Weather Service to keep Central Texas under a flash flood warning.

The city of Austin had received 2.59 inches of rain since Friday evening, while Waco had been drenched with 3.22 inches and San Antonio 3.63 inches, the weather service reported. The heaviest was 5.22 inches in Georgetown, Texas, about 20 miles north of Austin.

Additional heavy rain was predicted until Saturday evening.

''We're right along the frontal boundary,'' said Bill Runyon of the National Weather Service. ''It's surrounding us like a big sea and we're in the middle of it, and it's closing in on us.''

Three people died in flooding Friday and two on Thursday. All died in car accidents during heavy rains or flooding.

In Kimble County, the Llano River rose to 33 feet and left its banks in some parts, cutting off some remote ranches from the rest of the Hill Country of central Texas. Dozens of people sought shelter at two churches overnight, said Sheriff Mike Chapman.

The Llano crested early Saturday, but more rain could mean more flooding, said Kimble County Judge Delbert Roberts, the county's chief executive. However, there was no panic among emerency officials, he said.

''This county's real prone to flooding, so most folks know how to wait things out,'' he said.