Waymo pauses driverless car service in Atlanta ahead of potentially dangerous storms

A Waymo minivan arrives to pick up passengers for an autonomous vehicle ride, April 7, 2021, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

Waymo has suspended driverless car services in Atlanta and Texas after one of its vehicles was stranded by flooding during heavy rains that will likely also hinder travel in a large swath of the U.S over the holiday weekend.

Severe thunderstorms with large hail and gusty winds were possible Friday in Texas and other parts of the Southern and Central Plains, the National Weather Service said.

Forecasters warned of possible flash flooding along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana on Saturday, when rain and thunderstorms were expected across much of the central and eastern U.S.