Updated at 1:30 Sunday with the victim's identity

Torrential rain swamped much of North Texas early Saturday, flooding roads and homes, filling creeks to bursting, and causing one death and a host of close calls.

Over 8 inches of rain fell at DFW International Airport between Friday and Saturday, and some spots saw even more than that, according to the National Weather Service.

That 24-hour period was the third-wettest on record in Dallas and, coupled with the 3 inches that fell earlier this month, added up to the rainiest September ever, according to the weather service.

Beyond the staggering rainfall totals, there was nothing all that remarkable about the weather. The storms weren't severe; they were sluggish.

"This time of year, a tropical storm doesn't have to be the source of incredible amounts of rain," said Brian James, a meteorologist with KXAS-TV (NBC5). "A slow-moving 'regular' storm system can do just as much damage."

1 / 8Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas on Saturday.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 2 / 8Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 3 / 8A Range Rover and a car drive through waters flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto Goforth Road.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 4 / 8Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek underneath E. NW Highway in Dallas.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 5 / 8Marco Medrano, from City of Dallas Public Works Department, puts out a barrier to close Goforth Road near White Rock Creek on Saturday.(Brian Elledge / Staff photographer) 6 / 8Water flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek onto the Flagpole Hill Trail in Dallas on Saturday.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 7 / 8A pickup hauling a trailer drives through waters flooding out of the banks of White Rock Creek on Saturday in Dallas.(Brian Elledge / Staff Photographer) 8 / 8A sailboat washed up on the west shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas on Saturday.(Jim Rossman / Staff)

The worst of the rain had moved off to the northeast by dawn, but a flash-flood watch remains in effect through Sunday morning for Dallas and Collin counties.

Keisha Burns, KXAS-TV (NBC5) weather anchor, said the rain should clear throughout the day on Saturday but that occasional scattered showers are still expected.

That could leave some roads treacherous, if not impassable, until Sunday, especially in low-lying areas.

Some of the hardest-hit areas were south and west of Dallas and Fort Worth.

In Everman, just south of Forest Hill, dozens of homes were flooded so quickly that residents had to wait for rescuers on their roofs.

"We had residents stranded up on top of their homes. People begging for help, screaming for help," Everman Police Chief Craig Spencer told KXAS-TV (NBC5). "It's a scary situation, not only for the residents, but also for the first responders. It's a tough situation to be in."

Rescuers had trouble reaching the flooded houses because the water rose so quickly and became too high to navigate.

"It looked like we all live in a river," Jimmie Reason of Everman told NBC5. "Everybody was panicking."

Good portion of a neighborhood in Everman is flooded. Search & Rescue going door to door. pic.twitter.com/r3Pq8vtqUa — Jack Highberger (@JackHighberger) September 22, 2018

Areas along Red Oak Creek in Ellis County were also hard-hit, especially Waxahachie and the town of Palmer to the east, where roads and homes were inundated.

Flooding (Ellis County) Parts of Ellis County also saw some serious flooding. Here are photos from the Waxahachie and Palmer areas. Thanks to Brian Buchert for these photos. pic.twitter.com/RDAv2aYFtu — DFW Scanner (@DFWscanner) September 22, 2018

Significant damage along Red Oak Creek in Ellis County from last nights rain. The clean up started this morning. @NBCDFW @NBCDFWWeather pic.twitter.com/xbDeCBV9mJ — Mike Heimbuch (@HeimbuchMike) September 22, 2018

Numerous high-water rescues were reported overnight in Dallas, Tarrant, Ellis and Collin counties, where first-responders warned against driving into floodwaters.

In southeast Dallas, police were called to the 8400 block of Fireside Drive just before 7 a.m., where a woman's car was stranded in floodwaters from nearby Prairie Creek.

Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans said five Dallas officers who were dispatched to the scene became trapped as they attempted to rescue the woman.

Multiple fire units, including two boats and the swift water rescue team, arrived at the scene to rescue police as well as the woman trapped in her car, Evans said.

In northeast Dallas, White Rock Creek crested overnight at 91.47 feet at Greenville Avenue, an all-time record.

The Trinity River and Rowlett Creek also swelled Saturday morning, each reaching heights of more than 30 feet, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Dallas police warned drivers to avoid several high-water areas throughout the city.

In Arlington, authorities were investigating a drowning near the University of Texas at Arlington campus.

A 23-year-old man was swept off a bridge near Doug Russell Park at about 11:15 p.m. Friday. His body was pulled from the creek close to 2 a.m. Saturday.

"It took a while to find this victim because of the water," Arlington Fire Lt. Mike Joiner said.

The victim was identified as Alan Amaya of El Paso, who was working on a Ph.D. in pure mathematics. Amaya worked at a Christian sports camp over the summer, and played club soccer at UTA.

In Plano, city officials canceled the Plano Balloon Festival scheduled for this weekend due to flooding at Oak Point Park.

Flooding footage from Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve where the Plano Balloon Festival is held. The festival has been cancelled. pic.twitter.com/XlnkfwWhlC — City of Plano (@cityofplanotx) September 22, 2018

Also in Collin County, a freight train hauling steel derailed on a flooded track near Farmersville around 11:30 p.m. Friday, Lt. Nick Bristow said.

Eleven rail cars jumped the tracks, but no injuries were reported. Drivers were asked to avoid the area.

A train was derailed around 11:30 p.m. Friday near Farmersville, the Collin County Sheriff's Office said. Eleven cars jumped the tracks, and drivers were asked to avoid the area. (Collin County Sheriff's Office)

In Southlake, firefighters saved a family of three trapped in a car on White Chapel Boulevard, using a ladder truck to reach them.

"We just went through this wall of water," Dr. Carlos Torres told NBC5. "We were just trapped."

Torres and his two daughters were headed home after dinner at a restaurant when their Maserati was trapped by floodwaters.

.@SouthlakeDPS rescued a father and two teens Fri night after they drove a Maserati into high water over a bridge on North White Chapel Blvd near Bob Jones Park. Firefighters had to smash out the back window and pull them out of the car surrounded by rushing water @FOX4 pic.twitter.com/7Ja3ZnCk5R — Lynnanne Nguyen (@LynnanneFOX4) September 22, 2018

"The oxygen in the car was running out," 15-year-old Fernanda Torres said. "I really couldn't breathe."

That's when Southlake firefighters extended a ladder over the family's car, broke a window and helped them to safety.

"Anytime we have an opportunity to save someone's life like that, it's a great feeling for our people," Southlake Fire Chief Michael said. "It's very rewarding. It's why we do what we do."

RESCUE THREAD! We hear the stories of heroic rescues on the news, and we see the brave men and women nationwide who run to the danger while others run away. Last night was a rough one for our fair city and our first responders. 1/ pic.twitter.com/MRvRZxVw7T — Southlake DPS (@SouthlakeDPS) September 22, 2018

In Irving, several drivers were trapped on Belt Line Road at State Highway 183, where floodwaters topped the wheels of some cars.

In Fort Worth, Southeast Loop 820 was shut down at Sun Valley Road after flooding made the highway too dangerous.

MedStar, the ambulance provider that serves Fort Worth and surrounding areas, responded to 83 crashes with injuries in 16 hours over Friday and Saturday. That included nine rollover crashes and two submerged vehicles.

Late Friday, scores of motorists were stuck on roads across Dallas-Fort Worth after flooding shut down a number of routes.

Traffic remained backed up around 9:40 p.m. Friday. (TxDOT)

U.S. Highway 75 was closed just north of the Plano Parkway exit around 9 p.m. because of high water, authorities said.

Traffic cameras showed dozens of cars stopped on the road, and traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.

Plano Fire-Rescue was called to help motorists whose vehicles were trapped in the water. Ten people were rescued from a half-dozen vehicles, officials said.

All lanes had reopened just before 11 p.m.

In Denton, officials closed southbound Interstate 35E at State School Road because of water on the road. The highway reopened Saturday morning.

The Keller Fire Department rescued one person from an SUV after it became stuck in high water on Nightingale Circle.

A number of other roads across North Texas were closed because of flooding, and authorities urged people to stay safe and not drive into high water.

KXAS-TV (NBC5) forecast

Saturday: 76/70, 100 percent chance of storms

78/68, 50 percent chance of storms

86/70, 20 percent chance of storms

87/71, 20 percent chance of storms

82/70, 30 percent chance of storms

Staff writers Jesus Jimenez and Matt Peterson contributed to this report.