(The Center Square) – After facing serious drought conditions, many south and central Texas communities are now under water after torrential downpours have caused flooding conditions.
Within the last 72 hours, south Texas communities near the border and in Central Texas have seen multiple roads closed and vehicles submerged. In desert-prone Uvalde, 16 inches of rain fell. Neighboring towns recorded between 12.4 and 16.7 inches. New Braunfels, north of San Antonio, reported nearly 7 inches. Rainfall is continuing.
CBS News Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco posted weather maps of rainfall on social media stating, “Unbelievable what is unfolding in southwest Texas. A new bullseye of 10-15″ of rain estimated by radar this morning alone, and now storms are adding to yesterday’s rain with totals close to 20 inches north of Uvalde. MASSIVE amounts of water moving downstream today.”
Flash flood and river flood warnings have also been issued in multiple towns and counties, stretching from Llano in central Texas to Carrizo Springs at the border.
The National Weather Service also issued a Flood Watch for the Rio Grande River near Laredo, stating flooding is expected possibly by Thursday, when the river could reach up to 8 feet.
As ongoing flooding persists, the Weather Prediction Center issued a Level 4 of 4 flood risk for parts of the Hill Country, the Edwards Plateau and the Rio Grande Valley. “Significant to locally catastrophic flash flooding” is forecasted with another 10 or more inches of rainfall expected Wednesday. Some areas are expected to receive up to 4 inches of rain an hour or more, it said.
Images posted online of Uvalde show East Main Street underwater and impassable with submerged cars. Streets and neighborhoods look like rivers.
In Fredericksburg, Barons Creek is overflowing into the Pedernales River, raising water levels by two feet as of Wednesday morning, the National Weather Service reported. Local news reports are showing rushing water in D’Hanis, Texas, in neighboring Medina County.
The Kinney County Sheriff’s Office has been sending out emergency text alerts about road closures and flooding. Ranch Roads 334 and 674 and RM 3008 and Highway 90 east of Uvalde are closed due to flooding. Residents are instructed to “not drive around road closure barriers or attempt to drive through low water crossing.”
By Tuesday night, Tomasco posted a weather forecast indicating torrential rainfall along and west of I-35, pointing to another six to 12 inches of rain within another 24-hour period.
In response, Gov. Greg Abbott warned Texans, saying this forecast “is JUST ONE of the weather scenarios I have been referring to in my disaster declaration. Note the amount of rain and the early morning hour it is being predicted. We have deployed rescue teams, Blackhawk helicopters and state personnel to respond to this danger. Heed weather warnings and local advisories.”
On Tuesday, Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties as severe storms and flash flooding threaten much of the state. He also directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to continue 24-hour operations at the Texas State Emergency Operations Center in Austin at Level II (Escalated Response) to support ongoing response efforts to severe storms and flash flooding.
“The protection of Texans is my top priority,” he said. “As severe storms and the threat of dangerous flash flooding continue across the state, this disaster declaration ensures we can rapidly deploy state resources to support local communities. Texas is positioned to respond quickly and effectively. I urge all Texans in affected areas to monitor local weather forecasts, avoid driving through flooded roadways, and have emergency supplies ready.”
The National Weather Service has forecasted heavy rainfall across Southwest, Central, and Southeast Texas through the end of the week, with a risk of increased flash flooding. Multiple rounds of rainfall over the same communities are expected to cause dangerous conditions, including flooding.
As storm threats continue, Texans are urged to avoid driving through flooded roadways and to follow all warnings from local officials. Severe weather safety information can be found at TexasReady.gov, DriveTexas.org and tdem.texas.gov/prepare.
