Texas is grappling with intensifying and dangerous flooding after days of relentless rain, prompting emergency crews to conduct pre-dawn rescues and forecasters to issue urgent warnings: “Move to higher ground now!”
The National Weather Service in San Antonio has cautioned of a “large and deadly flood wave” surging down a river that tragically claimed two dozen lives at Camp Mystic just a year ago.
The severe weather threatens multiple counties near the Mexican border and across the Texas Hill Country.
Officials in Kerrville advised residents to seek shelter on the highest levels of their homes, while the Uvalde County Office of Emergency Management issued a shelter-in-place order, stating: “All major highways and many city streets are closed due to flooding and water over the roadway.”
No immediate reports of deaths or injuries have emerged, though several tornado warnings were also issued.
Texas Game Wardens have already rescued over 40 individuals, primarily in the Uvalde County area.
The weather service reported that 10 to 20 inches of rain have fallen over the past two days, with a staggering 8 inches recorded in just two hours early Thursday.
A gauge less than 10 miles from Kerrville indicated the river had risen 32 feet in a mere four hours, with expectations that it could reach a crest similar to that of the catastrophic July 4, 2025 flood.
Forecasters had warned that perilous conditions were likely to worsen in some hard-hit communities, with the deluge dumping nearly a foot of rain in certain areas.
This latest event comes as parts of the Texas Hill Country are still recovering from last summer’s devastating floods, which resulted in more than 100 fatalities.
Flood watches are anticipated to remain in effect through Friday evening for some regions.
By Wednesday, Uvalde police had initiated mandatory evacuations for specific areas, with first responders directly notifying affected residents. Others were urged to remain vigilant for potential further evacuations.
Residents watched anxiously as the water encroached, with some along the Leona River hastily packing their cars, uncertain of where to go. One individual was seen loading two kayaks into a truck bed, seemingly as a precaution.
Lightning illuminated darkening skies as the typically calm river transformed into a torrent of brown water, creating large rapids and pushing against the town’s high bridge and into neighborhoods by Wednesday afternoon.
In response to the widespread crisis, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has declared disasters for dozens of counties.
As of Wednesday evening, over 6 million Texas residents across 57 counties were under a National Weather Service flood watch, scheduled to continue through early Thursday night. Watches for 34 of these counties are set to expire Friday evening.
Uvalde County has experienced some of the highest rainfall totals, leading to dozens of rescues and ongoing calls for assistance as river levels continue to climb. Highways and roads throughout the region remain impassable due to high water. The county typically receives approximately 23 inches of rain annually, highlighting the extraordinary nature of the current deluge.
