Severe to catastrophic flooding is anticipated over the next two days along the U.S. 90 corridor west of San Antonio, with federal meteorologists raising the risk of heavy rainfall and flash flooding to the highest level through Thursday morning.
Some areas may experience a staggering 10 to 20 inches of rain, prompting significant concerns from the National Weather Service, especially for vacationers who may not be familiar with the dangers of flash flooding. The counties most at risk include Medina, Frio, Uvalde, Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Val Verde, Edwards, Real, and Bandera.
Forecasters have indicated that rivers such as the Pecos, Rio Grande, Nueces, Frio, Medina, and San Antonio are at risk of flooding.
Even regions outside the most severe forecast are expected to receive between 2 to 6 inches of rain, including Kerr County. The Kerrville Police Department has already barricaded several roads due to rising waters as of Monday night and Tuesday morning.
This warning comes just over a year after flash flooding claimed 119 lives in Kerr County during the July 4 holiday, when families were engaged in summer activities. Local residents are experiencing heightened anxiety with the forecasted rain, closely monitoring updates.
A map from the National Weather Service illustrates potential heavy rainfall in several counties west of San Antonio for the period from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday. Experts have noted that predicting the exact locations of the most intense rainfall remains challenging, underscoring the importance of staying informed about weather alerts and knowing how to respond.
In response to previous flooding incidents, state legislators have mandated the installation of warning sirens in areas susceptible to flash floods, with implementation currently underway. New safety standards have also been established for youth camps, although no action has yet been taken on other recommendations, such as uniform training for local emergency management coordinators.
On Tuesday, Governor Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties, acknowledging the imminent threat and facilitating resource availability.
“Texas is positioned to respond quickly and effectively,” Abbott stated. “I urge all Texans in affected areas to monitor local weather forecasts, avoid driving through flooded roadways, and prepare emergency supplies.”
As of Tuesday, storms had already deposited over 10 inches of rain in areas north of Uvalde, with additional heavy rains reported in parts of Medina, Bandera, and Kerr Counties, according to the National Weather Service offices in Austin and San Antonio. The Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office has advised residents to stay home and reported flooded roadways, while Bandera and Medina Counties also noted numerous road closures, including on U.S. 90.
Forecasters expect a temporary lull in storm activity before it intensifies again overnight Tuesday into Wednesday morning.
“All regions are already saturated across the Rio Grande, Edwards Plateau, and parts of the western Hill Country and U.S. 90 corridor,” said forecaster Jason Runyen during an afternoon webinar. “Any additional heavy rainfall will lead to rapid runoff.”
As the National Weather Service issued new flash flood warnings, South Texas and Hill Country towns prepared for potential river overflows and submerged roadways into Wednesday morning. Rainfall estimates suggest continued severe weather across the region.
Late Tuesday, the National Weather Service indicated that storms had stalled over Bandera and Uvalde counties, where swollen creeks and rivers have already resulted in floods. Flash flood warnings for Bandera, Medina, Real, and Uvalde counties were extended until 8 a.m. Wednesday, with travel discouraged in the affected areas due to anticipated rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour.
Medina County’s Office of Emergency Management warned residents about the potential for flooding along Seco Creek and advised them to remain alert for possible evacuation orders, announcing five road closures in the process.
Additionally, a flood advisory was issued for Bexar, Comal, and Kendall counties, where 2 to 6 inches of rain are still expected overnight.
The National Weather Service had earlier issued flash flood warnings for parts of Bexar, Comal, Kendall, and Real counties, including San Antonio International Airport and Guadalupe River State Park, where life-threatening flooding was either expected or already occurring. Warnings for three counties were announced at 6:20 p.m. and are set to last until 11:15 p.m., with the possibility of extensions. Further warnings for portions of Bandera and Real counties were issued at 8:15 p.m., expiring at midnight.
A brief tornado warning for a section of Bexar County north of San Antonio was also issued and has since expired.
These latest warnings compound the existing flash flood alerts for most of Uvalde and Medina counties, which are in effect until midnight Wednesday. The City of Uvalde has opened a temporary community shelter for those affected by the flooding.
In Edwards County, north of Uvalde, the sheriff’s office shared images of flooded roadways from midday Tuesday, while drone footage revealed roads completely submerged in Sabinal. Multiple counties in the affected areas have announced road closures in anticipation of flooding throughout the evening. Texas Game Wardens reported several swift-water rescues earlier in the day across various South Texas counties, including Uvalde.
