Flash flood risk rises across Texas, Hill Country and Gulf Coast through Friday
A series of storms is expected to bring heavy rain and heightened flash-flood danger to Texas, the Hill Country and the Gulf Coast, with the greatest threat in the Big Bend region later this week.
Heavy rain from a multi-day storm system is forecast to affect millions of residents in the South, Gulf Coast and Texas through Friday, raising the risk of flash flooding, especially in Texas' Big Bend and Hill Country areas. The National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center has placed a Level 2 flash-flood risk from western North Carolina to the Big Bend region, and a Level 3 risk now covers parts of Big Bend west of San Antonio.
The forecast calls for 1-3 inches of rain across a broad swath from the Gulf Coast into central Texas through Tuesday, with the threat shifting to the Texas Plains, including Austin and San Antonio, later in the week. By mid-week, storms could produce 5-8 inches of rain in West and Southwest Texas, prompting officials to warn that flood watches are likely to be issued.
The same system follows recent severe flooding in Missouri’s Black River basin and recalls the July 4 flood along the Guadalupe River that caused 135 deaths. Residents traveling to Big Bend National Park and other vulnerable areas are advised to monitor local advisories closely.