Flash flood emergencies declared as torrential rain swells Texas Hill Country rivers
Intense rain has triggered flash-flood emergencies across the Texas Hill Country, prompting evacuations, rescues and a state-wide disaster response.
Heavy rain that began Tuesday continued into Thursday, causing rapid rises in creeks and rivers throughout the Texas Hill Country. By Thursday morning, flash-flood emergencies were active in Kerrville, Hunt, Uvalde and Knippa, with evacuations and water rescues reported in each community.
The Guadalupe River at Hunt surged from 9 to 19 feet within an hour, cutting off access to roads and bridges. Engineers inspected the Highway 87 bridge over the river in Comfort and, while noting the force of the water, determined the structure remains sound for now. About 63 residents and their pets are sheltering in the town’s evacuation center.
The National Weather Service (NWS) elevated its warning, describing a “large and deadly flood wave” moving downstream from Kerrville toward Center Point, Comfort, Waring, Sisterdale, Crown and Bergheim. At Center Point, the river gauge rose 32 feet in four hours, approaching the crest recorded during the July 4, 2025 flood.
Rainfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour were forecast, with up to 20 inches already falling in the Uvalde area over the past 48 hours. Governor Greg Abbott announced disaster declarations for 59 counties and reported more than 75 rescues. He said over 1,300 state personnel, 800 vehicles, 75 boats and 20 aircraft have been deployed, emphasizing life-saving operations as the priority.
The NWS also issued flash-flood emergency warnings for Boerne and D’Hanis, urging residents to move to higher ground. A rain gauge near Boerne recorded 3.5 inches in one hour, and Cibolo Creek rose 10 feet in 90 minutes, reaching a record level of more than 22 feet.
The region, often called “Flash Flood Alley,” is prone to rapid flooding because of steep terrain, shallow, clay-rich soils and a landscape that funnels runoff into river basins. The current flood watch remains in effect through Thursday, with the heaviest rain expected between 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. and a possible additional round of heavy rain later in the evening.