A series of heavy storms and overflowing waterways led to severe flooding across Central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend, resulting in at least 70 fatalities. Kerr County, particularly hard-hit, recorded the highest casualties with 38 adults and 21 children among the deceased. The intensity of the flooding is underscored by a gauge on the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, which rose dramatically from under two feet to over 34 feet in just over an hour.
While Kerrville experienced over 11 inches of rain in three days, neighboring towns recorded nearly double that amount. The National Weather Service reported rainfall rates of 3 to 4 inches per hour, with some areas receiving up to 7 inches in just three hours—equivalent to nearly 122 million gallons of water per square mile. Between July 3 and July 6, three rain gauges north of Austin documented more than 20 inches of rain, while twelve others reported over 15 inches.
Regions like Hill Country, known as “flash flood alley,” are particularly susceptible to quick flooding due to heavy rainfall from moist air masses moving in from the Gulf of Mexico. Alan Gerard, CEO of Balanced Weather, noted that warmer Gulf waters and certain weather disturbances converged to amplify storm activity in a localized area on July 4, exacerbating the flooding crisis.
In sum, the combination of extreme weather conditions and geographical vulnerabilities has led to a tragic loss of life and significant flooding in Central Texas, highlighting the region’s susceptibility to severe weather events.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
