More flash flooding is forecast for central Texas, where more than 100 lives were claimed by devastating floods last week.
Flash flooding in Texas’ Hill Country region materialized in the early hours of July 4, when the Guadalupe River surged over 20 feet. The aftermath was catastrophic, especially in Kerr County, where 106 people were killed. The statewide death toll rose to at least 132 Sunday night, and over 160 people are still unaccounted for.
Some search efforts were suspended Sunday amid more flash flooding, according to the Kerrville Police Department. The city of Kerrville later said on Facebook that search efforts could resume in western Kerr County.
A very large cluster of rain continued to sit over central Texas on Sunday, producing flash flooding in areas including Kerrville, San Saba and Junction. Some areas recorded an estimated 6 to 10 inches of rain over 24 hours.
On Sunday night, the National Weather Service warned of a slow-moving cell bringing heavy rainfall rates — as much as 2 to 3 inches an hour — and raising the possibility of more flash flooding over the next several hours for parts of the Hill Country and south-central Texas.
At 2 p.m. ET, the Lampasas River, which runs through multiple central Texas counties, had surged over 30 feet and was in a major flood stage.
The San Saba River near San Saba rose rapidly, surging to more than 30 feet on Sunday — higher than it did on July 4 — before receding a few feet by nightfall, according to Jody Fauley, the judge, or chief executive, of San Saba County. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for residents living south of the San Saba River to prepare for the surge, Fauley said.
The river was expected to rise to about 31 feet by Monday morning, staying at that level through Tuesday evening, Fauley said on Facebook.
"The forecast is that water will hold around 31 foot until into Tuesday evening, meaning that we may not have Highway 16 north or 190 east open for a couple of days. So, please plan accordingly," Fauley said.
Earlier Sunday, thunderstorms producing 2 to 4 inches of rain per hour drifted into northern Llano and Burnet counties, according to the National Weather Service, which warned that “flooding is now ongoing or is expected to begin soon.”
“Significant rain has fallen and flooding is expected to develop shortly, particularly over Llano county,” the weather service said.
The rain is expected to move southeast into the Hill Country region and the southern Edwards Plateau, the weather service said. Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were forecast in the heaviest storms.
“Do not drive into flooded roads or around barricades,” the weather service warned.
In total, 31 million people were under flood alerts across the Plains to the Northeast on Sunday afternoon. In the South, alerts stretch from New Mexico to Arkansas, where an additional 1 to 6 inches of rain will be possible through Sunday night.
Alerts also stretch from western New York to Virginia, including Syracuse, New York; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Lynchburg, Virginia. Slow-moving thunderstorms will linger over those areas, increasing the risk for flash flooding. Alerts remain in effect through early Monday as 2 to 4 inches of rain, locally higher, will be possible. There is also a slight risk of severe weather in the region, affecting parts of New York and Pennsylvania with storms capable of damaging winds and frequent lightning.
Video posted to Instagram showed what appeared to be floodwaters and downed trees near the Guadalupe River. The river surged 8 to 9 feet in Hunt, Texas, on Sunday morning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Seven feet is considered a flood stage.
The Guadalupe River was not forecast to hit any major flood stages.
“This is a dangerous and life-threatening situation,” the city warned. “Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order.”
The Texas Game Wardens are deployed to areas across central Texas, including Llano, Brady, San Saba, Eldorado, Sonora and Kempner for search-and-rescue operations, where they say they have “already rescued multiple people.”
Gov. Greg Abbott said the state is also making rescues in Lampasas and Schleicher counties, while evacuations are taking place in Lampasas, Menard, Kimble and Sutton counties.
"We are expanding operations in all affected counties — all while monitoring the rising waters in Kerrville," he said.
