Flash flood emergencies, dozens of rescues in southern Texas after more than half a year’s worth of rain falls

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By Meteorologists Chris Dolce, Mary Gilbert, and CNN’s Hanna Park

(CNN) — Another round of slow-moving storms packing heavy rain is pounding an already drenched area of southern Texas Wednesday and creating life-threatening flooding.

The relentless rain, up to 16 inches of it so far, has led to dozens of water rescues in the region and is causing waterways to rise rapidly. More than half a year’s worth of rain has already fallen in Uvalde County, one of the hardest-hit areas.

A flash flood emergency — the highest level of flood warning — has been issued by the National Weather Service for more than 25,000 people in Boerne, Texas, around 30 miles northwest of San Antonio. Cibolo Creek, which runs through Boerne, has overflowed, flooding one of the main roads through town, the National Weather Service said. Water rescues were happening across the area, city officials said.

“This is a life-threatening weather event. I don’t want to mince words about how serious this situation is,” Chris Shadrock, the director of communications and civic engagement for the city, said.

Another flash flood emergency was issued for residents of D’Hanis, Texas, around 50 miles west of San Antonio.

“Seco Creek is rising rapidly. Those in flood-prone areas along the creek are asked to move to higher ground immediately,” a separate civil emergency message issued by the National Weather Service said.

More than a half-dozen locations on rivers and creeks are predicted to see major flooding — the highest possible level — when they crest later Wednesday or overnight.

Forecasters are warning of even more rainfall that could be catastrophic. Wednesday marks the second consecutive day the Weather Prediction Center has issued its highest risk of flooding rain. It’s the first time the agency has issued the alert on back-to-back days since April 2025.

The area facing additional downpours includes Texas Hill Country, which saw devastating flash flooding last July that left more than 130 dead, including 25 girls and two counselors at Camp Mystic.

At least 36 people had been pulled from floodwater in Uvalde County through Tuesday. Multiple additional rescues were carried out in neighboring Medina County and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 59 counties on Tuesday.

The storms also spawned a tornado near Interstate 10 in the northwest San Antonio area around 8 a.m. CT on Wednesday. The San Antonio Fire Department is assessing multiple properties at a shopping center for damage, but no injuries have been reported, city officials said.

‘Worst-case scenario’ for flooding

The escalated flood threat Wednesday includes rounds of heavy, slow-moving rainfall on top of areas already soaked by 10 to 16 inches of it since Monday night. The threat of catastrophic flooding won’t ease up until Friday, as storms drop rain at 2 to 4 inches per hour.

• Through Wednesday night: The areas most at risk of dangerous flash flooding are nearly identical to the ones that were deluged on Tuesday, including parts of the western Hill Country, the Edwards Plateau and the Rio Grande Valley near the US-Mexico border. A Level 4 of 4 high risk of flooding rainfall is in place here, with an additional 10 to 20 inches of rain possible through the end of the week.

This type of pattern where storms repeatedly hit the same areas is a “worst-case scenario,” according to the Weather Prediction Center.

The ground is already soaked so it will take less rain to trigger serious flooding with any rain more quickly turning to runoff instead of soaking into the ground. Considerable to locally catastrophic impacts are possible along portions of the US 90 corridor west of San Antonio, the WPC said.

Areas surrounding the high risk zone are under a very serious Level 3 of 4 flooding rainfall risk, including San Antonio, and a Level 2 of 4 risk extends as far east as Houston.

Flooding is likely on roads and in urban areas, and some homes could be inundated, the WPC warned. Creeks, streams and rivers will rise, with some going above flood stage.

The Sabinal River in Sabinal, Texas, is forecast to rise more than 9 feet above major flood stage by Wednesday evening, one of its three highest crests on record.

“Disastrous flooding happens upstream near Utopia” at this level, a flood impact statement from the National Weather Service said.

• Thursday: The area at greatest risk of flash flooding in Texas will shrink some but will still include some of the hardest-hit areas. Anywhere from Del Rio to Midland and San Angelo could see additional flooding.

• Friday: Drenching storms will start to ease considerably on Friday, with a lower-level flood threat lingering mainly in the western part of the state.

Why this keeps happening

Extreme rainfall events like this are becoming more common as planet-warming pollution drives temperatures higher, because warmer air holds more moisture – which storms can then wring out like a water-laden sponge in heavy, localized downpours.

The Hill Country is especially prone to flooding issues because its steep slopes, shallow soils and exposed bedrock repel heavy rain instead of absorbing it.

Fueling the threat is abundant Gulf moisture clashing with a stalled front and a pocket of energy in the upper atmosphere – a notorious recipe for slow-moving clusters of storms that can unleash 2 to 4 inches of rain an hour.

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