Catastrophic Flash Flooding in Texas Hill Country
7/16/26 – Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist, reports that there is ongoing catastrophic flash flooding this morning across the Texas Hill Country.
Kerr County officials have declared a flash flood emergency for the Guadalupe River from Ingram to Comfort.
Ditto for Uvalde County where there is catastrophic flooding likely along the Frio, Leona, Sabinal, and Nueces Rivers
8-10 Inches of Rainfall Overnight
Rainfall since midnight of 8-10 inches over Hunt and Ingram has resulted in a 20-30 foot rise in the Guadalupe River downstream of Hunt. Catastrophic life-threatening flooding is occurring. Numerous evacuations of camp grounds are in progress along the river and Johnson Creek.
Water levels in Ingram rose 25 feet in a few hours and peaked five feet below July 2025 levels. A destructive flood wave is moving down the Guadalupe River into Kerrville and toward Centerpoint and Comfort. The river has risen 32 ft in just four hours at Centerpoint, Texas, and is likely to reach July 2025 levels at this location.
The river at Comfort rose 16 feet in just 30 minutes this morning.
Rainfall of 15-30 inches has occurred over portions of Uvalde, Medina, and Real Counties in the last 48 hours.
Catastrophic flooding is ongoing across Uvalde County along the Frio, Leona, Sabinal, and Nueces Rivers.
The forecast crest on the Frio River at Concan will result in damaging flooding to camps along the river below Rio Frio into Concan. Rises along the Leona River will approach or equal levels seen yesterday resulting in widespread flooding in the City of Uvalde.
Significant downstream moving flood waves are being generated on several of these rivers. They will continue into the weekend.
Defining Characteristics of Flash Flooding
The defining characteristic of flash flooding is speed. Unlike most other forms of flooding, flash floods develop rapidly — typically within 6 hours of the rainfall event, and often within 1 to 3 hours. That rapid onset leaves little time for warnings or evacuation.
Here’s how flash flooding differs from other common types of flooding, according to ChatGPT:
| Flood Type | Typical Onset | Primary Cause | Typical Duration | Greatest Hazard |
| Flash flooding | Minutes to <6 hours | Intense rainfall, dam or levee failure | Hours | Sudden rise, high velocity |
| River flooding | Days to weeks | Prolonged rainfall, snowmelt | Days to weeks | Large geographic extent |
| Coastal flooding | Hours to days | Storm surge, high tides | Hours to days | Saltwater inundation |
| Urban flooding | Minutes to hours | Rainfall exceeds drainage capacity | Hours | Streets and buildings inundated |
| Pluvial (surface water) flooding | Hours | Heavy rainfall independent of rivers | Hours to a day | Ponding in low areas |
What Makes a Flash Flood “Flash”?
Several conditions combine:
- Very intense rainfall (for example, several inches per hour)
- Small drainage basins that respond quickly
- Steep terrain where water accelerates downhill
- Impervious surfaces such as pavement and rooftops
- Limited storage in soils, wetlands, or detention basins
The hydrograph of a flash flood has a very steep rising limb, meaning stream levels can increase several feet in minutes.
For More Information
The Hill Country Flooding has attracted the attention of media nationwide:
- Washington Post – Relentless rain lashes Texas Hill Country, stranding residents
- ABC – Torrential rain prompts Texas Hill Country flash flood emergency warnings
- USA Today – Texas flooding: Guadalupe River approaches 2025 flood crest
- CNN – ‘Large and deadly flood wave’ threatens Texas Hill Country
- Fox News – ‘Large and deadly flood wave’ moving down Guadalupe River amid Texas Hill Country Flash Flood Emergency
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/16/2026 @ 9am
3243 Days since Hurricane Harvey
