Heavy downpours in South Texas washed out highways and stranded motorists on Tuesday, as forecasters warned that more severe weather could bring dangerous flooding to already drenched counties near the border with Mexico. Storms dumped up to a foot of rain in some rural areas, leading to dozens of high-water rescues and the closure of portions of a busy highway near Uvalde, about 80 miles west of San Antonio. A flood watch also included Kerr County, where catastrophic flooding last year along the Guadalupe River killed more than 100 people. No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that storms overnight could dump more than a foot of additional rain into Wednesday, creating potentially catastrophic impacts from flash flooding in areas west of San Antonio. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for dozens of counties.
Flooding is one of the deadliest weather hazards in the United States, with the NWS reporting that floods and flash floods kill more than 100 people each year. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles, as fast-moving water can sweep away a car with little warning. The NWS issued and extended numerous flash flood warnings on Tuesday, describing the threat as 'life-threatening' in some areas. Rainfall totals reached from 5 to 10 inches in some communities, with forecasts predicting additional 6-12 inches through Wednesday night.
Meteorologists expressed concern about the situation, with CBS Austin meteorologist Avery Tomasco describing the outlook as 'particularly concerning.' The NWS Weather Prediction Center issued a rare high risk of flash flooding for South-Central Texas, warning of 'catastrophic' flooding. The level 3 of 4 flood risk zone expanded to include parts of Travis and Hays counties.