Texas flood casualties remain unclear, with ongoing water rescues amid relentless downpours
Central Texas is currently grappling with the aftermath of a severe storm that brought unprecedented rainfall, causing widespread flooding and prompting emergency responses in several counties.
In Kerrville, a 1-in-100-year rainfall event occurred, with Hunt receiving approximately 6.5 inches of rain in just three hours. This torrential downpour led to a dramatic rise in the river, which surged 22 feet in the same timeframe and reached its second-highest level on record early Friday morning.
The heavy rainfall has resulted in multiple flash flood emergencies in Tom Green, Kerr, and Kendall counties. In Kerrville-Schreiner Park, evacuations were underway due to rising floodwater reaching cabins. Unfortunately, the sheriff's office in Kerr County has confirmed fatalities, but further information will not be released until next of kin are notified.
San Angelo, home to nearly 100,000 people, is also affected. The city, located in Tom Green County, reported rainfall ranging from 2 inches to upwards of 10 inches. The San Angelo Police Department has advised residents to stay indoors and avoid traveling.
Two parks in Kerrville have been closed due to flooding, and police and fire crews are assisting in ongoing high-water rescues. The National Weather Service has issued a warning for life-threatening conditions and advised against traveling, as flash flooding is occurring in central Texas.
Heavy rain will continue to fall Friday morning, potentially worsening ongoing flooding issues and prompting new areas of dangerous flooding. The Guadalupe River near Hunt, Kerr County, experienced a large and deadly flood wave, with widespread rainfall of 4 to 6 inches, and some reports of over 10 inches, having fallen in the area since late Thursday evening.
Climate change may play a role in such extreme weather events, as warmer air can hold more moisture, leading to heavier rainfall events. However, research on the increase in hourly rainfall rates in large U.S. cities since 1970 and their link to climate change is a topic of ongoing interest in scientific studies.
To find specific studies on this topic, researchers typically rely on databases and journals that focus on climate science and hydrology, such as the Journal of Hydrology, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, or Environmental Research Letters. Further research in these scientific journals would be necessary to find detailed studies on the relationship between climate change and the increase in hourly rainfall rates in large U.S. cities.
Weather in Central Texas remains challenging as another 4 to 6 inches of rainfall is expected, which could worsen the ongoing floodingissues and lead to new areas of dangerous flooding. The heavy rainfall has already contributed to the second-highest level ever recorded on the river in Kerrville, with some parks in the city closed due to flooding.
