Life-threatening flash flooding was underway Wednesday in parts of Uvalde County as a prolonged rain event pushed rivers higher across south-central and southwest Texas, according to the National Weather Service.
As of about 10 a.m. CDT, a flash flood warning covering Uvalde County said 6 to 16 inches of rain had fallen and additional rainfall was possible. The warning included Uvalde, Sabinal, Concan, Knippa, Garner State Park, Utopia and nearby communities.
River forecasts also called for major flooding at several locations. The Nueces River below Uvalde was forecast to rise well above flood stage, threatening roads, bridges, livestock and low-lying property downstream. Major flooding was also forecast along the Frio River near Concan and the Medina River at Bandera.
A broader flood watch remained in effect through Thursday evening for counties including Uvalde, Medina, Bandera, Kinney, Maverick, Zavala, Frio, Dimmit and Val Verde. Forecasters said repeated storms could produce storm totals of 2 to 6 inches across the watch area, with isolated totals of 10 to 20 inches possible along portions of the U.S. 90 corridor, southern Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande Plains.
The highest-risk area is west of San Antonio and does not include Cameron or Hidalgo counties. However, Rio Grande Valley residents traveling toward Uvalde, Del Rio, the Hill Country or San Antonio should check road conditions and weather alerts before leaving.
The National Weather Service urges motorists never to drive around barricades or into water covering a road. Fast-moving water can make low-water crossings and bridges impassable with little warning.
Sources: National Weather Service active Texas alerts and The Texas Tribune. Conditions can change rapidly; readers should consult current local alerts before traveling.
