Deadly Flash Floods Sweep Central Texas

Topline

At least six people have died in floods in central Texas Friday, according to multiple reports, as the Guadalupe River surged to near-record levels amid torrential rainfall.

Key Facts

At least six people have died and authorities anticipate fatalities will rise as rescue efforts continue Friday afternoon, Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly told multiple local outlets.

Multiple flash flood warnings were issued in several counties, with some of the most extreme conditions in Kerr County, where a flash flood emergency remained in effect until 5 p.m. Central Time, as rain continued to fall in the region but had somewhat eased, CNN reported.

Heavy rainfall—more than 10 inches in multiple locations from Thursday evening up until Friday afternoon—caused the Guadalupe River to surge over 30 feet and climb 26 feet in 45 minutes to the second-highest level on record.

Tangent

Severe thunderstorms and heavy winds in Central New Jersey Thursday evening also resulted in multiple fatalities, Gov. Phil Murphy said late Thursday.

Key Background

Central Texas is prone to flooding from extended droughts that dry soil and prevent it from absorbing rainfall. Multiple areas recorded what would typically be months-worth of rain in a span of several hours early Friday, including Hunt, where six inches of rain fell in three hours Friday, a one-in-100-year event, according to CNN.

Further Reading

Frantic Search for the Missing After a Deadly Flash Flood in Texas (New York Times)

Several killed in severe weather in Texas and New Jersey (BBC)

Officials report multiple deaths from catastrophic flooding in Central Texas (CNN)