South Texas faces severe flood threat

Flash flood warnings cover most of South Texas as slow moving storms dump heavy rain on the region. The weather system threatens to continue through Monday morning, creating a high risk of dangerous water levels for commuters and residents.

Meteorologists predict widespread rainfall of two to five inches across the affected area. Certain spots may see totals reach seven to nine inches. Parts east of Laredo and near Kingsville have already recorded more than five inches of rain since Sunday morning. Rainfall rates could hit one to two inches per hour during the worst of the storm.

A Level 2 threat for flash flooding is active across Brownsville, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and Kerrville. A flood watch remains in effect for these cities and Laredo through Monday morning. The ground is already saturated from days of prior rainstorms, which increases the likelihood that rain will flow into streets and streams rather than soaking into the earth.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to expand its response on Friday. He stated that the state is prepared to handle the heavy rainfall and flash floods across South and West Texas. Abbott told residents to monitor local forecasts, avoid flooded roadways, and listen to guidance from state and local officials.

This event follows a deadly pattern of weather across the South. Days earlier, catastrophic flooding struck the border of Tennessee and Georgia. Officials ordered evacuations in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, after six to nine inches of rain fell in just a few hours.

The Ocoee River in that region rose to a record 18.05 feet. This crest broke the previous record of 17.8 feet, which was set on February 16, 1990. The rapid rise in water levels forced numerous water rescues in both states.