Texas Hill Country Hit With Another Dangerous Flood

CENTER POINT, TX — Just over a year after last year’s deadly flooding, the Texas Hill Country is under threat again Thursday morning.

The area between Center Point and Bergheim on the Guadalupe River was under a flash flood emergency early Thursday as forecasters warned of a “large and deadly flood wave” pushing down the Guadalupe River and urged people to seek higher ground.

“The river gauge at Center Point has risen 32 feet in 4 hours and is expected to reach a crest similar to July 4, 2025 catastrophic river flood,” the forecast warning said. “Flash flooding is already occurring.”

A flash flood emergency was also extended upstream in Hunt and Kerrville in Kerr County through 3 p.m. Thursday where up to a foot of rain had fallen and more was expected, according to the alert. Kerrville officials asked residents to shelter in place if safe to do so.

Forecasters warned the damage could be catastrophic. The river near Center Point hit nearly 38 feet at 5:20 a.m., according to a U.S. Geological Survey gauge. A steep rise was recorded downriver in Comfort, passing above 33 feet at 6:25 a.m. 

In Hunt and Kerrville, forecasters reported between three to six inches of rain had fallen in that area already as of 3 a.m. Thursday with a heavy rainfall rate of two to four inches of rain expected and the Guadalupe rising.

“Flash flooding is already occurring with evacuations, escalating water rescues, and water beginning to enter structures,” the alert said.

The gauge on the Guadalupe River at Hunt had spiked just above 20 feet around 3:35 a.m. Thursday morning, which was below what’s considered a major flood there, according to the USGS gauge. The river later hit nearly 17 feet in Kerrville, also below what’s considered a major flood.

Kerrville officials also asked residents to minimize water use as a preventive measure because of operational issues at its water plant.

More than 100 people died in Kerr County last summer during flash floods early on July 4, when more than 10 inches of rain in places on the river’s South Fork fell largely in the span of several hours, with much of the worst damage in Kerrville and upriver.

All or portions of 14 counties were under flash flood warnings issued by the National Weather Service as of 7 a.m. Thursday morning as heavy rain had fallen across the area. A flash flood warning means life-threatening flooding is imminent or likely. 

Uvalde and the Knippa area were under flash flood emergencies, meaning “historic and catastrophic” flash flooding was imminent or already happening that could damage entire communities. The area had received up to 8 inches of rain over two hours as of 4 a.m., according to the forecast alert, and had already been drenched with heavy rain over several days.

Structures had flooded and water rescues were occurring, according to the forecast alert.

Areas along the Guadalupe River between Center Point through Bergheim, as well as in Hunt and Kerrville, were also under flash flood emergencies.

Counties under flash flood warnings included:

• Sutton County
• Kendall County
• Kerr County
• Bandera County
• Gillespie County
• Real County
• Kinney County
• Maverick County
• Val Verde County
• Uvalde County
• Edwards County
• Zavala County
• Medina County
• Kimble County