Texas Flash Flood Emergencies: 'Large and deadly flood waves' race downstream

Key Points:

• Life-threatening flash flooding continues across Texas' Hill Country, with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing multiple warnings about large, deadly flood waves along major rivers including the Guadalupe, Pedernales, Nueces, and Frio.
• The Guadalupe River gauge at Center Point rose 32 feet in four hours, expected to reach levels similar to the catastrophic July 4, 2025 flood that killed at least 135 people; officials have issued Flash Flood Emergencies and ordered evacuations in several counties.
• Heavy rain since Monday has caused widespread road closures, numerous water rescues, and evacuations, with more than 2.5 million people at risk of additional torrential rain through Friday, prompting a state of emergency declaration for 59 counties by Governor Greg Abbott.
• A tornado confirmed near northwest San Antonio damaged a shopping mall during Wednesday morning rush hour, adding to the severe weather impacts in the region.
• NOAA's Weather Prediction Center upgraded the flood risk to Level 4 out of 4 for parts of the Texas Hill Country, forecasting an additional 2 to 5 inches of rain with localized spots potentially receiving over a foot due to stalled storms caused by a massive heat dome over the northern U.S.