Flash Flooding Hits Waco and Austin After Heavy Rain
Heavy rainfall triggered rescues on I-35 and prompted flood watches across central and southern Texas. Forecasters expect additional rain through Thursday.
usatoday.comFlash flooding struck Waco and Austin on June 15, 2026, after areas of Texas recorded between 3 inches and more than 5 inches of rain within hours. Water rescues and stranded vehicles were reported on Interstate 35 in Waco. The Texas Game Wardens said rescue teams and local partners responded to numerous calls of people trapped by floodwater.
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A vehicle was submerged during the flooding in Waco. Rick Smith filmed video of people wading through waist-high water on I-35. "I am sincerely lucky to be alive. When I got there, there were no first responders," he wrote on social media.
"I am so thankful that retaining wall held up otherwise this situation could've been a horrible tragedy. " A flood watch remained in effect for much of central and southern Texas, extending through Louisiana and into southwest Mississippi through Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning. Torrential rainfall rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour were possible.
Houston faced a level 3/4 moderate risk for excessive rainfall and flash flooding from Monday through Thursday. Forecasters projected 4 to 6 inches of rain across southeast Texas, much of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama through Thursday, with some areas possibly exceeding half a foot. A worst-case scenario showed a five-day total of 10 inches or more for the Houston region.
A stationary frontal boundary across the South brought daily flash flood risks through the week ahead. A low-pressure system from the Gulf could add rain to south Texas mid-to-late week. Record high temperatures began in western Washington and Oregon on June 14, 2026, with Seattle reaching 89 degrees and Portland reaching 94 degrees.
