Heavy rain triggers flood rescues across central and southwest Texas

Slow-moving storms brought heavy rain to already saturated parts of central and southwest Texas on Wednesday, prompting additional flood rescues and renewed warnings of life-threatening flooding. The Weather Prediction Center issued its highest flood-risk alert for the second consecutive day, the first time the agency has done so on back-to-back days since April 2025.

Forecasters said the pattern could continue through Friday, with rain rates of 2 to 4 inches per hour possible in the same locations hit hardest on Tuesday.

Rescue operations and declarations By the end of Tuesday, at least 45 people had been pulled from floodwaters in Uvalde County, with additional rescues reported in neighboring Medina County. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration covering 59 counties.

The areas under the most immediate threat Wednesday include portions of the western Hill Country, the Edwards Plateau, and the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border. Surrounding regions remain under a Level 3 of 4 flood risk.

Rainfall totals and outlook Flood watches are in effect for more than six million residents, including those in Austin, Del Rio, San Angelo, and San Antonio. Officials warned that roads, urban areas, and some homes could see inundation as creeks and rivers rise.

Some locations could receive up to 15 inches of rain by the end of the week, with Del Rio potentially exceeding 6 inches. The Weather Prediction Center described the repeated targeting of the same areas as a "worst-case scenario" for flash flooding.

Drenching storms are expected to ease considerably on Friday, though a lower-level flood threat may persist in western parts of the state.