Flood Watch issued for Kerr County; state stages medical teams, National Guard vehicles in Kerrville

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for Kerr County and much of south-central Texas from 7 p.m. Wednesday through 7 p.m. Friday. Forecasters warn of the potential for life-threatening flooding somewhere in the watch area. State emergency officials have already moved medical teams and Texas National Guard vehicles into Kerrville ahead of the storm.

The watch, issued Tuesday morning by the NWS Austin/San Antonio office, covers 28 counties, including Kerr, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, Real and Edwards. Forecasters expect rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches from Wednesday evening through Friday, with isolated amounts up to 8 inches. Kerrville is among the cities the NWS lists as likely to see flooding.

“Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations,” the watch says. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks, low-water crossings may flood, and extensive street flooding is possible.

State resources in Kerrville

According to a Tuesday situation report from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the state has assigned two Texas Emergency Medical Task Force All Hazards groups to Kerrville, each with 22 personnel and 11 pieces of equipment. A Texas Military Department ground transportation platoon, with 10 personnel and five vehicles, has also been activated in Kerrville. Those platoons use high-profile vehicles to help stranded motorists.

Hillsboro is the only other location with a comparable concentration of state resources listed in the report.

The State Operations Center in Austin began 24-hour operations at 7 a.m. Tuesday and is at Level II, or “Escalated Response.” That followed Gov. Greg Abbott’s Monday evening briefing, where he said more than 1,900 state responders and more than 1,500 pieces of equipment are available to local officials, including swiftwater rescue teams and rescue helicopters. Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters have been activated in San Antonio and Austin.

“Everyone should expect the rivers to rise,” Abbott said Monday.

Timing

The NWS said isolated to scattered storms will develop Wednesday as an upper-level low over the southwestern United States weakens the ridge of high pressure that has kept the region hot. Rain becomes more widespread Wednesday night. The heaviest rain is expected Thursday into early Friday, when a Pacific cold front moves in.

Forecasters said models suggest a line of storms will develop early Thursday across the southern Edwards Plateau and northern Hill Country before spreading east. The Weather Prediction Center has placed the Hill Country under a Level 3 of 4 risk of excessive rainfall for Thursday.

Moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Polo is contributing to the setup. Much depends on how fast the front moves. The NWS said more forecast changes are likely as the event gets closer, and rain chances continue through the weekend.

Until then, the heat continues. Highs will be in the 90s Tuesday and Wednesday. By the weekend, highs are expected to fall into the mid 70s to lower 80s.

What to do

A Flood Watch means conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding is occurring. The NWS urges residents in flood-prone areas to be ready to act quickly and to watch for Flood Warnings, which are issued when flooding is happening or imminent. Never drive through flooded roadways. Real-time road conditions are available at DriveTexas.org.