Guadalupe River flood emergency intensifies at Center Point; catastrophic damage threat as more rain looms

A flash flood emergency intensified early Thursday along the Guadalupe River between Center Point and Bergheim, with the National Weather Service warning of a “large and deadly flood wave” and rating the threat as catastrophic — less than a year after a July 4, 2025, flood killed 119 people countywide.

The river gauge at Center Point rose 32 feet in four hours, the weather service said in a 5:30 a.m. warning, and is expected to crest at a level similar to last year’s catastrophic flood. Flash flooding was already occurring at the time of the warning, not merely imminent.

“This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. SEEK HIGHER GROUND NOW!” the warning said.

Unlike the July 4 flood, which devastated Hunt and the upper Guadalupe watershed, Thursday’s flooding is striking east of Hunt, with Center Point bearing the worst of it so far. The warning, in effect until 11:30 a.m., covers the river corridor through Kerrville, Comfort, Waring, Sisterdale and Crown.

Flooding already underway

The new warning follows a flash flood emergency issued overnight for central Kerr County, including Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt, as thunderstorms repeatedly moved over the same areas. Station data show rounds of heavy rain fell nearly every hour between 1 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. Thursday, with hourly totals as high as 0.91 inches.

The City of Kerrville ordered residents to shelter in place, according to a Kerrville Police Department Facebook post. The city advised people to move to the highest safe level of their home or building, avoid all non-essential travel, and stay away from flooded roads, low-water crossings, creeks and drainage areas.

“Never drive through flooded roads. Turn Around, Don’t Drown,” the city said, asking residents to call 911 only for life-threatening emergencies.

Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Thursday morning there was widespread flooding across the city, though he had no reports of injuries or fatalities as of early Thursday.

River levels

The Guadalupe River at Center Point had reached 37 feet as of early Thursday. In Kerrville, the Bear Creek gauge — the accurate reading for that location — showed 27 feet; a second Kerrville gauge appeared to be malfunctioning, showing an implausible 16 feet. At Louise Hays Park, the river was estimated between 20 and 30 feet, just below the Sidney Baker Street bridge.

Center Point appeared to be taking the worst of Thursday’s flooding. The Center Point Fire Department building itself flooded, and a family living next door was evacuated. The flooding at the fire department indicates Skyline Drive in Center Point is also underwater, though The Lead has not independently confirmed the road closure.

Power outages

Kerrville Public Utility Board reported more than 2,400 customers without power across 68 separate outages as of Thursday morning, with a large swath of south Kerrville affected.

More rain expected

The weather service warned Thursday that renewed heavy rainfall is likely overnight into Friday morning, driven by the same atmospheric pattern that has fueled repeated rounds of torrential rain across the region this week. Forecasters said another 10 to 15 inches of rain is possible in the heaviest band, though the exact location remains uncertain.

The area remains under a Moderate Risk — level 3 of 4 — for excessive rainfall capable of causing flash flooding through Friday morning, with the highest threat expected overnight and into the morning hours. Forecasters said the heaviest rain is likely to shift north and west Thursday night into Friday, potentially affecting areas already hit hard by this week’s flooding.

Forecasters urged residents to have multiple ways to receive weather alerts both day and night, noting that flash flooding can be difficult to spot after dark and that normally dry areas can flood quickly under current conditions. Anyone in a low-lying area or near a creek or stream should have a plan and a route to higher ground.

This is a developing story and will be updated.