A flood watch continues to be in effect on Monday for Texas Hill Country, an area where at least 81 people have died after unrelenting storms hit on July 4.
The National Weather service warned the threat of flash flooding remains across Central Texas as slow moving heavy rains continue overnight and through the day on Monday, July 7. The area could see two to four inches of additional rainfall, with isolated amounts of 10 inches possible. Additional heavy rainfall over hardest hit areas of the past few days could lead to rapid runoff and flash flooding.
A Flood Watch has been issued through 7 p.m. on Monday, July 7, for Texas Hill Country, an area where flash flooding has claimed the lives of dozens.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact locations where isolated heavier amount of rainfall will occur, the National Weather Service said.
At least 81 people have died in the flooding since Friday, officials said. 68 people, including 40 adults and 28 children died in Kerr County. An all-girls summer camp situated along the Guadalupe River, Camp Mystic, said was grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors.
On Sunday, 10 children and a counselor were among the many people still missing, according to officials. It’s unclear if that number had changed.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to continue searching for those who are still unaccounted for.
“We will remain 100% dedicated, searching for every single one of the children who were at Camp Mystic as well as anybody else in the entire riverbed,” Abbott said in a news conference Sunday. “We are working as swiftly as possible.”
Abbott also warned Texans to stay vigilant ahead of more storms.
“The next 2 days could pose public safety threats due to heavy rain. It’s crucial that Texans remain vigilant,” Abbott posted on Sunday.
According to the National Weather Service, rain chances in Central Texas will decrease gradually on Tuesday, July 8, making way for drier and warmer conditions the rest of the week.
Which parts of Texas flooded?
On July 4, rain was falling at 3-4 inches per hour, with some locations recording a deluge of up to seven inches of rain in just three hours, the National Weather Service said. Seven inches of rain is nearly 122 million gallons of water per square mile.
The Kerrville area registered more than 11 inches of rain in the past three days. The Guadalupe River rose from less than a foot on July 3 to more than 34 feet in Kerrville by 6:45 a.m. on July 4.
Other towns between San Antonio and Austin had nearly double Kerrville’s totals between San Antonio and Austin.
Three rain gauges north of Austin registered more than 20 inches of rain between the mornings of July 3 and July 6. Twelve others showed more than 15 inches.
Portions of at least four cities in the region took on more than 10 inches of rain during the Independence Day weekend: Liberty Hill, 20.6; Lakeway, 13.5; Kerrville, 11.9; and Leander 10.5.
How many people have died in Texas flooding?
At least 81 people have died in the flooding since Friday, officials said. 68 people, including 40 adults and 28 children died in Kerr County, Camp Mystic said was grieving the loss of 27 campers and counselors.
Where is the Guadalupe River in Texas?
The Guadalupe River begins in Texas Hill Country and flows for over 400 miles until it empties into San Antonio Bay at the Gulf of Mexico.
USA Today contributed to this story.
Natassia Paloma may be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma on X; natassia_paloma on Instagram, and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Texas flooding update: Threat of flash flooding continues on Monday