DEL RIO, TEXAS — Authorities are warning residents across southwestern Texas to brace for catastrophic flash flooding that could turn deadly within hours, as forecasters place the region under the highest possible flood alert through early Friday morning.
Highest-Level Alert Issued for the Region
Federal weather officials have placed a chunk of southwestern Texas under a High Risk designation — the most severe flood warning category issued by government forecasters — after estimating better than a 70% chance that rainfall totals will blow past standard flash flood thresholds. A surrounding Moderate Risk zone, carrying at least a 40% probability of similar flooding, has also been declared, with officials cautioning that major rivers in the area are expected to swell dangerously.
Dry Creek Beds Could Turn Into Death Traps, Officials Say
Perhaps most alarming, forecasters are warning that it’s not just the major rivers at risk. Small streams, narrow arroyos and washes that are normally bone-dry could rapidly transform into fast-moving, life-threatening torrents in a matter of minutes once the heavy rain hits — catching drivers and pedestrians off guard with little to no warning.
Danger Zone Stretches Across Multiple States
The threat isn’t isolated to one corner of Texas. A secondary Slight Risk zone, with at least a 15% flood-exceedance probability, stretches all the way into Louisiana, while officials have issued a broader Marginal Risk alert spanning an enormous footprint — reaching across Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
Residents in the affected zones are being urged to avoid low-lying roads and dry washes entirely once rainfall begins, as conditions could deteriorate within minutes.
