The downpour on Tuesday has triggered extensive flooding in Kerr County, resulting in treacherous road conditions and prompting warnings from local authorities. The Kerr County Sheriff's Office issued a stern admonition against attempting to traverse flooded crossings, stating on Facebook, "We're not joking - almost every low water crossing in Kerr County is extremely hazardous right now. Turn around, don't drown. Chancing it puts our first responders and your wallet at stake. We can and do write hefty tickets for going around barricade," as reported by KENS 5.
In the wake of the downpour, the City of Kerrville released dramatic footage of the swollen Guadalupe River. Met with a deluge that saw more than five inches of rain since the early hours of Tuesday, the river's surge is a sight not witnessed since 2018. Despite the potential danger, this influx of water could prove beneficial to the regional lake systems that suffer from deceptively low levels; the National Weather Service relayed that such replenishment is sorely needed.
Flood warnings were prompted by predictions of an intense rainfall rate of two to four inches per hour, elevating the risk of flash floods, particularly affecting streams and creeks, and creating an unpredictable driving environment. The National Weather Service revealed a record water level of 7.3 feet for the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, which is expected to rise to 9.40 feet. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring, Jr. demonstrated the severity of the situation by sharing an image of water gushing over Nimitz Lake's dam on Guadalupe Street, as noted in an article from MySA.
Residents were urged to stay put if their routes entailed crossing the newly formed waterways. The Kerr County Sheriff's Office relayed through a Facebook post, "Please stay home if possible if your travel takes you across streams or rivers." Making their first appearance since October of 2018, the watercourses that have begun flowing in the region will be moving southeast towards Canyon Lake over the following days, already causing the shuttering of numerous roads, as detailed by the sheriff's office's closure list. For further updates on road conditions amidst this severe weather, affected individuals can head to Drive Texas.
