Cloudy, muggy, and already sticky, Austin woke up on Thursday, July 16, 2026, to temperatures near 77°F and a dew point that makes the city feel like a steam room. Showers and thunderstorms are likely through the afternoon, with multiple rounds of heavy rain on tap. With soils already saturated from earlier storms, even quick downpours can trigger rapid street and creek flooding in low-lying neighborhoods.
Flood Watch Through Thursday Evening
A Flood Watch is in effect through 7 p.m. CDT Thursday for Austin and much of south-central Texas, putting parts of the metro at risk for standing water and fast-rising creeks, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters say widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 6 inches are possible through the watch period, with isolated higher amounts under the most intense bands. Drivers are urged to avoid flooded areas and treat every water-covered road as dangerous.
Timing And Where The Biggest Risk Is
The most dangerous window continues overnight into Thursday morning, with more rounds of storms likely during the day and localized heavier bullseyes possible across the southern Edwards Plateau and western Hill Country. Intense rainfall rates, sometimes multiple inches per hour, mean creeks, storm drains, and low-water crossings can flood with very little warning.
If you live near Shoal Creek, Onion Creek, or other small tributaries, expect rapid rises and keep children and pets well away from the water. What looks like a harmless trickle can turn into a fast-moving torrent in minutes.
City Response
Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown have issued disaster declarations to speed up emergency response and resource coordination, the city says. The declarations allow officials to pre-position rescue teams and open shelters if needed, and local pages list current road closures and shelter options. Visit the City of Austin for official updates.
What To Do Now
Do not drive through flooded streets; turn around, do not drown. If you are in a low-lying area, have a plan to move to higher ground and keep emergency alerts enabled on your phone, along with a battery-powered radio as backup. Keep small children and pets away from swollen creeks and avoid walking through moving water.
Looking Ahead
Rain coverage should gradually decrease by late Friday, but the tradeoff is heat. High temperatures climb back into the low to mid 90s this weekend and could push into the upper 90s early next week as the air dries out. Hoodline covered the first watch earlier this week; see our prior report on the first watch earlier this week, and we will update readers if watches are upgraded to warnings. Prepare for both flash floods and heat hazards over the coming days.
