Central Texas faced catastrophic flooding over the Fourth of July weekend, with Travis County bearing significant impacts from the severe weather event. The flooding has resulted in multiple fatalities and widespread infrastructure damage across the region.
Nine people have been found dead as a result, and at least four others are still missing in northwestern Travis County alone. The flooding has caused extensive damage to roads, homes, and vehicles throughout the affected areas.
Sandy Creek Bridge: A Community Cut Off
The Sandy Creek neighborhood near Leander has become a focal point of recovery efforts after flooding washed out the only bridge in and out of their community. This critical infrastructure failure has left residents effectively stranded in their own neighborhood.
Officials scramble to reconnect FM 1431 and the only road leading into the neighborhood after two important bridges were washed out. The situation has created significant challenges for residents who depend on this single access point for essential services and emergency response.
A two-way low water crossing is being constructed parallel to the damaged Sandy Creek Bridge, with county officials reporting it as 90% complete and potentially opening soon if weather conditions remain favorable.
While officials work on the temporary crossing, volunteers are delivering supplies by foot to assist the isolated community. The effort highlights the resilience of local residents and the severity of the access challenges facing the neighborhood.
The county will begin the process of picking up debris today. (KVUE-TV)
Lake Travis Experiences Dramatic Rise
One of the most significant impacts of the flooding has been the dramatic rise in Lake Travis water levels. Lake Travis has jumped more than 25 feet in the past ten days following the deadly floods.
The lake’s transformation has been remarkable. Lake Travis experienced a massive rise of over 22 feet on July 4, reaching 637.47 feet. That brings the lake to 68% capacity, nearly completely covering the “Sometimes Islands”. This represents a significant increase from pre-flood conditions, when the lake was only 43 percent full.
Current data shows Lake Travis: 70.8% full as of 2025-07-13, indicating the lake has continued to rise since the initial flood event.
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has been managing the increased water flow throughout the river system. The LCRA said it does not anticipate opening floodgates at Mansfield Dam, which forms Lake Travis. Instead, floodwater moved downstream from Inks Lake, Lake LBJ and Lake Marble Falls will be held in Lake Travis.
In Burnet County, heavy rain Sunday forced some roads to be closed.
Devastating Flooding Strikes Lampasas and Llano Rivers
Central Texas faced another catastrophic flooding event Sunday and into early this morning, as the Lampasas and Llano rivers surged to dangerous levels, forcing evacuations and temporarily halting ongoing search operations from the devastating July 4th floods that had already claimed over 130 lives.
Rapid River Rise Creates Emergency Conditions
The Lampasas River experienced a dramatic surge yesterday, rising an alarming 33 feet in just four hours according to the National Weather Service. By 2 p.m. Sunday, the river had surged over 30 feet and reached major flood stage, creating life-threatening conditions for communities along its path.
The Llano River also saw significant flooding, with water levels rising 14 feet in just two hours. The National Weather Service reported that the Llano River reached moderate flood stage and was expected to rise further, potentially exceeding 18 feet.
Torrential Rainfall Triggers Flash Flood Warnings
The flooding was triggered by intense rainfall that dumped up to 6 inches of rain across Lampasas County by 3:15 a.m. on July 13. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for multiple counties, including Kerr, Gillespie, and Burnet, as torrential rain continued to fall at rates of 2-3 inches per hour.
Video footage from Lampasas, Texas, captured the dramatic flooding of Sulphur Creek after the torrential rain on Sunday, illustrating the rapid transformation of normally calm waterways into raging torrents.
Evacuations and Rescue Operations
The dangerous conditions prompted immediate emergency responses across the region. Dozens of Texans were rescued from the Lampasas area by mid-Sunday afternoon, according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Management coordinators reported additional rescues in San Saba County and Schleicher County as rapidly rising waters threatened communities.
The San Saba River near San Saba experienced particularly dramatic flooding, surging to more than 30 feet on Sunday – higher than it had reached during the devastating July 4 floods – before receding slightly by evening.
UPDATE: 10:50 a.m.
Further south, in Uvalde, the Frio River is expected to crest about 16 feet above normal.
Impact on Ongoing Search Operations
The renewed flooding threat forced authorities to suspend search operations in Kerr County that had been ongoing since the July 4th disaster. These operations were part of efforts to locate victims and survivors from the previous flooding event that had already become America’s deadliest rainfall-driven flash flood since 1976.
The Guadalupe River at Kerrville also rose above action stage during the weekend, though it subsequently dropped to about 2.5 feet – well below the catastrophic 34.29-foot crest it reached on July 4.
Regional Context and Ongoing Concerns
This latest flooding event occurred against the backdrop of the deadliest flooding disaster in Texas Hill Country history. The July 4th floods had already claimed at least 132 lives across Texas, with Kerr County being hit hardest, recording at least 106 deaths including 36 children.
The National Weather Service had issued upgraded flash flooding risks for the same Hill Country areas that were devastated by the July 4 floods, indicating the particular vulnerability of the region to continued severe weather events.
Emergency Response and Community Impact
Local emergency management officials worked around the clock to coordinate rescue operations and ensure public safety. County Judge Jody Fauley and other local officials emphasized the rapid nature of the water rise and the ongoing danger to residents in flood-prone areas.
The flooding highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Central Texas communities still recovering from the earlier disaster, with many areas remaining particularly vulnerable to additional rainfall events.
A special city council meeting in Kerrville today will address flood recovery efforts following the July 4th flood, with city manager Dalton Rice and Mayor Joe Herring participating.
OPINION: In wake of the Texas floods, questions seek not blame but accountability. (Austin American-Statesman)
Austin firefighters rescued a window washer from three stories up the side of a building downtown on Sunday.
A glass tower is out and a design Old West Austin residents approve of is in the works for Sixth and Lamar — one of Austin’s busiest intersections. (Austin Business Journal)
Austin’s growth is slowing, increasingly driven by international migration, as Hispanic and Black residents leave. (Austin Monitor)
WEATHER
We’ll see a mix of sun and clouds with plenty of humidity in the ATX today with a good chance of showers and storms this afternoon. Highs just above 90 degrees.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott doesn’t want to reveal months of communications with Elon Musk or representatives from the tech mogul’s companies, arguing in part that they are of a private nature, not of public interest and potentially embarrassing. (KUT 90.5)
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have established new select committees in both chambers. These committees will examine the governor’s call list items concerning the recent Hill Country flash floods. Named the Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Select Committees, they will address the Hill Country’s immediate needs and identify measures to prevent similar catastrophic impacts in the future. (Texas Scorecard)
A profile of several meteorologists who have spent years at the National Weather Service in Texas. Here’s what they think of staffing issues. (Texas Standard)
Texas’ main power grid is primed to get yet another boost, as an independent power producer announced last week that it has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in financing to boost multiple battery storage projects in the Lone Star State. (Chron)
Following KXAN-TV’s reporting on Texas’ death investigations, lawmakers are looking at ways to modernize the state’s system amid legislative challenges and cost concerns.
A drive-by shooting outside a nightclub in southeast Houston overnight resulted in 2 deaths and 7 injuries.
Deaths reached the triple digits this week after heavy rain caused flash floods across the Hill Country. President Donald Trump took some time to survey the area while Governor Greg Abbott added 4 items to the special session to explore and address the aftermath.
Congressman Greg Casar demands an independent investigation into the federal government’s flood response in Texas, citing a 72-hour delay in the DHS secretary’s approval for search and rescue efforts.
SPORTS
MLB: Two for Texas.
Marcus Semien hit his 250th career home run and Adolis García also went deep to back up a strong start by Nathan Eovaldi and give the Texas Rangers a 5-1, series clinching victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday. (Yahoo! Sports)
Houston has lost five of their last six games heading into the All-Star Break.
AL WEST STANDINGS
Meanwhile, in baseball’s 2025 draft Sunday, the Houston Astros made strategic selections in the 2025 MLB Draft despite having a reduced draft capital due to forfeiting their second-round pick for signing free agent Christian Walker. With the 21st overall pick in the first round, the Astros selected Xavier Neyens, a high school shortstop, and in the third round with the 95th pick, they chose Ethan Frey, a college outfielder.
The Texas Rangers made three strategic selections on Day 1 of the 2025 MLB Draft, focusing on young talent with strong high school and college credentials. With the 12th overall pick, they selected shortstop Gavin Fien, an 18-year-old from Great Oak High School in California who hit .358 with 5 home runs and was a standout on the 2024 USA Baseball 18U National Team. The Rangers continued building their pitching depth by taking Tennessee right-hander AJ Russell in the second round (52nd overall), a 21-year-old who compiled a career 2.70 ERA in college despite recovering from elbow surgery. They rounded out their Day 1 selections with two-way player Josh Owens from Providence Academy in Tennessee with the 84th overall pick.
Extreme flooding hit parts of Kempner yesterday as the Lampasas River surged to a crest of roughly 33 feet following overnight storms.
Texas Storm Chasers has video.
