April Showers Drench Austin After a Parched March — But Flood Risks Loom
After one of the driest and hottest Marches on record, April has arrived in Central Texas with a vengeance, delivering a string of rain events that residents have welcomed — while emergency managers urge caution.
The contrast with March could hardly be starker.
The National Weather Service confirmed that March 2026 was the warmest March on record at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, and tied for the 14th driest on record, with only 0.76 inches of precipitation — more than two inches below the normal of 2.90 inches. The ground was parched, and drought concerns were mounting heading into spring.
The US just experienced its hottest March on record. 10 states experienced their hottest March in 131 years, according to new data released by NOAA.
— AccuWeather (@accuweather) April 9, 2026
More than 12,000 daily high-temperature records were broken in March, with the national temperature exceeding the monthly record.… pic.twitter.com/1AjNJVQ87l
April has changed the story considerably. Rainfall totals for the month are already well above what March produced. Tracking data shows some Austin zip codes have recorded over 2 inches of rain so far in April, compared to just around 1.12 inches for the entirety of March. For a region that has been watching reservoir levels and soil moisture carefully, the change has been broadly welcomed.
RAIN TOTALS FOR APRIL
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
Camp Mabry
Central Texas has been dealing with an unsettled weather pattern in recent weeks, with frequent rain and storm chances, and meteorologists have forecast a string of several days featuring storms and showers with the potential for isolated severe weather and heavy rainfall. That forecast proved accurate over the weekend, when a powerful storm system swept across the state.
Yesterday, a dangerous line of storms built across Texas, bringing 40 to 60 mph wind gusts, lightning, and torrential downpours, with the greatest flood risk developing south of Interstate 20, extending down through Austin and San Antonio. The Austin area faced a Level 2 severe weather risk, with the potential for two-inch hail, gusty winds, and scattered storms capable of dropping 2 to 4 inches of rain in some spots, leading to ponding in low-lying areas.
Tornado warnings were issued in Burnet and San Saba counties, and damage from strong and severe thunderstorms was reported near Schulenburg on Sunday. (KXAN-TV)
The National Weather Service took the threat seriously. A Flood Watch was issued covering Travis, Hays, Williamson, Bastrop, and several other counties along the I-35 corridor, warning of life-threatening flooding potential, with rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches and isolated amounts of 5 to 10 inches possible in a short period of time.
Flash flood warnings were issued for parts of south-central Texas, with the National Weather Service reporting that between 1 and 3 inches of rain had already fallen in warned areas, and that flash flooding was already occurring in some locations — describing the threat as life-threatening in creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, and underpasses.
Looking ahead, the NWS forecast calls for continued thunderstorm chances through the week, with new rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches possible overnight. More rain is needed, and more is coming — but Austin residents are reminded that in Central Texas, welcome rain and dangerous flooding can arrive in the same storm.
MORE ON TODAY’S FORECAST CAN BE FOUND FURTHER DOWN THIS POST IN WEATHER
SOURCES:
- National Weather Service (Austin/San Antonio) — March 2026 Monthly Climate Summary
forecast.weather.gov - RainDrop Farm — 2026 Austin rainfall totals by zip code
raindrop.farm - Austin Today — “Rain Chances Return Today, Continue Daily” (April 9, 2026)
nationaltoday.com - Saluda Standard Sentinel — “Texas Faces 40 to 60 MPH Wind Gusts, Torrential Rain and Flash Flood Warnings” (April 12, 2026)
saludastandard-sentinel.com - FOX 7 Austin — “Austin weather: Flash flood warnings issued for parts of Central Texas” (April 12, 2026)
fox7austin.com - Weather Underground / National Weather Service — Flood Watch alert for Austin/Travis County and surrounding counties (April 12, 2026)
wunderground.com - KVUE Austin — Flash flood warnings and NWS alerts for south-central Texas (April 12–13, 2026)
kvue.com - NWS 7-Day Forecast — Austin area forecast including thunderstorm and rainfall outlook
forecast.weather.gov
Thousands of runners, walkers and spectators turned out for the 2026 Statesman Cap10K, the largest 10K race in Texas and the sixth largest in the country.
The start — thousands of runners gathered on the Congress Avenue Bridge stretching over Lady Bird Lake just after sunrise, with news helicopters and drones hovering overhead awaiting the starting horn. The Austin Fire Department unfurled a three-story American flag from the basket of a ladder truck to point racers to the starting line.
On the course — organized in paced waves, runners surged through the starting truss with their sights set on the State Capitol building looming in the distance, traveling straight up Congress Avenue through the center of downtown, passing the legendary Paramount Theatre — one of many spots featuring live music along the course.
The hill — looking back from Enfield Road, runners saw a breathtaking wave of participants stretching over the hill — a visual made legendary during the 1985 “Pepto Bismol pink” race shirt year.
The field — roughly 20,000 runners flocked to the streets of downtown Austin to run 6.2 miles, finishing at Auditorium Shores adjacent to Lady Bird Lake. Elite contenders included Kellyn Taylor, a 39-year-old multiple-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier, former winners Allie Kieffer, Rachel Baptista Tunningley, and 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier Kate Watson, along with Allie Ostrander, a three-time NCAA champion and nationally recognized running influencer.
After the finish — the Finish Line Festival featured free massages, food vendors, cocktails, a kids’ zone, autograph wall, live music, and photo ops. Cap10K Award presentations at the Winner’s Circle began at 9:00 a.m., with Loop Running Supply Co. shoes presented to the top men’s and women’s finishers.
2026 Statesman Cap10K official results — men’s and women’s top 25 finishers
Men’s winner
29:41
Shuaib Aljabaly
Women’s winner
32:45
Allie Ostrander ★ CR
Total finishers
24,000+
49th annual race
49th Annual Statesman Cap10K · Austin, TX · April 12, 2026 · Source: Austin Fit Magazine / MyChipTime
A busy intersection in downtown Austin was closed early this morning after a water main break caused street flooding in the area.
The Austin Police Department said around 3:15 a.m. that a water main break had occurred at 6th and Red River Streets, and that the roads near the intersection would be shut down for several hours.
PODCAST
There are hundreds of intersections in Austin, but which are the absolute worst? Host Nikki DaVaughn is joined by KUT’s transportation reporter, Nathan Bernier; and executive producer Eva Ruth Moravec to debate. Is it driving the roundabout at 51st Street and Interstate 35? Walking across I-35 at 32nd Street? Doing anything at Chicon and 7th streets? Riding a bicycle at Barton Springs and Azie Morton roads? Or maneuvering around Slaughter Lane and the MoPac Expressway, which is so bad it might be under construction for years to come?
Waymo takes a new approach to bring their autonomous vehicles to the rescue, as they develop the program for their vehicles to detect potholes in the city.
Austin officials are preparing to significantly expand sweeps of homeless encampments across the city — a strategy that would scale up enforcement-driven cleanups even as advocates warn the plan risks outpacing outreach and coordination efforts meant to protect vulnerable residents. (Austin American-Statesman)
A deadly shooting at an East Austin bar on Friday night has left neighbors concerned and searching for answers about what led to the violence.
Austin Police are investigating the city's 20th homicide of the year after a man was killed in East Austin on Friday night.
— Alec Nolan (@AlecOnFOX7) April 12, 2026
Now local gun store owner @michaeldcargill is saying two of his employees were involved and acted in self-defense.@MarcoBonFOX7 reports pic.twitter.com/KGvV3az0el
Baseball players at a Hays County high school under investigation for alleged bullying incidents are accused of hitting a student with a disability with a belt, imitating a sex act with him and slapping him, four people familiar with the accusations told the Austin American-Statesman.
Law enforcement has obtained two videos amid the investigation into alleged bullying.
Deep Eddy Pool reopens today after a brief closure for seasonal maintenance.
WEATHER
SUNDAY’S HIGH / LOW TEMPERATURES
AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
CAMP MABRY
5-DAY FORECAST / AUSTIN, TEXAS
Persistent rounds of thunderstorms will bring a multiday risk of heavy rain and severe weather to the central US through much of the week. (AccuWeather)
Late Friday afternoon, a Texas House committee approved nearly $422,000 in financial penalties against Democratic members who fled the chamber last August in an effort to block a mid-decade congressional redistricting bill backed by Republicans.
The House Administration Committee, controlled by the GOP, levied $303,000 in fines against more than 50 Democrats for going absent without leave during the 89th Legislature’s first and second special sessions. An additional $118,889.81 was tacked on to cover costs the Texas Department of Public Safety incurred while attempting to bring those members back to the floor. (KUT 90.5)
Rep. John Bucy says he has no plans to pay the hefty fine.
Last week, the GOP’s powerful Senate Leadership Fund super PAC announced it was committing $342 million to support a slate of candidates across eight states.
Texas, where U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, is fighting for political survival in a runoff against state Attorney General Ken Paxton on May 26, was not one of them. (Austin American-Statesman)
More than 274,000 Texas families applied, but most of those families will not receive vouchers because of eligibility and available funding limits.
The national average is $4.13/gal and the Texas statewide average sits at $3.80/gal per AAA’s latest figures AAA Fuel Prices, with more recent reporting putting Texas at $3.87 as prices have continued climbing. In Central Texas, the Austin metro average is $3.84/gal as of April 6 — up $0.25 in just one week.
The national average crossed $4 for the first time in four years as of early April. The surge is attributed largely to military operations in the Middle East and resulting pressure on the Strait of Hormuz.
Austin’s regular gas price is up $0.96 (+33.2%) compared to a year ago, and diesel has jumped $2.05.
Average gas prices as of April 13, 2026: National $4.13, Texas $3.87, Austin metro $3.84
As of April 13, 2026 — Source: AAA
National avg
$4.13
Regular unleaded
Texas avg
$3.87
Regular unleaded
Austin metro
$3.84
Regular unleaded
Price comparison — regular per gallon
All grades — Austin metro
Regular
$3.84
Austin–San Marcos
Diesel
$5.26
Austin–San Marcos
Premium (TX)
$4.62
Texas statewide
Year-over-year change in Texas
Regular
+36.1% vs last year
Diesel
+60.9% vs last year
National avg
+33% vs last year
Oil drilling is increasing in West Texas as tensions continue in the Middle East.
After negotiations over the weekend between the United States and Iran ended without a breakthrough, the temporary cease-fire appears to be increasingly precarious.
The New York Times journalists Ronen Bergman and Mark Mazzetti explain why Israel is one of the biggest questions looming over the truce.
A Bexar County man is behind bars in connection with a shooting at a bar over an unpaid tab.
Gillespie County authorities say cocaine sales at a local business led to arrests, drug seizures and ongoing charges.
SPORTS
COLLEGE BASEBALL: Mother Nature ended any chance of the Texas Longhorns avoiding a sweep at the hands of Texas A&M.
No. 2 Texas’ series finale at No. 18 Texas A&M yesterday at Blue Bell Park was canceled due to inclement weather. Texas dropped the first two games in the shortened series.
The Longhorns (27-7, 9-5 SEC) are scheduled to return to action against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
MLB: Yes, it’s only April, but the Houston Astros need to find some answers quick.
Logan Gilbert threw seven innings of one-run ball, and the Seattle Mariners beat Houston 6-1 Sunday to extend the Astros’ losing streak to seven. (Associated Press)
Houston Astros rotation unravels as injuries mount—can MLB’s top offense keep the season afloat? Tetsuya Imai’s arm fatigue scare, Cody Bolton’s struggles after injury, and an ailing bullpen put the Astros’ pitching depth in crisis, despite sluggers Yordan Alvarez and Cam Smith powering the lineup. With seven straight losses and an MLB-worst 6.49 ERA, is it time to call up arms from Sugar Land or consider drastic changes?
Shohei Ohtani connected off Jacob deGrom for his second straight leadoff home run, but the Texas Rangers rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 Sunday and avoid a three-game sweep. (Associated Press)
ON THE SCHEDULE
NBA: The NBA’s 2026 regular season has ended.
NHL: The Dallas Stars have two games left in the regular season before their first round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild. The first one is tonight.
The ups-and-downs of today’s amusement park industry are being ridden via new technologies in roller coaster design, including a hybrid wooden-and-steel roller coaster, the New Texas Giant, and the soon-to-open Tormenta Rampaging Run, a “giga dive” coaster, at Six Flags Over Texas.
