The National Weather Service issued a series of Severe Flood Watches on July 14, 2026, affecting multiple central and southern Texas counties and a separate watch for Webb County along the Rio Grande; the multi-county watch was effective from July 14 at 1:59 PM CDT through July 16 at 7:00 PM CDT, while the Webb County watch covered July 14 at 11:49 PM CDT through July 17 at 7:00 PM CDT. Rio Grande locations specifically named included the Columbia Bridge and Laredo gauge points.
Why it matters: The watches signal the potential for both river flooding and rapid flash flooding from excessive rainfall across the affected area, posing risks to life and property. Storm totals of 2 to 6 inches were forecast across the watch region with isolated amounts of 10 to 20 inches possible in the Rio Grande Plains the southern Edwards Plateau and along the US 90 corridor west of San Antonio, where officials warned of considerable to locally catastrophic flash flooding impacts.
Counties and specific locations under watch
The multi-county Severe Flood Watch covered Llano, Burnet, Williamson, Val Verde, Edwards, Real, Kerr, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, Blanco, Hays, Travis, Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Comal, Maverick, Zavala, Frio, and Dimmit counties, with the greatest flash flooding potential noted for portions of the US 90 corridor west of San Antonio. Separately, Webb County in the Rio Grande region was placed under a watch that named the Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge and Rio Grande at Laredo as points where rising river levels could produce flooding.
Forecast impacts and safety guidance
Forecast guidance indicated the possibility of life-threatening flooding somewhere within the broader watch area, with rapid rises of streams and rivers and flash flooding of low-lying areas and roadways. Officials advised residents in the watch zones to remain alert, avoid low-lying areas, and be ready to move to higher ground. Emergency instructions reiterated standard guidance to contact 911 for immediate danger and to monitor official forecasts through National Weather Service channels.
Timing and expected evolution
Watches issued on July 14 established time frames through July 16 for the multi-county area and through July 17 for Webb County, reflecting slightly different local threats driven by river response versus short-term heavy rainfall. Authorities cautioned that the situation was evolving and that Flood Warnings could be issued if rivers or rainfall rates produced impacts. Last updated: 15 July 2026.
