Texas, Flash flood and heavy rainfall
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Blistering sun and July heat and humidity will provide challenges for recovery and cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the Guadalupe River flood disaster, AccuWeather meteorologists say.
Weather model data shows the National Weather Service had reason to warn of higher flood risks. Still, meteorologists say the agency made reasonable predictions.
Meteorologists say incredible amounts of moisture in the air fueled a storm that moved slowly over central Texas, creating conditions for fatal flash floods.
At least 120 people have been found dead since heavy rainfall overwhelmed the river and flowed through homes and youth camps in the early morning hours of July 4. Ninety-six of those killed were in the hardest-hit county in central Texas, Kerr County, where the toll includes at least 36 children.
At least 24 people are dead after heavy rain lashed Texas, leading to "catastrophic" flooding. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said emergency responders remained in a search and rescue posture, hours after the flooding along the Guadalupe River inundated nearby areas.
After the catastrophic flash flooding in central Texas on July 4, 2025, users online claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was ultimately to blame for the flood's 100 deaths due to staffing cuts at the National Weather Service.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller dismissed conspiracy theories linking his agency to cloud seeding, saying it hasn't been involved in weather modification since 2011.
"A lot of the weather forecast offices now are not operating at full complement of staff," said the former lead of NOAA.
Officials in flood-stricken central Texas on Wednesday again deflected mounting questions about whether they could have done more to warn people ahead of devastating flash flooding that killed at least 119 people on July 4.