The flash flood event of Friday July 4 2025 is rare but the events of that day will not be easily forgotten. With the death toll climbing above 130 and with at least 170 still missing, this event is shaping up to be a major disaster.
This is perhaps the worst flash flood disaster to impact the United States of America since the Big Thompson River event of Colorado of early July 1976.
Perhaps Kerr County of Texas is worst affected with 103 known deaths at the time of research and writing.
Thunderstorms that developed over the region remained fairly stationary and it is known that the Guadalupe River rose as much as 7.9 metres in 45 minutes. It least 20 children lost their lives at a summer camp and rescue workers carried out at least 850 flood rescues.
The Hill Country of west Texas is known for major flood events including those of 1987, 1998 and 2015, all of which took lives but this event far exceeded those earlier events in terms of death toll.
While weather warnings were issued for flooding and heavy rainfall, it would appear that the thunderstorm events far exceeded forecast rainfall. Maximum rainfall topped 516 mm, far in excess of the maximum 130 to 180 mm initially expected.
Using Zoom Earth, it can be seen that thunderstorms developed over the affected region but remained stationary which allowed high rainfall totals to occur.
This event is ongoing and recovery will be difficult for those affected.