Central Texas braces for more rain after deadly floods; officials warn of renewed flash flood risk in already saturated areas. Follow Newsweek’s live blog.<\/b>
\nAfter a devastating holiday weekend that left dozens dead and many still missing, Central Texas is bracing for more rain. Forecasters warn that additional storms this week could exacerbate already hazardous flood conditions, with saturated ground and swollen rivers leaving little room for further water accumulation. Emergency officials remain on high alert as the region faces the threat of renewed flash flooding.
What to Know:
A new round of storms is expected to bring 2\u20134 inches of rain, with isolated totals up to 10 inches possible.
The National Weather Service has extended flood watches across Central Texas through Monday evening.
Areas hardest hit by the July 4 floods\u2014including Kerr, Llano, and Bell counties\u2014remain at high risk.
Emergency crews are still conducting search and rescue operations for missing residents and campers.
The Guadalupe River and other waterways remain dangerously elevated, with little capacity for runoff.
Officials urge residents to avoid low-lying areas and heed all weather alerts and evacuation orders.
The flooding has already become one of the deadliest in U.S. history, with at least 80 confirmed dead.
Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates. IN PICTURES: Map shows Texas counties under flood warningsMore than 2 million Texans remain under flood watch or warnings
Much of central Texas remained under a flood watch Monday, with certain areas elevated to a flood warning or advisory.
The residents of San Antonio, Austin and the surrounding areas have been urged to monitor forecasts, be alert for possible Flood Warnings and be prepared to evacuated if necessary.Texas remains under multiple flood warnings
Heavy thunderstorms prompted multiple flash flood warnings throughout central Texas, including areas in Bell, Coryell, Lampasas, Burnet, Llano, McCulloch, and Mills counties.
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Fort Worth, San Angelo, and Austin\/San Antonio issued these alerts, warning residents of significant rainfall accumulation ranging from 1.5 to 5 inches in several locations. Flash flooding was confirmed in numerous areas, with reports of stranded vehicles and closed roadways.
West Central Bell County and surrounding areas were among the hardest hit, with flash flooding already occurring as of 9:46 AM CDT. Emergency management sources confirmed flooded roadways, and residents in locations such as Killeen, Copperas Cove, Fort Cavazos, and Kempner were advised to avoid travel. Similar threats extended into southeastern Lampasas and southwestern Coryell counties, where additional rainfall was forecast, further aggravating flooding conditions.
In other parts of the region, including Llano and Burnet counties, radar detected intense storms producing rainfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour. The NWS reported considerable threats of life-threatening flash flooding in urban areas, highways, and streams. Flash flooding was ongoing or imminent in towns such as Llano, Buchanan Lake Village, and Lake Victor, with warnings to seek higher ground immediately and avoid low-lying routes.
Meanwhile, southeastern Mills County and northern Lampasas County experienced up to 3 inches of rainfall with the potential for another 3 to 5 inches. Radar also indicated dangerous conditions in southern McCulloch County, including towns like Brady and Camp San Saba. Across all affected regions, the NWS urged caution, stressing the danger of attempting to cross flooded roads and highlighting the common risk of flood-related fatalities in vehicles.Tracker map shows tropical storm sweeping over state<\/p>\n