KERR COUNTY — The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for central Kerr County, Texas, early Thursday morning, July 16, 2026, encompassing the communities of Kerrville, Ingram, and Hunt. The emergency declaration came as torrential rainfall triggered rapid river rises, forced evacuations, and prompted ongoing water rescues across the region.

A series of slow-moving thunderstorms tracked across Kerr County early Thursday, producing torrential rainfall that overwhelmed drainage systems and natural waterways. Heavy rainfall on Thursday morning caused flooding specifically in the Hunt area, prompting immediate rescues and evacuations as water levels surged beyond containment.

Runoff flooding caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, sending water into homes along its banks. The Guadalupe River at Hunt rose by 10 feet in one hour, reaching 19.36 feet as of 3:20 a.m. Thursday—exceeding moderate flood stage. NOAA forecasts expect the river to continue rising to major flood stage over the next hour.

According to the National Weather Service, 3 to 6 inches of rain have already fallen in the area, with an additional 2 to 4 inches likely within the next couple of hours. The agency stated, "Flash flooding is already occurring with evacuations, escalating water rescues, and water beginning to enter structures." It added, "Move to higher ground now!" and warned, "This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order."

Rescues are underway in Hunt as emergency crews respond to stranded residents. Some residents were told to shelter in place because floodwaters made it impossible to reach higher ground. At the Flaming Arrow area, floodwaters rose to about five feet above the bridge’s normal flood stage. A source stated that water rose within about 30 minutes at the Flaming Arrow area, forcing evacuations across the bridge.

The low-water crossing at Indian Creek Bridge is flooded, leaving a large number of people landlocked and unable to access evacuation routes. Residents in the Old Ingram Loop area are evacuating to the Kerr County Courthouse, which is serving as a temporary shelter. The old Heart O’ the Hills camp property was also evacuated to higher ground as a precaution.

Kerr County posted on Facebook that there is a flash flood emergency for Hunt and Kerrville, reinforcing the urgency of the National Weather Service’s warning. Officials urged people to avoid driving through flooded roadways and to move to higher ground if it is safe to do so. Areas affected by the flash flood emergency include Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt, Kerrville-Schreiner Park, and Waltonia.

The flash flood emergency reflects the extreme hydrological response of the Guadalupe River basin to intense, localized rainfall—a pattern that can rapidly escalate from nuisance flooding to life-threatening conditions. With the river already surpassing moderate flood stage and projected to reach major flood stage imminently, the situation poses risk to property and public safety across multiple communities in central Kerr County.

Emergency protocols, including evacuations to designated shelters like the Kerr County Courthouse and urgent public warnings from both county officials and federal forecasters, underscore the immediacy of the threat. The National Weather Service, a forecasting agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issues flash flood emergencies only when flooding is imminent or already occurring and poses a severe threat to life.