HILL COUNTRY — An estimated 480 billion gallons of rain fell across an 1,800-square-mile region of the Texas Hill Country between July 13 and July 17, 2026. The deluge caused significant rises in multiple rivers and dangerous flooding in creeks across several counties west of San Antonio.

Rainfall totals across the affected area ranged from 15 to 27 inches, with the highest accumulations concentrated over Uvalde, Medina, Real, and Kinney Counties. The impacted zone stretched from Hondo through Uvalde and extended northward toward Camp Wood and Utopia.

Water levels rose in the Frio, Sabinal, Nueces, Guadalupe, and Pedernales Rivers as a result of the prolonged rainfall. Cibolo Creek and Hondo Creek also rose to dangerous levels, threatening low-lying areas and infrastructure.

The volume of rain that fell—480 billion gallons—is equivalent to filling a standard 40-gallon bathtub 12 billion times. In Comfort, Texas, the Guadalupe River crested at 37 feet, surpassing last year’s flood level by 1.5 feet and nearing its all-time record of 42.3 feet set in 1869. Flooding along the Frio River and Sabinal Creek rendered U.S. Highway 87 South impassable, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.

The Texas Hill Country is a region prone to flash flooding due to its rocky, less absorbent terrain, which amplifies runoff during heavy rain events. The scale of this rainfall—spanning nearly 2,000 square miles and producing river levels approaching historic highs—underscores the potential for widespread infrastructure damage and community disruption. Authorities have not yet released comprehensive assessments of property damage or evacuations, but road closures and rising creeks indicate significant local impact.