San Antonio could see storms within hours; flood watch issued for Hill Country

Several parts of South Central Texas are in for another day of gloomy weather this afternoon and evening. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that storms heading toward San Antonio may produce hazardous conditions for folks on the move. Those in surrounding cities may also be impacted.

In the latest weather report from NWS, a flood watch has been issued for portions of Hill Country, southern Edwards Plateau and Rio Grande until 7 a.m. on Friday. 

“Pockets of heavy rain are possible across these locations but not limited to the Flood Watch area. Localized flooding possible where the heaviest rainfall occurs.” NWS said.

Thunderstorms heading into the area may produce heavy rain, strong winds up to 50 mph, and isolated flooding, according to the national weather authority. The warning comes just three weeks after the city saw half a foot of rain fall, leading to water levels becoming dangerously high. 

Earlier this morning, the NWS predicted that rainfall amounts could reach between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. However, in the latest weather report, forecasters say some areas could see as much as 7 inches of rain.

Part of San Antonio is under a marginal risk for excessive rainfall, while the northern part of the city is under a slight risk. The agency says excessive rainfall observed through the afternoon could lead to flooding in rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying areas. Urban areas with low water crossings and parts of towns with poor drainage are also at risk for overflow. Folks should keep an eye on weather forecasts and be extra alert for possible flood warnings. 

Looking forward, forecasters say there’s a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms occurring shortly before 10 p.m. tonight, potentially impacting those travelling for the holiday weekend. Around that time, wind gusts could be as strong as 20 mph.

Currently, the Independence Day forecast shows mostly cloudy conditions during the daytime with a high near 91. There’s a very low chance of rain in San Antonio, Austin, and New Braunfels (15 percent) according to the NWS seven-day forecast. Temperatures in the surrounding area will sink into the mid-70s after the sun sets. 

Those located west of the Alamo City, including the cities of Kerrville and Uvalde, have higher precipitation chances on that day, with the NWS listing them as high as 55 percent.

Showers and thunderstorms aren’t predicted to return to San Antonio until Saturday, July 5, after 1 p.m. The NWS says there’s a 20 percent chance of inclement weather around that time with wind gusts reaching as high as 20 mph.