Texas death toll nears 130 as concern for more flash flooding grows in hard-hit areas
The flooding death toll in Texas continues to climb, with 129 people reported dead as of Saturday morning.
Flood watch issued for devastated Texas Hill County
Showers and thunderstorms will make their way into Texas this evening, increasing the risk for flash flooding in hard-hit Kerrville and other areas where search and rescue are still ongoing after July 4th's deadly flood event.
KERRVILLE, Texas. – Areas badly damaged by the historic July 4th flooding in Texas Hill Country are on alert for a new flash flooding threat through the weekend.
The worrying forecast comes with the somber news that the flooding death toll continues to climb, with 129 people reported dead as of Saturday morning.
129 reported dead in Texas floods as search and rescue continues
Rain is forecast throughout central Texas this weekend, and just the smallest amount of rain could cause flash flooding and impede search and rescue efforts. FOX Weather Correspondent Katie Byrne reports from Kerrville on the latest.
While the chance of flooding isn't as severe as what happened just over a week ago, already saturated grounds will increase the flooding potential.
Showers and thunderstorms will make their way into the area starting late Saturday.
The National Weather Service issued a Flood Watch for much of the Hill Country, as well as the I-35 corridor including Austin and San Antonio, until 7 p.m. CT on Sunday.
BEFORE-AND-AFTER PHOTOS OF CAMP MYSTIC, KERR COUNTY SHOW DEVASTATION 1 WEEK AFTER DEADLY FLOODS
The increase in thunderstorms comes as deep Gulf moisture surges back into the region, brought in by an upper-level disturbance expected to develop over the Southern Plains.
The NWS warned that rainfall of 1-3 inches, with isolated amounts up to 6 inches are possible.
NOAA's Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 out of 4 flash flood threat for parts of north-central Texas through Sunday, and that includes Kerrville and the Texas Hill Country.
MOTHER, SON TELL HOW HISTORIC FLOODS SWEPT THROUGH LA JUNTA BOYS CAMP ALONG GUADALUPE RIVER
Search and rescue crews set out ahead of anticipated rain on Saturday
Crews from all over the U.S. have come to Texas to help with the search for missing people after deadly flooding in Texas. A crew from Nevada was in Kerrville on Saturday morning searching through debris.
Not all the areas badly impacted by flooding, like Kerr County, may receive direct rainfall, but if heavy rains occur up north, where thunderstorms are a bit more likely, flash floods could move south, the FOX Forecast Center said. Residents affected by the July 4 flooding should remain especially alert for any locally developing storms.
Deaths and missing people have been reported across Kerr, Burnet, Travis, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties. No survivors have been found since the day of the flooding.
President Donald Trump visited Kerrville on Friday to meet with Texas officials.
"It's hard to believe the devastation - trees that are 100 years old just ripped out of the ground - I've never seen anything like it, and I've seen a lot of bad ones," the President said during his meeting with state and local officials in Kerrville. "I've gone through a lot of hurricanes, a lot of tornadoes… I've never seen anything like this."
Girls' belonging litter the ground at Camp Mystic after devastating flooding. (Nearmap / FOX Weather)
More than 150 people remain missing across the Hill Country as of Saturday morning.