Peak flash flood season a few weeks away
AUSTIN (KXAN) — While we work our way through an active early May for severe weather, we’ve only seen minimal flash flooding so far.
While severe weather season peaks in May in Central Texas, flash flood season doesn’t peak until June.
According to our location National Weather Service office, the number of flash flood incidents from 1996-2020 South Central Texas in May was 498, that rises to 506 in June and down to 430 in July. These three months have the highest number of flash flood incidents in South Central Texas compared with any other month of the year.
Central Texas experiences a secondary flash flood season that revolves around tropical systems. This secondary season runs from August through October with a peak in October followed by a big drop in November in flash flooding incidents.
Just like the Storm Prediction Center puts Central Texas at risk levels (1-5) for severe storms, the Weather Prediction Center uses four risk levels for excessive rainfall and flash flooding threats. Levels 1 and 2 are fairly frequent lower risk levels for Central Texas, but a Level 3 out of 4 is considered a “moderate risk” and means an elevated risk for property damage and risks to human life. On average, 1 out of 4 ‘moderate’ flash flood risk days results in a flood-related injury or death, 1 out of 3 result in $1 million in property damage. Central Texas averages six ‘moderate’ flash flood risk days per year.
Flash flooding isn’t a problem unique to Central Texas, but flash flooding problems are particularly pronounced here. In fact, Central Texas is known as “flash flood alley” due to the frequency and severity of flash flooding along the urban Interstate 35 corridor.
Preparing for flash flooding
If flash flooding is in the forecast, usually when the area is under a “Flood Watch” there are some things you can do to make sure you stay informed and safe.
Stay with the First Warning Weather Team as we head into peak flash flood season, especially with storms in the forecast through the middle of this week.
