“That effect gets concentrated over the Balcones Escarpment, and if very slow-moving frontal systems come through, such as what happened with the 2015 Memorial Day storms, then this constant stream of moisture from the Gulf will produce many inches of rainfall over a short period.” “The rising air condenses and that creates rainfall,” Fernando said.

Additionally, the Balcones Escarpment’s hilly terrain acts as a “ramp” for the fronts and “enhances what was already taking place between the two air masses,” she said. When warm and cool air masses combine, it results in instability as the warm air rises above the cool air. Nelun Fernando, hydrologist at the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). Over Texas, these moist, warm air masses from the Gulf collide with cool air masses from the north and moisture flow from the Pacific, said Dr. The Memorial Day 2015 flood left widespread damage along the Blanco River. High rainfall intensities are common in the region because there’s an infinite source of moist air from the Gulf of Mexico, he said. Earl, who joined the department in 1991, has studied flooding hazards for decades and has experienced numerous floods in San Marcos. Richard Earl, professor in Texas State University’s Department of Geography. “The region has some of the highest flood discharge per unit area of a drainage basin in the country,” said Dr. Major flash floods are common along the Balcones Escarpment because of two factors prevalent in the region, according to experts: intense rainfall events and efficient drainage off the landscape. Following the curve of the Balcones Escarpment through Texas’ middle - from Waco south to Uvalde - Flash Flood Alley’s weather and landscape distinctively work together to produce rapid flood events.

Those rivers run through Flash Flood Alley, one of the most flood-prone regions on the continent. Those same rivers can tell another story about the Hill Country, however. It does not store any personal data.For many Texans, the Hill Country is not just a region but a way of life: beautiful vistas of rocky hillsides, small towns with live music and quaint festivals, and, of course, hot summer days spent diving into spring-fed swimming holes or floating down iconic rivers. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Performance'. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Necessary'. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Other. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Functional'. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category 'Analytics'. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.

Fema flood zone map 78747