A flood warning has been issued for the San Antonio River across parts of southern Bexar County and western Wilson County. Near Elmendorf, the river is expected to rise above minor flood stage by 6 p.m. Monday and crest at 38.4 feet overnight, while heavy rain
The San Antonio River is already climbing, and the next jump is expected to come fast.
A flood warning has been issued along the San Antonio River across parts of southern Bexar County and parts of western Wilson County. the National Weather Service announced Monday morning. At the gauge location near Elmendorf, in southern Bexar County, the river sat at 11.3 feet at 10:30 a.m. Monday. By the end of the day. forecasters expect it to rise by more than 20 feet. driven by heavy rainfall recorded across the metro area and areas downstream.
The river is expected to rise above the 35-foot minor flood stage by 6 p.m. Monday, before cresting at 38.4 feet overnight. It is not expected to reach moderate flood stage, which would be reached at a height of 39 feet.
For residents living close to the water, the warning is not just about numbers on a gauge. Minor flooding is expected to inundate crops and pastureland along the river from the South Side of San Antonio to near Floresville.
The rainfall behind the surge has been intense enough to rewrite the record books. As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, San Antonio had recorded 2.61 inches of rain. That total sets a new record for most rain ever recorded on June 15, beating the previous mark of 1.68 inches set on June 15, 1894.
The flood risk is paired with more rain on the way. A flash flood watch is in effect for the region through 7 p.m. Tuesday, as more rounds of rainfall will be possible from Monday afternoon through Tuesday.
Water is also rising in Leon Creek. At the gauge location near Interstate 35 South, Leon Creek sat at a height of 5.8 feet at 8:15 a.m. Monday, and is projected to rise by more than 10 feet throughout the day. Leon Creek is expected to crest at 16.4 feet between 4 and 6 p.m. Monday—slightly above moderate flood stage, which is listed as 16 feet.
The creek is not expected to reach major flood stage, which would only be reached at a height of 20 feet.
The National Weather Service provided a specific warning for one area near the stadium. “At 16.0 feet. Camargo Park near Nelson Wolff Stadium will begin to see water entering the park in areas that are close to the creek. ” the agency said in a statement. “Primary and secondary roads and bridges will begin to see flooding from above Kelly USA to below I-35.”.
If Leon Creek reaches 16.4 feet, it would be the creek’s seventh-highest crest in the past 20 years.
That peak may still be followed by a drop. Water levels are expected to fall below flood stage by 10 p.m. Monday night and will continue to decrease into the overnight hours.
By evening, the question for families and property owners won’t be whether the river rises—it will be how high it climbs before overnight.
San Antonio River flood warning Leon Creek flooding minor flood stage Elmendorf gauge Camargo Park Nelson Wolff Stadium flash flood watch June 15 rainfall record Bexar County Wilson County