Alert archive / Texas / Flash Flood Warnings in 2026

Flash Flood Warning 17, NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX

May 21, 2026Blanco County, Burnet County, Llano County, Texas

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued this flash flood warning at May 21, 2026, 5:37 PM CDT for Blanco County, Burnet County, Llano County, Texas. It was in force for 4 hr. 1 report came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued
May 21, 2026, 5:37 PM CDT (22:37 UTC)
Expired
May 21, 2026, 9:45 PM CDT
In force
4 hr
Issued by
NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX
Area
Storm-based polygon
Damage threat
Considerable
Flood severity
None

Counties Blanco County, TX, Burnet County, TX, Llano County, TX

The radar

The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 97 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:40 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

TimeReportWhereRemark
May 21, 6:42 PM CDTFLASH FLOODGranite Shoals, TXBurnet County EMC reports flooding throughout the city of Granite Shoals with multiple low water crossings also having issues within the flash flood warning. County roads 120, 122, 202, 203, US 281 at PR4 flooded.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

Did it verify

Verified. The Iowa Environmental Mesonet's Cow matched one storm report to this flash flood warning; the first came 65 minutes after it went out.

Cow counts a report within 15 km of the polygon while the warning was in force: a tornado for a tornado warning; hail of 1 inch or more, a gust of 58 mph or more or wind damage for a severe thunderstorm warning; a flash flood report for a flash flood warning.

The nearest sounding before it

Fort Worth, TX (KFWD), launched 12:00Z, 10.6 hours before the alert went out and 267 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 826 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°0°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Fort Worth, TX at 12:00Z on 2026-05-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 16 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
826 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-34 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
631 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
13 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
16 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
101 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

059 
WGUS54 KEWX 212237
FFWEWX
TXC031-053-299-220245-
/O.NEW.KEWX.FF.W.0017.260521T2237Z-260522T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Flash Flood Warning
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
537 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

The National Weather Service in Austin/San Antonio has issued a

* Flash Flood Warning for...
  Northwestern Blanco County in south central Texas...
  Southwestern Burnet County in south central Texas...
  Southeastern Llano County in south central Texas...

* Until 945 PM CDT.

* At 537 PM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
  thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 
  1 and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts of 
  1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is 
  already occurring.

  HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms
           producing flash flooding.

  SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

  IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
           urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Burnet, Marble Falls, Kingsland, Gainesville, Granite Shoals, 
  Horseshoe Bay, Meadowlakes, Highland Haven, Longhorn Cavern State 
  Park, Inks Lake State Park, Smithwick, Blowout, Cottonwood Shores 
  and Sunrise Beach Village.

Report of flooding due to high water flow in Granite Shoals.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become 
unstable and unsafe.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 9838 3084 9818 3057 9810 3049 9835
      3041 9859 3050 9859 3064 9859

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

MM
2 follow-up statements
796 
WGUS74 KEWX 212349
FFSEWX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
649 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXC031-053-299-220245-
/O.CON.KEWX.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260522T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Blanco TX-Burnet TX-Llano TX-
649 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 945 PM CDT THIS 
EVENING FOR NORTHWESTERN BLANCO, SOUTHWESTERN BURNET AND 
SOUTHEASTERN LLANO COUNTIES...

At 649 PM CDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated 
thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 2 
and 3 inches of rain have fallen. Additional rainfall amounts up to 
1 inch are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is already 
occurring.

HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing
         flash flooding.

SOURCE...Radar and automated gauges.

IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of creeks and streams,
         urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include...
  Burnet, Marble Falls, Kingsland, Gainesville, Granite Shoals, 
  Horseshoe Bay, Meadowlakes, Highland Haven, Longhorn Cavern State 
  Park, Inks Lake State Park, Smithwick, Blowout, Cottonwood Shores 
  and Sunrise Beach Village.

Numerous County roads within the warned area have been reported 
flooding, along with continued flooding issues in Granite Shoals.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood 
deaths occur in vehicles.

Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads.

Stay away or be swept away. River banks and culverts can become 
unstable and unsafe.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 9838 3084 9818 3057 9810 3049 9835
      3041 9859 3050 9859 3064 9859

FLASH FLOOD...RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED
FLASH FLOOD DAMAGE THREAT...CONSIDERABLE

$$

MM
572 
WGUS74 KEWX 220242
FFSEWX

Flash Flood Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
942 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXC031-053-299-220252-
/O.EXP.KEWX.FF.W.0017.000000T0000Z-260522T0245Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Blanco TX-Burnet TX-Llano TX-
942 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...FLASH FLOOD WARNING WILL EXPIRE AT 945 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR 
NORTHWESTERN BLANCO, SOUTHWESTERN BURNET AND SOUTHEASTERN LLANO 
COUNTIES...

Flood waters have receded. The heavy rain has ended. Flooding is no 
longer expected to pose a threat. Please continue to heed remaining 
road closures.

&&

LAT...LON 3075 9838 3084 9818 3057 9810 3049 9835
      3041 9859 3050 9859 3064 9859

$$

MM

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before this flash flood warning went out, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before this flash flood warning went out at May 21, 3:03 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes earlier. Its key messages:

  • Low to medium chances for rain this afternoon/evening. Isolated showers and storms may develop with the most favored areas over the southern Edwards Plateau, Rio Grande, and parts of the Hill Country.
  • Flood Watch Friday evening through Monday evening for areas along and east of a Kerr to Frio County line.
  • Active and unsettled weather pattern continues into next week. Multiple rounds of storms with heavy rain are possible and could lead to localized flooding.
Area forecast discussion, May 21, 3:03 PM CDT, 2 hours 34 minutes before
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
303 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...New SHORT TERM, LONG TERM...

.KEY MESSAGES...

- Low to medium chances for rain this afternoon/evening. Isolated
  showers and storms may develop with the most favored areas over
  the southern Edwards Plateau, Rio Grande, and parts of the Hill
  Country.

- Flood Watch Friday evening through Monday evening for areas
  along and east of a Kerr to Frio County line.

- Active and unsettled weather pattern continues into next week.
  Multiple rounds of storms with heavy rain are possible and could
  lead to localized flooding.

&&

.SHORT TERM...
(Tonight through Friday night)
Issued at 301 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

A stalled frontal boundary along with previous outflow boundaries
will be the main focus for additional thunderstorm development late
this afternoon into tonight. Many areas did not receive much in the
way of showers and thunderstorms last night which leads to a rather
challenging and low confidence forecast for the short term portion.
That being said we are starting to see clouds clearing in the
western half of the area when looking at visible satellite imagery
leading to the possibility of convection to form as the atmosphere
begins to destabilize. SPC also has this area in a level 1 of 5 risk
for severe weather with the main threats being large hail and
damaging wind gusts. We are not anticipating a widespread event
initially this evening but rather a more scattered to isolated
scenario.

Hi-Res models continue to be all over the place regarding
initial placement and timing but the overall consensus is that most
would see activity occur after 4 PM and continue through this
evening into the overnight. An initial round of activity already
located over Llano, Kimble and Mason counties will continue to
progress eastward with activity continuing to form back behind it.
The recent run of RRFS (18Z) shows this complex of activity slowly
drifting southeastward and impacting parts of the Hill Country. The
latest 18Z ACAR sounding at SAT shows MUCAPE of 1800 J/kg while the
AUS sounding shows around 1600 J/kg and along with SPC meso showing
mid-level lapse rates of 6.5 to 7 c/km. Any storms that do form will
have the potential to produce damaging winds, large hail and
torrential rainfall as moisture remains extremely high over the
region. WPC has expanded their level 1 of 4 risk to include the
entire area for today due to the recent rainfall and the anomalously
high moisture located over our area.

Several short range models show a secondary wave of activity forming
over either West TX or Central TX as a another disturbance
progresses eastward. This convection would then swing southward
through the Rio Grande and Southern Edwards Plateau, possibly
clipping portions of Bexar County and perhaps parts of the western
Hill Country. However it should be weakening as it does so with most
activity ending before daybreak Friday morning with most activity
then pushing southward into South TX.

Friday into Friday evening we seem to be in a bit of a lull as we
remain trapped between two disturbances with the one moving off to
our east and then the next one located over West TX and impacting
portions of our western areas beginning as early as Saturday morning.

Additionally due to the area receiving widespread rainfall of 1 to 3
inches over the past 3 days and the potential for additional rounds
of heavy rainfall we went ahead and issued a Flood Watch for the
entirety of the holiday weekend for areas along and east of a Kerr
to Frio county line.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Saturday through next Thursday)
Issued at 301 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

As alluded to above, Saturday could shape up to be a very active day
as our next disturbance will be approaching the area sparking
another round of showers and thunderstorms capable of very heavy
rainfall as moisture continues to remain high across the area. There
is relative good agreement on the latest model consensus regarding
the evolution of a low pushing across our area and stalling over
East TX. This low will be the focus for the repeated rounds of
thunderstorms and heavy rainfall over the extended weekend. Many
areas could see a widespread swath of 2 to 4 inches with some areas
seeing isolated totals of up to 6 inches of rainfall especially for
those across the Watch area. As such, WPC currently has our area in
a level 2 of 4 risk for excessive rainfall for areas along and east
of the I-10 to I-35 Corridor including the San Antonio and Austin
Metro areas.

Global models continue to indicate this low meandering somewhere
across East TX until at least Tuesday as the upper level pattern
shows another trough digging down into the Western U.S. This trough
will help to finally kick out the meandering low but also puts our
area back into southwest flow aloft. This then opens the door for
renewed rainfall chances as disturbances continue to push across our
area into next week.

As stated previously this is a rather low confidence and challenging
forecast as each round of storms moves across parts of our area,
more stable conditions will likely follow leading to periods of dry
weather as the atmosphere recharges. Even though many chances for
precipitation are seen in the extended forecast, periods of dry
weather are also expected. Similarly, as each day evolves, the
outflow and leftover boundaries from the previous day's convection
will be the continued focus for renewed development for the next
day. Thus it wont be until 24 to perhaps 48 hrs prior to each day
that we will be able to pinpoint the location and eventually
trajectory of where storms may fire.

It should be noted that every rain event that occurs will continue
to bring soils closer to saturation thus increasing the potential
for excessive run off which can lead to flash flooding or river
flooding. Please continue to monitor the forecast and always have a
way to receive warning information.

&&

.AVIATION...
(18Z TAFS)
Issued at 1235 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

MVFR cigs are forecast for the next few hours for the San Antonio
and Austin area terminals. Then VFR category is projected to
remain through the rest of the afternoon into the evening. There
is a chance for showers and storms along the Rio Grande Plains
late this afternoon and evening. With that said, included a PROB30
group for KDRT late afternoon into the evening for the
possibility of thunderstorms. A light east to southeast flow is
forecast through the forecast period. MVFR conditions return for
the I-35 airports overnight into Friday morning.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
Austin Camp Mabry              69  88  72  84 /  30  20  20  90
Austin Bergstrom Intl Airport  68  87  71  83 /  30  20  20  90
New Braunfels Muni Airport     67  86  70  83 /  30  20  20  90
Burnet Muni Airport            66  85  69  81 /  30  20  30  90
Del Rio Intl Airport           67  89  70  85 /  30   0  40  50
Georgetown Muni Airport        67  86  70  82 /  30  10  30  90
Hondo Muni Airport             66  85  69  81 /  30  10  50  90
San Marcos Muni Airport        68  87  71  83 /  30  20  20  90
La Grange - Fayette Regional   69  86  72  83 /  30  30  20  90
San Antonio Intl Airport       69  87  72  83 /  30  20  30  90
Stinson Muni Airport           69  87  72  83 /  30  20  30  90

&&

.EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Flood Watch from Friday evening through Monday evening for
TXZ171>173-186>194-204>209-219>225.

&&

SHORT TERM...CJM
LONG TERM....CJM
AVIATION...17

In the hours before

Special weather statement, May 21, 4:10 PM CDT, 1 hour 27 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
410 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXZ171-188-212200-
Gillespie TX-Llano TX-
410 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern
Gillespie and southwestern Llano Counties through 500 PM CDT...

At 410 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7
miles southwest of Hilda, or 14 miles south of Mason, moving east at
30 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Castell, Cherry Spring, Prairie Mountain, Doss, Enchanted Rock State
Natural Area, and Harper.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm.
Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe
shelter inside a building or vehicle.

&&

LAT...LON 3070 9872 3030 9893 3040 9930 3050 9931
      3050 9896 3070 9896
TIME...MOT...LOC 2110Z 279DEG 24KT 3053 9922

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

MM
Special weather statement, May 21, 5:05 PM CDT, 32 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
505 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXZ172-173-212245-
Williamson TX-Burnet TX-
505 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of west central
Williamson and central Burnet Counties through 545 PM CDT...

At 504 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Longhorn Cavern State Park, or near Marble Falls, moving northeast at
25 mph.

HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Burnet, Marble Falls, Bertram, Granite Shoals, Meadowlakes, Lake
Victor, Sunnylane, Longhorn Cavern State Park, Joppa, Oatmeal, Shady
Grove, and Inks Lake State Park.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3073 9786 3053 9828 3067 9841 3101 9815
TIME...MOT...LOC 2204Z 234DEG 20KT 3065 9827

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH

CJM
Special weather statement, May 21, 5:25 PM CDT, 12 minutes before
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX
525 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

TXZ171-172-190-212315-
Blanco TX-Llano TX-Burnet TX-
525 PM CDT Thu May 21 2026

...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Blanco,
southeastern Llano and southwestern Burnet Counties through 615 PM
CDT...

At 525 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over
Sandy, or 9 miles west of Round Mountain, moving northeast at 20 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around
         unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Marble Falls, Round Mountain, Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay,
Meadowlakes, Highland Haven, Spicewood, Blowout, Sandy, Cottonwood
Shores, and Sunrise Beach Village.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.

Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to
localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded
roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3046 9814 3027 9852 3035 9859 3047 9859
      3068 9833
TIME...MOT...LOC 2225Z 232DEG 17KT 3039 9852

MAX HAIL SIZE...0.75 IN
MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH

CJM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 21, 12:04 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXLlano41 min
May 21, 5:07 AM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXReal38 min
May 21, 5:18 AM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXReal21 min
May 21, 5:24 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXEdwards, Real, Uvalde2 hr
May 21, 6:07 AM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXMedina, Uvalde113 min
May 21, 12:14 PM CDTFlood WatchEWXAtascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet and 19 more55 hr
May 21, 2:54 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXVal Verde36 min
May 21, 3:40 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXBurnet3 hr
May 21, 4:10 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXGillespie50 min
May 21, 4:38 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXGillespie, Llano52 min
May 21, 4:57 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXBlanco, Gillespie, Llano3 hr
May 21, 5:05 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXBurnet40 min
May 21, 5:18 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXBurnet3 hr
May 21, 5:25 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXBlanco50 min
May 21, 5:44 PM CDTRiver Flood WarningEWXLlano4 hr
May 21, 5:59 PM CDTAreal Flood AdvisoryEWXWilliamson3 hr
May 21, 6:10 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXWilliamson35 min
May 21, 6:19 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXEdwards56 min
May 21, 6:43 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementEWXHays47 min
May 21, 6:55 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm WarningEWXEdwards, Kerr, Real50 min

Nearby

Flash Flood Warnings in Texas, 2026Every flash flood warning in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.