South Texas and several cities across the border in Mexico were hit by severe flooding on Thursday, as the region was soaked with half a year's worth of rainfall in less than two days.
Abandoned vehicles were strewn across submerged roads throughout South Texas' Rio Grande Valley on Thursday and Friday, leading to dozens of water rescues near the US-Mexico border. Local authorities and crisis teams were busy trying to dry out streets after severe thunderstorms led to the closure of an airport and necessitated numerous water rescues.
Many drivers had no choice but to abandon their vehicles on roads and parking lots, as some areas were swamped with more than a foot of rain.
"We're just getting like a bucket of water poured on us and it's too much for the drainage system. A lot of these are stranded motorists with no immediate danger, but we do want to make sure we are prioritizing the medical calls first," Alamo Fire Department Chief R. C. Flores told KRGV. Flores revealed that Alamo's fire and police departments had responded to over 50 water rescues on Thursday.
Officials have issued a warning for more rainfall on Friday and have closed schools on the U.S. side. Thunderstorms have dumped 10 to 15 inches of rain in parts of Texas where flash flood warnings are currently in effect, according to Geoffrey Bogorad, a senior forecaster at the National Weather Service office in Brownsville.
He added that up to four more inches of rain are expected, with the Weather Service issuing further flash flood warnings for Friday.
"Many of our streets flooded, some homes took in water, and there are still residents who haven't made it home," Harlingen District 5 Commissioner Rene Perez posted on Facebook on Friday morning. She continued: "Vehicles remain stranded across the city, and we know this storm has disrupted lives in a big way.
"This is a particularly dangerous situation," warned the Weather Service late Thursday. The flash flooding was life-threatening and could cause catastrophic damage. Officials have urged people not to travel unless they need to escape an area prone to flooding or under an evacuation order.
The storms have also drenched Mexico. Late on Thursday, weather authorities warned of winds of up to 50 miles per hour overnight, along with heavy rain and potential hail in the border states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. sounded the alarm on social media, declaring, "The rainfall amounts we received have been record-setting, and not in a good way. All county resources are being utilized right now, and we are assisting in all ways possible."