Honestly, if you're asking where it’s flooding in Texas right now, you’re probably looking at a radar that looks a lot more "busy" than it actually is.
Texas is massive. Like, "drive-for-twelve-hours-and-still-be-in-the-same-state" massive. So while parts of the eastern two-thirds of the state are currently dodging scattered showers and gray skies this January 13, the reality is that we aren't seeing a repeat of the catastrophic 2025 summer floods. At least not today.
But "no major flooding" doesn't mean "no water."
Right now, the most recent active alerts have centered on northeast Texas, specifically near Tyler and Smith County. Just a few days ago, the National Weather Service in Shreveport had to pull the trigger on a Flash Flood Warning because thunderstorms dumped enough rain to put water over the roads on Loop 323. It's that classic East Texas story: the ground gets saturated, the drainage can’t keep up, and suddenly you’re staring at a lake where a highway used to be.
The Hill Country Hangover
You can’t talk about Texas water without mentioning the Hill Country. It’s been about six months since the "Camp Mystic" floods of July 2025, which claimed 27 lives and left a scar on the collective memory of Central Texas.
People are still on edge.
Whenever a dark cloud rolls over the Guadalupe or the Llano River, folks start checking their phones. As of today, January 13, the river gauges are mostly behaving. If you look at the Colorado River above La Grange, the levels are well below the "Major Flooding" stage of 45 feet. It’s currently hovering in a safe zone, though the memory of water reaching the roofs of homes in the Frisch Auf subdivision is still very fresh for the locals.
We’re in a weird transition period. La Niña is hanging on by a thread, and while the 2025-26 winter outlook favored warmer and drier conditions for much of the state, we’ve still got these upper-level disturbances sliding across the Trans-Pecos.
Where to Watch This Week
If you are traveling or living in the following areas, keep a weather eye out:
- The I-35 Corridor (Austin to San Antonio): Scattered showers are moving through today. It’s not a deluge, but the National Weather Service is seeing plenty of moisture wrapping around a low-pressure system over West Texas.
- The Coastal Bend and Houston: It’s more about wind than water right now. A cold front is screaming toward the coast for Wednesday, which might bring a few drops, but the bigger concern is the 40 mph gusts and small craft advisories.
- Deep East Texas: This is where the "nuisance" flooding lives. Places like Beaumont and Port Arthur are seeing moderate particulate levels in the air, but the rain remains scattered enough that the bayous aren't currently threatening living rooms.
One thing that often gets ignored is the Big Bend area. Believe it or not, they are still dealing with road closures from last summer. Dirt roads like Black Gap and Hot Springs are still listed as closed by the National Park Service because the desert doesn’t "heal" from flood damage as fast as the piney woods do.
💡 You might also like: Is burning the American flag illegal? Why the answer still makes people angry
The Scam Problem
It’s a bit of a grim detail, but "flooding in Texas" isn't just a weather headline right now; it’s a legal one. Just today, news broke about a Florida woman, Maitlin Paige White, being charged with felony online impersonation. She allegedly posed as the grieving father of a Camp Mystic flood victim to rake in GoFundMe donations.
It’s a reminder that the "flood" in Texas often refers to the lingering trauma and the long, slow recovery process that follows a big event.
Actionable Steps for the Next 48 Hours
Don't just trust a static map you saw on social media three hours ago. Texas weather moves faster than a suburbanite in a Buc-ee’s.
- Check the NWPS Local View: The National Water Prediction Service has a new interface that is surprisingly good. It gives you a "look ahead" at river stages so you aren't surprised by a cresting creek at 2:00 AM.
- Monitor the Front: A cold front is hitting North Texas Wednesday morning. This usually clears the air, but the "leading edge" can produce brief, intense downpours that cause urban flash flooding in Dallas and Tarrant counties.
- Watch the Gauges, Not Just the Sky: If you live near the Colorado, Brazos, or Trinity rivers, the LCRA Hydromet site is your best friend. It shows real-time gate operations at dams like Mansfield and Buchanan.
Basically, Texas is currently "dry-ish" compared to the nightmare of 2025, but the eastern half of the state is under a "gray blanket" that keeps the risk of localized flash flooding at a low, persistent simmer. Stay off the low-water crossings in the Hill Country—even if it's only drizzling, the runoff from upstream can be a silent killer.
✨ Don't miss: Maine Car Crash Yesterday: What Really Happened on Route 24
Ensure your mobile alerts are set to "Emergency" and "Public Safety" in your phone settings. Most people turn these off because they’re annoying, but in the Balcones Escarpment (Flash Flood Alley), those few seconds of warning are the difference between a ruined car and a safe arrival.