Flash Flood in Burnet County, Texas

Slow-moving thunderstorms brought heavy rain for several hours to Burnet on the morning of July 5. Burnet Municipal Airport reported 8.67 inches of rain. An LCRA gauge in Burnet reported 11.67 inches. The torrential rainfall caused the rapid rise of Hamilton Creek. A 22 year old man commuting through Burnet was swept off the road at Park Road 4 and US 281 into Honey Creek, a tributary of Hamilton Creek. His body was recovered 8 miles downstream.

Precipitable water values over South-Central Texas remained near record levels, and a mid-level anticyclonic circulation continued over Central Texas providing lift to generate thunderstorms. These storms were efficient rain making storms leading to another night of excessive rainfall. Parts of Burnet and Travis Counties received 12-16 inches of rain in approximately six hours that led to deadly flash flooding. Eighteen people died in flood waters: four in Burnet County, ten in Travis, and four in Williamson. The Travis County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $5 million. The Burnet County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $6 million. The Williamson County Emergency Manager estimated the cost of damage to public property and infrastructure at $25 million.