When it rains, it pours, and sometimes it flash floods in Austin.

Austin sits in the heart of "Flash Flood Alley" — aka the flash flood capital of the US — a stretch of land from Dallas to Uvalde that is highly prone to rapid flooding.

If you're new to the area, it's only a matter of time before you get a flash flood warning, so let's talk about how the area got its name.

The Mansfield Dam was completed in 1941 to help alleviate downstream flooding. | Photo by shanntastic

Unique terrain + rainfall events

The combination of Central Texas' hilly landscape, clay-rich and thin soil, and high rainfall intensity make the area susceptible to flooding — especially during a drought.

Although we Austinites like to bemoan the lack of rain, rapid intense rainfall (when we get it) can fall too fast for the soil to absorb it all, causing the water run to the nearest stream.

Of the six Highland Lakes — which include Lake Travis, Lake Austin, and Lady Bird Lake — only Lake Travis, via the Mansfield Dam, is designed to contain flood waters that flow downstream. Learn more about how the Highland Lakes System works. Between June 2025 and June 2026, more than 400 flash flood events were recorded in Texas. Of them, 12 were in the Austin area.

While it's not uncommon, flash flooding is often extremely dangerous. In April 2023, rising water from a flash flood left 21 cars stranded in northwest Austin. In July 2025, flash flooding led to deadly conditions in Kerrville, Liberty Hill, Marble Falls, and more.

Stay safe during a flash flood

Like any other time it rains in Texas, avoid driving as much as you can. If you must drive, stick to higher ground, never attempt to drive on a flooded road, and observe all barricades. Just two feet of rushing water can carry cars away.

Follow ATXFloods for up-to-date information on flooding.