Right now, if you're looking out the window in San Antonio and seeing dry pavement, you're in the clear. As of January 17, 2026, there is no active, widespread flooding happening across the city.
The San Antonio River at Mitchell Street is sitting at about 4 feet. That's well below the 15-foot mark where things start getting sketchy for homes on Crofton Avenue. Up at Loop 410, the gauge is showing around 4.88 feet. Basically, the rivers are behaving themselves today.
But if you’ve lived here longer than a week, you know how fast that changes. San Antonio is basically a giant funnel for the Texas Hill Country. When it rains in Boerne or Comfort, we're the ones who deal with the runoff. It's why we have "Flash Flood Alley" carved into our local vocabulary.
Honestly, the city is still a bit on edge after the June 2025 disaster. That storm was a monster. It dumped over 6 inches of rain in a single day, and we lost 13 people near Perrin Beitel and Leon Creek. It was the 10th rainiest day in the city's history. When people ask "is there flooding in San Antonio," they aren't just asking about the weather—they're asking if the ground is safe.
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Why San Antonio Floods When Other Cities Just Get Wet
It isn't just "bad luck." It's geology. We sit right on the Balcones Escarpment. This is a fancy way of saying the land drops off, and water loves a steep hill.
Think of the Hill Country as a tilted roof. The rain hits the limestone, which doesn't soak up water worth a lick, and then it all races south toward Bexar County. By the time it hits the city, it’s a wall of water looking for a place to go.
The Infrastructure Game
We have the River Walk. It’s pretty, sure, but its real job is flood control. The Olmos Dam and the massive tunnel systems under downtown are designed to keep the tourist spots dry. They work surprisingly well. In fact, while the outskirts of the city were drowning last June, the River Walk was largely protected by those bypass channels.
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The problem is the "low-water crossings." San Antonio has hundreds of them. These are the spots where the road just dips into a creek bed. You see the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" signs everywhere because people genuinely underestimate how strong six inches of moving water is. It’ll knock you off your feet. Twelve inches? That’ll move your SUV like it’s a toy boat.
Is There Flooding in San Antonio Right Now? How to Check Real-Time
If the sky looks gray and you’re worried about your commute, don't rely on a generic weather app. You need the local data.
- BexarFlood.org: This is the holy grail for San Antonio residents. It pulls data from sensors all over the county. If a road is underwater, a red icon pops up here before it hits the news.
- USGS River Gauges: You can check the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) gauges. If the Mitchell Street gauge is climbing toward 12 feet, it's time to move your car if you live near the Mission Reach.
- VIA Metropolitan Transit Alerts: If the lower level of I-35 or I-10 starts flooding (a classic SA problem), VIA is usually the first to reroute and post about it.
Right now, the LCRA (Lower Colorado River Authority) reports that inflows to nearby lakes like Buchanan and Travis are totally normal. No floodgate operations are planned. We’re in a "quiet" period, which in Texas, just means the next storm hasn't arrived yet.
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The Areas That Almost Always Flood
If you’re moving here or just driving through, avoid these spots when the rain gets heavy:
- The I-35/I-10 Interchange (Downtown): The lower levels turn into a swimming pool. Every. Single. Time.
- Perrin Beitel Road near Loop 410: This area saw 15 cars swept away last year. The drainage there just can't keep up with "hundred-year" storms that seem to happen every five years now.
- Leon Creek at Highway 90: This is a major drainage point for the west side. When Leon Creek crests, it shuts down several secondary roads.
- Salado Creek: This one is sneaky. It looks like a dry ditch most of the year, but it can rise 10 feet in an hour.
Staying Safe When the Water Rises
Texas weather is moody. We go from drought to deluge in the span of a Tuesday afternoon. If you’re caught in a storm, remember that most flood deaths in San Antonio happen in vehicles.
Stop trying to "beat the water." The road under that water might not even be there anymore; flash floods frequently wash out the pavement itself, leaving a pit you can't see.
If you live in a flood-prone area, keep an eye on the Edwards Aquifer levels and the SARA gauges. Saturated ground means the next rain, even a small one, will run off immediately. Right now, the ground isn't fully saturated, so we have some "soak-up" capacity left.
Your Immediate Action Plan
Check BexarFlood.org before you head out if there’s a storm warning. If you see a "Road Closed" sign, don't assume you know better than the city engineers. Just take the detour. It’ll add ten minutes to your drive, but it keeps you out of the 13-person statistic from last June. Keep your gas tank at least half full during storm season, and if you're in a low-lying apartment, have a "go-bag" ready. You won't have time to pack when the creek starts coming through the front door.