How weather conditions set the stage for the deadly Texas flash floods

Washington – Incredible quantities of humidity in the air fueled a storm that was slowly moving and threw the rain on the center of Texas, creating sudden fatal conditions in the early morning when it was easy to catch people by surprise, meteorologists said.

According to the weather forecast company, more than 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain fell into Texas Hill Country for several hours, which increases water levels, according to the Accuweather weather forecasting company. The area is naturally subject to sudden floods, but it was a particularly bad storm that struck during vulnerable hours during the night, experts said. Dozens of deaths have been reported with numerous rescues.

Meteorologists have said that an atmosphere warmed by climate change caused by humans can contain more humidity and allow bad storms to throw more rain, although it is difficult to link storms specific to a warming planet so shortly after their arrival.

“In a warming climate, we know that the atmosphere has more humidity to give, keep and release. But the thing we know about climate change is that our rain events are not as uniform as they were,” said Shel Winkley, meteorologist with Central Climate. “So you will get these major rain events in localized areas, explaining the historic level of humidity in the atmosphere.”

In recent weeks, sudden floods led by gusts of heavy rain have become fatal elsewhere in Texas and Virginia-Western. In San Antonio in June, more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell for a period of hours, which invites dozens of flood water resumes which increase quickly and killing at least 13 years. And in Virginia-Western this month, at least nine people died when 4 inches (10 centimeters) of rain fell within 40 minutes and caused sudden floods in the wheel area.

Robert Henson, a meteorologist and writer at Yale Climate Connections, said that the last Rain Storm of Texas was roughly an event once in generation. He fell into Texas Hill Country where water quickly pulls rugged hills in narrow river basins that swell quickly.

“As is often the case with the worst disasters, many things have gathered in a terrible way.” Said Henson.

In addition, the area had been in a drought, so the water flowed on the dry and hard ground. This made more dangerous for children who frequent the camp.

“A sudden rain in the rain like this will have more difficulty in being absorbed,” said Brett Anderson, senior meteorologist at Accuweather. “It goes away immediately. It’s like concrete.”

The pure amount of rain was overwhelming. Former Noaa chief scientist Ryan Maue, a private meteorologist, calculated on Saturday morning that the storm had dropped 120 billion gallons of water on the county of Kerr, who received the weight of the storm.

The humidity has fueled the storm with many directions. Tropical Storm Barry formed briefly last weekend, moving to Mexico, then his remains continued in Texas. But the Jet Stream, an air current that moves the weather conditions, was not there to repel this humidity.

“Normally, meteorological systems and the remains of tropical systems will be picked up by the Jet Stream, and it is simply not above Texas,” said Winkley, the central climate meteorologist. “It is essentially a road without road to move away from the Lone Star State.”

Hot water from the Gulf has fueled the damp atmosphere. Even more humidity came from areas of the Pacific Ocean to the west. The combination gave the storm a lot of fuel once it started.

Winkley said that in the region that has been flooded, climate change could mean that rain storms are less common, but when they occur, they can be more serious.

Generally, a warmer atmosphere can contain more humidity, creating conditions for storms to lower more rain.

“With climate change, we have an atmosphere of warming. A warmer atmosphere contains much more humidity, and we obviously see a much more total atmospheric humidity around the world in recent years that we have normally, “said Anderson, meteorologist Accuweather.

___

The Associated Press receives the support of the Walton Family Foundation for water coverage and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all the environmental coverage of AP, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-environment