Local weather in New Braunfels stayed on edge Thursday as intense rainfall and multiple rounds of storms kept a dangerous flash flood threat in place. The National Weather Service said rain chances would continue through the day, while the city kept the Comal River closed for recreation.
Greg Abbott declared a state of disaster for Comal and Guadalupe counties on Tuesday, July 14, after repeated storms raised the flood risk. The National Weather Service forecast scattered showers in the morning, possible thunderstorms after 1 p.m., a high near 86 degrees Fahrenheit, southeast winds of 5 to 10 miles per hour with gusts up to 20 miles per hour, and a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms Thursday night, mainly after 1 a.m.
New Braunfels road closures
City crews had pre-positioned barricades in flood-prone areas so they could close roads if conditions worsened, and the New Braunfels Fire Department had swift water rescue boat crews ready to respond. It also converted squad units to high-water vehicles to improve emergency response.
That preparation matched what drivers had already seen on Wednesday, when vehicles were passing through pooling water in front of the Sts. Peter and Paul Thrift Store and over North Seguin Avenue. City road closures were being posted as conditions changed, and motorists were told to turn around, don't drown when they encountered water over a roadway.
The Comal River closure
The city closed access to the Comal River for all recreational activities by order of the Chief of Police because the water was moving fast, had poor clarity, and posed other hazardous conditions. The closure was limited to recreation, but it left people who use the river with no safe option until conditions improve.
City staff said they would keep monitoring the river and decide when it was safe to reopen the Comal River for recreational use. For now, the practical answer for residents and visitors is to avoid flooded roads, stay clear of barricades, and treat the river as closed until city staff say the conditions have changed.
