New York: The UN World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has stated that the deadly flash floods in central Texas, U.S., underscore the growing global challenges surrounding extreme rainfall, warning dissemination, and community preparedness.
No fewer than 100 people have reportedly died over the July 4 weekend floods, including more than two dozen children at a summer camp.
The WMO stated that the tragedy highlights growing global challenges related to extreme rainfall, warning dissemination, and community preparedness.
Flash floods are the most lethal form of flooding, responsible for over 5,000 deaths annually and 85 per cent of all flood-related fatalities worldwide, according to WMO data, and result in economic losses of more than $50 billion annually.
Unlike slow-onset river floods, flash floods leave minimal time for reaction. “That makes accurate short-term forecasting and community preparedness essential,” the agency said in a statement on Wednesday.
One-day precipitation totals from NASA’s IMERG multi-satellite precipitation product show heavy rainfall over central Texas on July 4, 2025.
The U.S. National Weather Service issued timely alerts, including a flash flood watch more than 12 hours in advance, which was upgraded to a flash flood emergency about three hours before the impact.
The warnings were disseminated by Weather Radio, emergency management systems and television and radio stations, but many people, including hundreds of children at summer camps, were not reached in time.
Floodwaters surged dramatically as the Guadalupe River rose nearly eight metres (about 26 feet) in about 45 minutes.
Among the most brutal hits was the all-girls summer camp, Camp Mystic, along the river, where at least 27 campers and counsellors died, according to media reports. Texas state authorities report that more than 160 people remain missing.
The disaster has triggered one of the most considerable search-and-rescue efforts in state history. Flash floods are not new, but their frequency and intensity are increasing in many regions due to rapid urbanisation, land-use change and a warming climate.
“A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, and so this means that extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent,” WMO said.
The Texas disaster joins a string of recent catastrophic floods. In 2022, flash floods in Pakistan killed over 1,700 people and displaced millions. In 2024, floods in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa resulted in $36 billion in economic damages.
And just this week, a flash flood along the Nepalese-Chinese border swept away the main bridge linking the two countries.
In September 2022, Pakistan was hit by devastating flooding, which left large swathes of the country under water.
To help countries predict such hazards, WMO operates the Flash Flood Guidance System, a real-time forecasting platform used in over 70 countries. It integrates satellite data, radar, and weather models to detect local flash flood threats and supports training programs to build national capacity.
Beyond technology, the agency plays a convening role by building national capacity, certifying experts, and facilitating real-time coordination between forecasting agencies and disaster managers.