Severe weather unleashed havoc across Texas from June 11 into June 12, 2025, leaving communities grappling with damage and flooding threats. Sabinal, a small town in Texas, found itself at the epicenter of destruction late Wednesday night when severe storms, accompanied by possible tornado activity, tore through the area. Mayor Erik J. Gomez promptly issued a disaster declaration, citing "widespread and severe damage, injury and loss of property resulting from wind, rain and possible tornado damage." The declaration empowers local officials to exercise emergency powers aimed at preserving life, property, and public health, while also facilitating access to federal financial aid to kickstart recovery efforts.
Images from Sabinal reveal a town battered by nature’s fury: massive trees uprooted and numerous buildings suffering significant damage. One resident lamented, "there was no warning, but the whole town is devastated," underscoring the suddenness and severity of the event. Notably, no tornado warnings were issued for Sabinal prior to the storm, and it remains unclear whether the National Weather Service will investigate the possibility of a tornado touchdown in the area.
Meanwhile, Central Texas continued to face escalating weather challenges. Early Thursday morning, a tornado was confirmed to have briefly touched down in Hays County, near Ranch Road 12 and Farm to Market Road 32, just after 1 a.m. The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning for southern Hays County at 1:11 a.m., which was later canceled around 1:18 a.m. Radar imagery captured debris being lifted by the tornado, confirming its presence. Residents in San Marcos reported hearing the city’s outdoor warning sirens during the alert; these sirens, which emit a single-pitch, long, steady tone lasting three minutes during tornado warnings, became fully operational only in August 2024.
Though the tornado threat in Hays County quickly diminished by 2:33 a.m., flash flood warnings remained in effect. A Flood Watch was extended through 7 p.m. on Thursday for most of Central Texas due to the threat of locally heavy rainfall that could trigger flash flooding. The National Weather Service reported at 4:06 a.m. that 40 low-water crossings were closed in Bexar County, with additional closures in Comal and Hays counties, highlighting the widespread impact of flooding.
Beyond Sabinal and Hays County, the flood threat loomed large across the state. Multiple rounds of heavy rain were expected to continue developing into Thursday, June 12, 2025, with cities such as Waco, Austin, Houston, and San Antonio identified as particularly vulnerable. Alongside the flood risk, a few storms had the potential to become severe, bringing damaging winds, large hail, and isolated tornadoes. The forecast suggested that flooding concerns would persist into the weekend of June 14-15, as more rain was predicted.
This sequence of severe weather events reflects a troubling pattern for Texas, where communities are increasingly exposed to the twin hazards of tornadoes and flooding. Sabinal’s experience is a stark reminder of how quickly devastating conditions can arise, especially when warnings are absent or delayed. The mayor’s disaster declaration is a crucial step in mobilizing resources and assistance, but the road to recovery will undoubtedly be long and challenging for the town’s residents.
In Hays County, the timely tornado warning and operational sirens likely mitigated the risk to life, even if property damage occurred. The swift cancellation of the warning after the tornado lifted debris shows effective monitoring and communication by weather agencies. However, the continuing flood warnings and closures of low-water crossings signal ongoing hazards that residents must navigate carefully.
As Texas braces for more storms and flooding in the coming days, officials and residents alike remain on high alert. The combination of severe weather phenomena — from tornado touchdowns to relentless rain — underscores the importance of preparedness, timely warnings, and community resilience. For towns like Sabinal, the immediate focus is on recovery and rebuilding, while the rest of Central Texas watches closely, hoping to avoid similar devastation.
In the face of these challenges, the cooperation between local authorities, the National Weather Service, and emergency services is critical. Public awareness campaigns about flash flooding and tornado safety, alongside infrastructure improvements, could help reduce the impact of future storms. Meanwhile, the unfolding situation in Texas serves as a sobering example of nature’s power and the ongoing need to adapt to increasingly volatile weather patterns.
