Precipitation Changes

Overall, San Antonio is expected to have lower total precipitation, which will strain our water supply, natural ecosystems, and agriculture.

On the other hand, we expect that individual storm events will drop higher volumes of water, leading to increased flooding risk for many residents. For example, the likelihood of a 2-inch+ rainfall event is expected to increase from 50% in any year to 80% by the end of the century.

San Antonio has many streams and drainage areas that are close to roadways and even small rain events can cause water to overtop the road, creating dangerous conditions for drivers.

Bexar County has invested in a network of sensors in known trouble areas to detect whether a road should be closed for high water. If you are unsure if a road may be closed, check real-time information on the interactive HALT map.

It only takes 12 inches of water to sweep a car off the road, so when you see water on the road; Turn Around, Don’t Drown!

Four of the 12 major risks identified in The San Antonio 2019 Vulnerability Assessment are drought related. The direct impact of low water availability is what comes to mind immediately, but drought conditions can lead to widespread vegetation die off which poses both debris management challenges as well as wildfire risk.

Lack of water reduces agricultural productivity and strains natural ecosystems which can increase contact between people and wildlife looking for water. Additionally, stagnant disconnected pools become active breeding grounds for potentially disease-carrying mosquitos.