Flood warning remains in effect as Leon River rises in Gatesville
Leon River at Gatesville kept rising through the day, and NOAA warns major flooding near the US 84 bridge could cut off roads and crossings through tomorrow afternoon.
Coryell County remained under a flood warning as the Leon River at Gatesville slowly rose throughout the day, with the alert set to stay in effect until tomorrow afternoon. NOAA’s river gauge for the site says major flooding will occur near the US 84 bridge, and moderate to major overbank flooding is expected through Gatesville.
That puts the river corridor, especially the stretch near the bridge and nearby low-lying routes, in the most vulnerable spot. Water on the Leon River can move fast enough to interrupt access to neighborhoods, delay emergency response, and turn a passable road into a dead end with little notice. In Gatesville, that risk extends beyond the riverbank itself because city streets, county roads and rural routes all feed into the same flood-prone corridor.
The warning carries extra weight in Coryell County because road closures can spread quickly when floodwater spreads. On May 5, 2024, Coryell County Sheriff Scott Williams said 43 roads were closed because of flooding, washed-out roads, damaged bridges and debris, and he said water levels in the Leon River, Cowhouse Creek and nearby streams were expected to rise further. That kind of disruption can affect commutes, school travel and emergency access across the county seat and the surrounding area.
For tonight, the safest move is to stay away from the Leon River corridor, the US 84 bridge area and any low-lying crossings that can flood first. Tomorrow morning, check routes before leaving for work or school, because the warning remains active into the afternoon and water over the roadway can force closures after dark or before dawn. If barricades go up, treat them as a hard stop.
The flooding concern is not new in this stretch of Coryell County. The Texas General Land Office has already allocated $2.5 million for the Leon River and Cowhouse Creek Watershed Study, underscoring how often water management and flood risk return to the same places. For Gatesville, the immediate issue is the rise on the Leon River now, with the US 84 bridge area the clearest point of concern.
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