Devils River flooding worsens near Comstock as Pecos surges in Val Verde County

The Devils River at Pafford Crossing near Comstock stayed in flood stage Saturday, and the Pecos River kept flooding concerns alive near Langtry. The National Weather Service's countywide warning ran from 4:37 a.m. CDT Friday until midnight Sunday, July 20, with separate alerts still covering Cauthorn Ranch near Juno and parts of northwestern and east-central Val Verde County.

At USGS monitoring location 08449400, the forecast there changed from moderate to major flooding, and the duration increased. By 9:15 a.m. CDT Saturday, the gauge read 5.45 feet with flow at 14.2 kcfs and a downward trend through the afternoon, but the water still had the potential to cut off access and keep the crossing hazardous.

Elsewhere in the county, a separate flash-flood warning had covered northwestern Val Verde County until 7 a.m. CDT Friday, and another alert kept the flood warning active for the Devils River at Cauthorn Ranch near Juno through Saturday. Along the Pecos River near Langtry, flooding concerns continued to threaten low-lying ground and travel routes near the river. The National Weather Service urged people to report observed flooding to emergency services or law enforcement when safe and to stay away from riverbanks.

The Devils River Conservancy calls the Devils a “flashy system”: water levels can rise very quickly, and even a small rain can trigger moderate flood conditions and inundation of island areas.

The Pecos River Flood of 1954, fueled by Hurricane Alice, washed out a highway bridge near Langtry. Across Texas, the storm outbreak has already killed at least two people and prompted hundreds of rescues.