Saturday, July 12, 2025 National Weather News Headlines

1. Texas and New Mexico Face Devastating Flood Aftermath:

• Texas: The catastrophic and deadly flooding in central Texas continues to be a top national story.¹ Search and recovery efforts are still very active, with over 160 people still missing and confirmed fatalities exceeding 100, including many children.² The unprecedented rainfall, fueled by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Barry, dumped months’ worth of rain in just two days over the Texas Hill Country.³ The disaster has prompted serious questions about the effectiveness of warnings and emergency response, especially as victims were caught off guard.⁴
  • More than 160 people are still missing after deadly Texas floods, governor says (AP News)
  • How weather conditions set the stage for the deadly Texas flash floods (AP News)
  • The US faces more frequent extreme weather events, but attitudes and actions aren’t keeping up (AP News)
• New Mexico: Historic and deadly flash flooding in Ruidoso, New Mexico, has tragically claimed at least three lives, including two children.⁵ The Rio Ruidoso river swelled to record levels, with water rises of nearly 19 feet in half an hour at one gauge.⁶ The flooding was significantly worsened by recent wildfire burn scars, which reduce the ground’s ability to absorb water, leading to rapid runoff. The community is once again facing a challenging rebuilding effort after previous wildfires and floods.
  • As many as 200 homes damaged as officials survey the aftermath of a deadly New Mexico flood (AP News)
  • New Mexico Flooding Update: Residents Urged to Seek Higher Ground — What’s Behind America’s Flash Flood Surge? (International Business Times)

2. Severe Weather Threat in the Central U.S.:

• A cold front moving east across the central U.S. will be the focus for areas of strong to severe thunderstorms and excessive rainfall through this weekend. Risks include damaging winds and heavy rainfall.
  • National Weather Service – Latest Weather (National Weather Service)
  • All Severe Weather Outlooks for the next 8 days (SevereWeatherOutlook.com)

3. Heat Building in the Western U.S., Persistent in the East:

• Heat is building in the Western U.S., with chances for extreme heat increasing in portions of the Southern Plains, Lower Mississippi Valley, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Intermountain regions later in the month.
• Much of the Eastern U.S. continues to experience widespread high heat and oppressive humidity, with “feels like” temperatures frequently reaching 100°F or higher. Heat advisories and warnings remain in effect in various regions.
  • Probabilistic Hazards Outlook – Climate Prediction Center – NOAA (NOAA Climate Prediction Center)
  • Severe Thunderstorms and Excessive Rainfall in the Central U.S.; Heat Building in the Western U.S. (National Weather Service)

4. Atlantic Hurricane Season Update:

• Colorado State University recently updated its 2025 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, slightly trimming predictions due to observed and anticipated high levels of Caribbean wind shear, which can inhibit tropical development.⁷ Despite this, they still anticipate a slightly above-average season and a slightly above-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean.
  • CSU Hurricane Season Forecast Adjusted to ‘Slightly’ Above Normal (Insurance Journal)
  • FORECAST OF ATLANTIC HURRICANE ACTIVITY FOR 2025 (PDF) (Colorado State University)

AI Disclaimer: These headlines were researched and curated with AI assistance to provide a comprehensive and timely overview of current national weather events.