Three specific factors that made the Texas flash floods so deadly
While millions of Americans spent July 4th weekend celebrating, thousands of people in rural Texas were forced to fight for their lives as flash floods completely devastated the area.
More than 160 people are still believed to be missing at the time of writing (July 9), while at least another 100 people lost their lives as a result of the sudden influx of water.
The main areas affected by the floods are located on the lowlands of Kerr County along the Guadalupe River, where youth camps including Camp Mystic are located, along with a number of regular campsites.
The total number of fatalities and the destruction caused by the floods are not yet properly known, but as rescue and recovery operations continue experts cited by the BBC have managed to pinpoint three specific factors that came together over the weekend to result in disaster.
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Volatile weather
A major factor in the flash floods comes down to the sheer amount of rain that fell over the area in just a few hours, with the National Weather Service (NWS) reporting that approximately five-10 inches of rain fell in just three to six hours.
In comparison, the average July rainfall over the last 25 years for the Kerrville area has been reported at just over two inches.
The downpour caused the Guadalupe River to burst its banks, with the river rising to almost 30 feet.
Unusual humidity
Before the flash floods began, the Kerr County lowlands were subject to a large supply of moisture in the area due to a tropical storm which previously caused flooding in Mexico.
The moisture then made its way north towards the US, into the hillier part of Texas to Kerr County.
A hilly landscape
Where the camps are located in Kerr County is a hillier part of the state; a landscape which forced the moisture-filled air upwards.
As a result, huge storm clouds built up over the area and effectively became their own weather system, contributing to the rainfall in the area and moving at a slow pace as they dropped water on to the hills below, which then ran into the surrounding rivers.
Camp Mystic was located in an area with some of the highest levels of rainfall, and some of the cabins were located less than 500 feet from the river bank.
The bigger picture
While these three factors all contributed to the destruction and loss of life in Texas, they form part of a bigger picture of extreme weather events that can be attributed to climate change.
Some of the air present during the disaster originated from the Gulf of Mexico - otherwise known as the Gulf of America - where sea surface temperatures are higher than normal, resulting in more evaporation and consequently more moisture in the atmosphere.
Emily Brown