'Science just isn't there yet' to predict severity of storms in deadly Texas flooding

The severity of the flash flooding that killed more than 130 people in Texas's Hill Country was difficult to predict because the science is not yet available, a local meteorologist testified during Wednesday's special legislative session. The "prolific" flooding was made possible by the moisture leftover from Tropical Storm Barry, which made landfall on the east coast of Mexico on June 29, Pat Cavlin, a meteorologist at Houston CBS affiliate KHOU, said during Wednesday's session. The moisture then moved up to Texas and interacted with a slow-moving batch of storms over the middle of the state, combining over "one of the worst parts of the state when it comes to flash flooding events," Calvin said. Texas Hill Country is often colloquially referred to as "Flash Flood Alley" because the weath