Fact Check: The Guadalupe River rose by 60 feet during the tragedy.

Fact Check: "The Guadalupe River rose by 60 feet during the tragedy."

What We Know

The claim that "the Guadalupe River rose by 60 feet during the tragedy" is not supported by the available data. During the catastrophic flooding event from July 4 to July 7, 2025, the Guadalupe River experienced significant rises in water levels, but the maximum recorded rise was approximately 37.52 feet (11.44 meters) at the Hunt area, as reported by Wikipedia. Additionally, it was noted that the river surged about 26 feet (7.9 meters) in just 45 minutes, which is significant but still far from the claimed 60 feet (NPR, BBC).

The flooding was caused by a mesoscale convective vortex that brought heavy rainfall, with some areas receiving up to 20 inches (510 mm) of rain in a short period (Wikipedia). This led to the issuance of multiple flash flood warnings and emergency alerts throughout the affected regions.

Analysis

The claim of a 60-foot rise in the Guadalupe River appears to be an exaggeration or a misunderstanding of the actual events. The highest recorded rise was 37.52 feet, which is well-documented by multiple credible sources, including CBS News and CNN.

The sources reporting on the flooding, such as The New York Times and CBS News, provide consistent figures that align with the data from the National Weather Service and other meteorological reports. These sources are reliable as they are established news organizations that adhere to journalistic standards.

Moreover, the context of the flooding event, including the rapid rise of the river and the resulting devastation, has been corroborated by multiple reports. The claim of a 60-foot rise does not match the documented evidence and could lead to misunderstandings about the severity and dynamics of the flooding event.

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The assertion that "the Guadalupe River rose by 60 feet during the tragedy" is false. The maximum recorded rise was approximately 37.52 feet, significantly lower than the claim. The evidence from multiple reliable sources confirms this, indicating that the claim may stem from confusion or misinformation regarding the actual events of the flooding.

Fact Check: The Guadalupe River rose by 60 feet during the tragedy.