Part 9/12:
Most experts agree that the Texas floods were caused by naturally occurring meteorological phenomena:
A tropical disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico.
High atmospheric water vapor levels.
Soil and terrain abnormalities conducive to rapid runoff.
Climate scientists like Daniel Swain note that the rapid rise of rivers—such as a 26-foot increase in less than 45 minutes—is extraordinary but not inexplicable given the intense rainfall and the region's flood-prone geography.