Wildfires force evacuations from Grand Canyon
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In just 48 hours, Canyon Lake jumped nearly 10 feet, climbing from 881.33 feet on Saturday, July 5, to 888.57 feet by Monday, July 7, according to Water Data for Texas. That 7.24-foot rise marks one of the sharpest short-term increases in recent years and reflects the scale of the rainfall event.
Devastating floodwaters traveled through Kerrville and surrounding communities this past weekend, eventually making their way into the reservoir known as Canyon Lake.
Evacuations have been ordered for the area north of Jacob Lake, in northern Arizona, due to the White Sage Fire.
Heavy rains and deadly flooding continue to wreak havoc across the Texas Hill Country, putting Canyon Lake and surrounding communities on high alert. The recent storm has caused significant rises in river levels and ongoing flood threats along the Guadalupe River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports Canyon Lake's water capacity has increased to 63%, up from 43% just a week ago.
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Amazon S3 on MSNUS: White Sage Fire in AZ forces evacuations of Grand Canyon’s North Rim, Jacob LakeA rapidly growing White Sage Fire, which started on July 9 approximately 15 miles southeast of Fredonia on Bureau of Land Management lands, has expanded to an estimated 1,000 acres with zero containment as of July 10.
The Grand Canyon's North Rim in Arizona also closed Thursday because of a wildfire on adjacent Bureau of Land Management land near Jacob Lake. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office said it helped evacuate people from an area north of Jacob Lake and campers in the Kaibab National Forest nearby.
Comal County has lifted the evacuation order for River Rd along the Guadalupe River below Canyon Lake. Residents and visitors are reminded to be careful when in areas that are subject to flash flooding. Parts of Comal County around Canyon Lake are being evacuated Saturday as heavy rain continues to cause the Guadalupe River to swell.