Axios San Antonio

May 01, 2026
🌷 It's the start of the weekend, and a fresh month.
🌧️ Today's weather: Showers and thunderstorms, with a high in the mid-60s. More on that below.
🗳️ Situational awareness: Polls are open 7am-7pm tomorrow in an election featuring several area school board races.
Today's newsletter is 1,028 words — a 4-minute read.
1 big thing: More rain coming, but drought isn't over
It's been a rainy April, helping to ease — but not eliminate — immediate drought conditions across San Antonio.
The big picture: Drought is now a part of daily life in the Alamo City. While the rain is welcome, it's not a magic wand.
The latest: More rain is expected this morning after overnight storms. Rain and storm chances increase throughout today, Chris Morris, meteorologist with the Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service office, tells Axios.
- A flood watch is in effect until 9pm tonight. Drivers could see dangerous conditions for morning and evening commutes, Morris says.
- Lows are expected to be in the 50s tomorrow and Sunday morning.
What they're saying: "Turn around, don't drown," Morris says. "It's a lot easier to make up for lost time on a commute than to have to replace your vehicle."
State of play: About 7.3 inches of rain fell at San Antonio International Airport April 1 through Wednesday, per the local NWS office. That's more than three times the normal rainfall of about 2.3 inches for the month.
- The Edwards Aquifer, which remains SAWS' largest water source, stood at about 635 feet above mean sea level as of yesterday, per the Edwards Aquifer Authority. When April began, the aquifer was around 625 feet above mean sea level.
Yes, but: Watering rules for households in San Antonio haven't changed, as SAWS remains in Stage 3 restrictions.
The bottom line: Despite a rainy April, it would take a lot more rain to actually get us out of the drought — 30 inches of it, per KSAT meteorologist Sarah Spivey.
- "This rainfall is going to be welcome to the drought situation. Every little bit helps," Morris says. "But we do still have a multi-year deficit that we're still making up for."
What's next: Head to bexarflood.org for real-time road closure information at low-water crossings.
- There are above normal chances of rain next week.
2. Camp Mystic won't reopen this summer
Camp Mystic won't reopen for summer 2026 after withdrawing its license renewal application following the 2025 flood that killed 27 girls.
Why it matters: The announcement yesterday comes as families are still seeking answers on what went wrong and whether camp leaders were sufficiently prepared for the rapid flooding that overtook campers.
Catch up quick: The Eastland family, which has long operated the camp, wanted to reopen another site that is roughly 2 miles from the site where the girls died, saying 850 families have enrolled for this summer.
- That drew opposition from victims' families and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
The latest: The decision to keep the camp closed followed two days of testimony at the Texas Capitol, where lawmakers questioned the family's handling of the disaster and whether it should be allowed to reopen, according to KSAT.
- The camp said it will cooperate with ongoing state investigations.
What they're saying: "Today is not about camp operations. It is about respect for the families, accountability to the public and reverence for the memory of the lives lost," a Camp Mystic statement obtained by KSAT said.
What's next: The results of the state's investigations will be made public as soon as possible, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement yesterday.
- "Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones and those recovering from last year's devastating Fourth of July floods," he said.
3. Parts of Bexar County face higher wildfire risk

Northern parts of Bexar County — like areas near Camp Bullis, Fair Oaks Ranch and Bulverde — are under moderate to high wildfire risk, according to Texas A&M's Wildfire Risk Explorer.
By the numbers: About 1.8 million acres have burned nationwide as of April 24, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).
- That's nearly double the year-to-date 10-year average, and the highest year-to-date figure since 2017.
Zoom out: Georgia's wildfires could be a preview of a potentially severe fire season nationwide, with swaths of dried-out land primed to burn from coast to coast.
What we're watching: The severity of this year's wildfire season could depend on the potential formation of a "super El Niño."
- El Niños — driven by unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures — can reshape global weather patterns, push temperatures to record highs and create conditions for devastating wildfires.
4. Inside the Loop
📚 Landa Branch Library reopens today after closing in January for HVAC replacement and repairs. (City of San Antonio)
🏛️ Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones' chief of staff, Jenise Carroll, is resigning after 10 months, marking the seventh member to leave since Jones took office. (Express-News 🔑)
⚾ Taroko Sports is planning a 31,000-square-foot indoor sports and entertainment center at Park North, marking its largest U.S. location. (SA Business Journal 🔑)
🗣️ San Antonio city councilmembers are seeking public input as they develop data center standards, with a focus on District 6, where the city's largest cluster of facilities has raised concerns about water, energy and neighborhood impacts. (KENS)
5. Two, one, oh 🤩: Just winging it
👋 It's Madalyn! If you're a wing person, Fried Hard Wings needs to be on your radar.
Zoom in: The Memphis-style wing pop-up sets up shop at Three Star Bar (Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays) and Midnight Swim (Fridays and Saturdays).
- I'd heard the hype, and it absolutely delivered.
What to try: Go big with the 20-piece and a large fry ($27.49). My friend and I went half-and-half with the flavors, picking the honey gold and sweet Korean chili. Both are wet-rub style, so grab plenty of napkins.
- The honey gold is saucy and sweet with just the right kick.
- The sweet Korean chili is a newer flavor with bold, tangy heat.
- The curly fries come well-seasoned, and even the celery and carrots are tossed in sauce.
Six-word review: So good, I've been back twice.
The bottom line: It's safe to say Fried Hard has officially earned a spot as my go-to for wings.
Thanks to our editors Astrid Galván and Bob Gee.
👠 Madalyn thinks this rainy day is the perfect opportunity to see "The Devil Wears Prada 2."
🥾 Megan is looking forward to enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend after the rain.
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