Meteorologists say incredible amounts of moisture in the air fueled a storm that barely moved over central Texas, creating conditions for fatal flash floods.

The deadly floods that struck Texas on the 4th of July caught local officials off guard as the torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to overflow in minutes.

The death toll from sudden floods in the Texas Hill Country rose to 24 Friday night, officials said, as the search for more than 20 people missing from a girls summer camp continued through the night.