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 rise to near-historic levels in a matter of minutes, officials said at a press conference Saturday.

Thunderstorms and moisture from the Gulf were among the ingredients that led to catastrophic weather and flooding in the Hill Country.

A perfect storm of a slow-moving pocket of moist air, parched terrain and a hilly area prone to flash flooding unleashed absolute hell on Texas Hill Country — where more than 40 people have died, according to meteorologists.