The so-called "rain bomb" that hit South Texas over the weeked was just the latest in a series of record breaking rainfall events. The soaking summer weather pattern has been wreaking havoc across much of the State of Texas.

On June 28, Marble Falls got close to 19 inches of rain -- sweeping cars, trailers and even people downstream. Joe Arellano, the meteorologist in charge for the National Weather Service says it was rather unusual.

"I would classify it at least as a 100-year event -- getting 18 inches plus is not something we see very often," he said.

These extreme rain events -- or "rain bombs" -- started occurring in mid June. The first to be hit was Gainesville, Texas. At least six people died when more than 8 inches of rain fell there.

Ten days later Marble Falls was struck. On July 2, Corpus Christi picked up almost 10 inches of rain. People had to be rescued from roof tops. This past weekend, 10 to 15 inches fell upstream of D'Hannis.

The words "rain bomb" are not actually a meteorological term. They were used by a National Weather Service forecaster to describe what happened in Marble Falls and just caught on.

So just what is causing all of this rainfall?

Normally, high pressure sits over Texas during the summer, giving the area dry and hot conditions. This year that high has shifted to the Northwest, allowing abundant tropical moisture to come in from the Gulf of Mexico.

Austin's airport has already gotten more than 38 inches of rain. That is more than Austin normally receives all year.

The good news is, this is one of the coolest July's on record.

Austin resident Jean Graham says it's good and bad.

"I know we have had a lot of rain and feel bad for the people who are being flooded but I love having everything green," she said.

This wet weather pattern is forecasted to continue through possibly October.

Forecasters like Arelleno warn the Austin area could be in serious trouble if any type of tropical storm comes in.

"Everything is saturated. The rivers are at capacity, the lakes are up to capacity -- any tropical system that moves into Texas is going to create a lot of problems," he said.

Forty-two people have been killed this year in Texas flooding.