Flood Report - 2001


	Texas Storms in Cameron County	Select Another County
	11 storms


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1.


Rio Grande Basin
November 1881
This storm caused the highest flood on the Rio Grande since 1848 and disastrous damage in Brackettville, Brownsville, and Matamoras.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	Unknown
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Kinney Co., Brackettville Cameron Co., Brownsville
References:	Dalrymple and others, 1937

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2.


South Texas
May 4 to 7, 1912
Corpus Christi recorded 6.56 in. of rainfall in a 24-hour period on the 5th and 6th. The city of Laureles recorded more than 5 in. of rainfall on the 5th and 6th.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	6.56 in. (Nueces Co.) 5.00 in. (San Patricio Co.)
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Nueces Co., Corpus Christi San Patricio Co., Laureles Cameron Co.
References:	U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, unpub. data

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3.


Gulf Coast
October 15 to 18, 1912
Rainfall was moderate to heavy in the immediate vicinity of a tropical disturbance as it moved inland over South Texas. Rainfall amounts diminished rapidly as the disturbance moved northeast, with largest amounts from the afternoon Oct. 16 to the afternoon Oct. 17. Maximum recorded rainfall was 6.3 in. at Brownsville in Cameron County.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	6.30 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Brownsville
References:	Schoner and Molansky, 1956; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, unpub. data

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4.


Central and East Texas
April 20 to 26, 1915
Rainfall up to 17 in. in North and East Texas caused flooding in the Trinity, Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe River Basins.

Deaths and Damage:	More than 40 lives were lost and property damage was estimated at $2.33 million.
Max. Precipitation:	15.10 in. (Cameron Co.) 12.20 in. (Van Zandt Co.)
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Cameron Park Van Zandt Co., Grand Saline
References:	Dallas Morning News, 1999; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, unpub. data

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5.


South Texas
September 6 to 7, 1925
A weak tropical disturbance entered the Texas coast near Brownsville during the night Sept. 6. It moved northwestward, losing its force by morning Sept. 7. Maximum recorded rainfall was 10.7 in. at Brownsville in Cameron County.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	10.70 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Brownsville
References:	Schoner and Molansky, 1956

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6.


Rio Grande Watershed
September 8 to 11, 1948
Rain fell on the entire lower Rio Grande Valley below Eagle Pass and on most of the Mexican tributary streams that flow into the lower Rio Grande. Scattered rainfall of as much as 8 in. was recorded for the basin above Zapata and below Del Rio. The storm began about noon Sept. 8 and was more or less continuous until the end of the storm Sept. 11. The heaviest and most concentrated rainfall was at rain gages on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sept. 10.

Deaths and Damage:	Total flood damage was estimated at $5.68 million.
Max. Precipitation:	8.00 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Maverick Co., Eagle Pass Hidalgo Co. Cameron Co.
References:	International Boundary and Water Commission, 1949, p. 65-71

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7.


South Texas
September 19 to 25, 1967
Rainfall produced by Hurricane Beulah caused floods of record-breaking magnitude on many streams in a 50,000-mi² area of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico in September and October. The hurricane crossed the Texas coastline near Brownsville about daybreak Sept. 20 and dissipated in the mountains of northern Mexico Sept. 22. During Sept. 19-25, as much as 25.5 in. of rain was measured at Falls City in Karnes County. Unofficial measurements were as much as 34 in. in the Nueces River Basin. The rains produced historically significant peak discharges at several streamflow-gaging stations. read more...

Deaths and Damage:	The storm covered about 39 counties in Texas, causing 44 deaths and $145 million in damages.
Max. Precipitation:	34.00 in.
Severity:	Catastrophic
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Brownsville
References:	Asquith and Slade, 1995; Schroeder and others, 1974

NWS_13 NWS_14 NWS_15 NWS_16	NWS_17 NWS_18 NWS_19 NWS_20	NWS_21

8.


Southeast Texas
February 18 to 21, 1982
The storms dumped about 6 in. of rain in less than 3 hours at Harlingen. Nearby Adams Gardens had 7.42 in. during 1 day. Heavy thunderstorms dumped 3-4 in. of rain on Karnes and Atascosa Counties Feb. 20.

Deaths and Damage:	Damage to property was $250,000 in Cameron County.
Max. Precipitation:	7.42 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Adams Gardens
References:	Bomar, 1983b, p. 14-15

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9.


South Texas
September 16 to 19, 1984
Heavy rains, some exceeding 20 in., drenched the lower Rio Grande Valley.

Deaths and Damage:	Cameron and Willacy Counties experienced the worst flooding since Hurricane Beulah in 1967. It was estimated that more than 50 percent of the eastern one-half of Cameron County was underwater.
Max. Precipitation:	20.00 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Harlingen Willacy Co., Raymondville
References:	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1984a, p. 20, 32

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10.


Extreme South Texas
February 6, 1987
Torrential rains of 6-7 in. fell during a 2-hour period in parts of Brownsville in Cameron County.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	7.00 in.
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Cameron Co., Brownsville
References:	Carr and others, 1990, p. 21

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11.


South Texas
September 16 to 18, 1988
Heavy rain caused by remnants of Hurricane Gilbert began during the morning Sept. 16 in South Texas. Heaviest reported rainfall was 8.71 in. Sept. 16-18 at Lamar in Aransas County. In the lower Rio Grande Valley, 6.40 in. fell at Adams Gardens.

Deaths and Damage:	Unknown
Max. Precipitation:	8.71 in. (Aransas Co.) 6.40 in. (Cameron Co.)
Severity:	Major Storm
Storm Center(s):	Aransas Co., Lamar Cameron Co., Adams Gardens
References:	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1988, p. 41-42

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