Report Title: Major and Catastrophic Storms and Floods in Texas     
Opening
Guide to report
Glossary of terms
Lists of storms sorted by date, county or maximum precipitation
Storms lists sorted by date
Storm lists sorted by county
Storm lists sorted by maximum precipitation
Substantial flood peaks
Links to related WWW resources
Assorted documents related to Texas storms
Bibliography
Dedication and Credits
  Texas Storms in Dallas County Select Another County
11 storms  
   
  Image Gallery
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1.  
North and Central Texas
May 22 to 25, 1908
As much as 9 in. of rainfall caused flooding throughout much of North and Central Texas.
Deaths and Damage:   Eleven lives were lost and property damage exceeded $5 million in the Dallas area.
Max. Precipitation:   9.20 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Uvalde Co., Sabinal
Dallas Co.
References:   Dallas Morning News, 1999

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2.  
White Rock Creek in Dallas
April 19 to 20, 1942
According to long-time area residents, this was the greatest flood since at least 1886. The rain produced historically significant peak discharges at several streamflow-gaging stations. Although official rainfall stations adjacent to the watershed did not receive extraordinary rainfall, there were unofficial reports of as much as 12 in. on the upper watershed. Two days of general thunderstorm activity in the area prior to this storm contributed to a higher-than-normal rate of flood runoff.
Deaths and Damage:   Unknown
Max. Precipitation:   12.00 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
References:   Asquith and Slade, 1995; Gilbert, 1963

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3.  
North-Central Texas
June 13 to 14, 1949
From 2 to 10 in. of rain fell in the upper Trinity River Basin on the 13th and 14th centered near Richardson, Garland, and Carrollton. Most of the rain fell during the night. Streets in Carrollton were reported knee deep in water, and all highways leading north of Dallas were blocked by floodwaters at 12:30 a.m. on the 14th.
Deaths and Damage:   Unknown
Max. Precipitation:   10.00 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Richardson
References:   U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, unpub. data

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4.  
Mineral Wells Vicinity
July 25 to 27, 1962
Heavy rain of 5-17 in. fell within a 40-mi radius of Mineral Wells July 25-27. The area upstream from Greenville Ave. in Dallas had an average rainfall of 6.2 in. July 27. That same area recorded 2 in. the previous day.
Deaths and Damage:   Property damage exceeded $1.5 million.
Max. Precipitation:   6.20 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
References:   Rostvedt and others, 1968a, p. 97

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5.  
White Rock Creek Basin
October 8, 1962
During early morning Oct. 8, an intense storm of short duration centered over Cottonwood Creek in the upper White Rock Creek Basin. An average 4.6 in. of rain fell on the basin during about 3 hours. Rainfall on Cottonwood Creek Basin ranged from about 4 in. on the upper basin to 7 in. on the lower basin.
Deaths and Damage:   Unknown
Max. Precipitation:   4.60 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
References:   Rostvedt and others, 1968a, p. 99

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6.  
South-Central and Northeast Texas
September 15 to 30, 1964
The rain produced historically significant peak discharges at two streamflow-gaging stations. As much as 12.5 in. of rain fell during the night Sept. 15 in Dimmit County between Carrizo Springs and Encinal. As much as 15 in. fell on the Devils River Basin during 24 hours, and as much as 17 in. fell on the upper Nueces River Basin. As much as 20.33 in. was measured Sept. 15-30. During the first 8 hours of Sept. 21, more than 12 in. fell in northeastern Tarrant County, eastward over Dallas, and in Collin County. The heaviest rain fell on an area north of Dallas.
Deaths and Damage:   Unknown
Max. Precipitation:   20.33 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
References:   Rostvedt and others, 1970a, p. 82-90

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7.  
North Dallas
April 28, 1966
As much as 6.7 in. fell during a 6-hour period; 4.9 in. fell during 1 hour. Almost 8 in. of rain had fallen during the preceding 2 weeks, resulting in a well-saturated basin in which all storage areas were full.
Deaths and Damage:   Flooding resulted in 14 deaths and damage estimated at $15 million.
Max. Precipitation:   6.70 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
References:   Mills and Schroeder, 1969

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8.  
Central and East Texas
June 23 to 28, 1968
During the afternoon June 23, Tropical Storm Candy moved inland over the middle Texas coast. The storm weakened slowly as it moved north toward the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Rainfall totals of 3-4 in. were common throughout central and eastern Texas, with numerous locations reporting 5 in. or more.
Deaths and Damage:   No deaths or injuries resulted from this storm; however, estimates placed crop losses at $2.1 million and property losses at $625,000.
Max. Precipitation:   5.00 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas
Tarrant Co., Ft. Worth
References:   Rostvedt and others, 1972, p. 42

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9.  
North-Central Texas
March 27, 1977
Heavy rain fell in Tarrant, Somervell, and Dallas Counties.
Deaths and Damage:   There were 5 drownings and $1 million in property damages.
Max. Precipitation:   Unknown
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Tarrant Co.
Somervell Co.
Dallas Co.
References:   Dallas Morning News, 1999

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10.  
North Texas
May 1 to 7, 1990
Heavy rainfall May 1-4 produced major flooding in North Texas during early May. Rainfall was 5-9 in. on north-central sections of North Texas and 2-5 in. elsewhere.
Deaths and Damage:   Unknown
Max. Precipitation:   6.91 in. (Dallas Co.)
6.36 in. (Dallas Co.)
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):   Dallas Co., Dallas Naval Air Station
Dallas Co., Dallas Love Field
References:   National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1990


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11.  
Dallas and Tarrant Counties
May 5, 1995
Damage caused by wind speeds up to 70 miles per hour, softball-size hail, and high-intensity rain caused this storm to be deemed the "costliest thunderstorm event in history" by the National Weather Service. The maximum rainfall intensity was almost 3 in. in 30 minutes. 109 people were injured by hail.
Deaths and Damage:   20 lives were lost, and $2 billion in damage was reported.
Max. Precipitation:   4.96 in.
Severity:   Major Storm
Storm Center(s):  

Dallas Co., Dallas
Tarrant Co.
References:   None

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