Flash Flood in Terry County, Texas

Heavy rain in a short period of time brought flash flooding in and around the city of Brownfield late on the 17th into the early morning hours of the 18th.

Widespread moderate to heavy rain fell on much of the South Plains and Rolling Plains region from late on the 17th through the early morning hours of the 18th. An intense mid level storm system in combination with abundant moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific brought this heavy rainfall. This storm system initially strengthened over southern California and the northern Gulf of California, where strong jet energy carved out a closed low. After forming, the low started moving eastward through northern Mexico on the 16th before accelerating northeastward late on the 17th, passing over Far West Texas and racing across the South Plains on the 18th. Spotty and generally light showers during the day on the 17th quickly grew in coverage and intensity during the evening as the moisture and lift worked in tandem. Widespread moderate to heavy rain formed over the Permian Basin and expanded and spread northward across the South Plains late on the 17th. Meager instability limited the lightning production but the deep and warm lower atmosphere did not limit the rainfall coverage or intensity. Bands of the heaviest rain targeted parts of the central and southern South Plains, particularly along and near the US Highway 62 corridor from Brownfield (Terry County) up to Lubbock (Lubbock County). Within this swath, two to three inches of rain fell in short order, with areas around Brownfield to tallying around four inches. Runoff from the torrential downpours quickly resulted in flash flooding, and caused several roadways to become difficult to impossible to pass. As the line moved eastward, it encountered even richer low-level moisture and instability which allowed the thunderstorms to intensify, producing more lightning and severe wind gusts as they advanced from the southeastern South Plains into the Rolling Plains.