Flash Flood — Potter, Texas

2010-07-07 to 2010-07-08 · near (ama)amarillo Intl A, Potter, Texas

Event narrative

The heavy rains caused water to flow inside of the Highland Park High School cafeteria with ankle to knee deep water inside the elementary wing of the Highland Park school. Raef Road...south of U.S. Highway 60...was reported to be impassable due to the flash flooding with water reported to be covering three vehicles that were stranded in a ditch on U.S. Highway 60 and two miles east of Loop 335. High water rescues had to be performed for the stranded motorists on U.S. Highway 60 and two miles east of Loop 335 as the water was up to the roof tops. U.S. Highway 60 was then closed at Loop 335 due to the high water. High water rescues were also performed on stranded motorists at the La Fiesta Restaurant on Ross Street. The Rick Husband International Airport reported that water was coming in at the terminal entrance with five to six inches of water in the baggage area. The computer systems at the airport were down due to the high water. The Highland Park Superintendent reported two to four feet of water inside the school. Rick Husband International Airport also reported that the basement was flooded to the top and that twelve inches of water was on the first floor of the airport.

Wider weather episode

Thunderstorms containing very heavy rainfall moved very slowly across the south central Texas Panhandle during the overnight hours. These storms produced four to five inches of rain or more in several locations...with nearly ten inches in a few locations. A record twenty-four hour rainfall fell at Rick Husband International Airport in Amarillo. Although no injuries were reported...the high water caused extensive damage to buildings and equipment and stranded vehicles.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (35.2894, -101.6352)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 247669. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.