Flash Flood — Lynn, Texas

2010-07-04 · near Odonnell, Lynn, Texas

Event narrative

Portions of eastern Lynn County were impacted by a convective band during the early morning hours of the 4th. This feature subjected the area between O'Donnell and Draw to the heaviest rainfall rates observed on the west Texas South Plains during the passage of Hurricane Alex's remnants.

Initial reports of flash flooding were received by the Texas Department of Transportation shortly before 02:00 CST. High water was reportedly flowing over U.S. Highway 87 north of Tahoka. Through the remainder of the pre-dawn hours, other segments of U.S. Highway 87 became inundated by high water southward between Tahoka and O'Donnell, as well as U.S. Highway 380 east of Tahoka. Reports of stranded motorists along these routes were minimal, however, likely due to the fast actions of local officials to close these major thoroughfairs.

The most significant flash flooding occurred in the hours around sunrise over the eastern portions of the county, roughly between the community of Draw and the intersection of U.S. Highway 380 and Farm to Market Road 1054. An earthen dam failed at Stuart Lake in eastern Lynn County. The surrounding landscape suffered extreme erosion and damages as the 60 acre lake emptied completely. A family was rescued from their nearby ranch home as flash flooding propagated downstream. The residence was deemed a complete loss. In addition, by 09:00 CST a 700 foot section of Farm to Market Road 1054 was reportedly washed away. The destruction of Stuart Lake - which is privately owned - was estimated to result in nearly $2 million dollars in damages.

In all, total economic losses across Lynn County were estimated near $5 million. For the purposes of this report, these damages were differentiated by flash flood and flood as $2.5 million each.

No significant injuries were reported.

Wider weather episode

A plume of middle and upper tropospheric subtropical moisture streamed northward over west Texas during the first few days of July. Scattered showers and thunderstorms produced locally heavy rainfall each afternoon and evening starting on the 1st and persisting through the 3rd. Although little to no adverse public impacts were observed from the rains through the first three days of the month, the remnants of former Atlantic Hurricane Alex spread northward within the persistent tropical moisture plume and began to impact the west Texas South Plains during the late evening hours of the 3rd.

The remnants of Hurricane Alex brought the onset of widespread tropical rains to the South Plains region, with rainfall rates measured to exceed 4.00 inches per hour in some locations. The heaviest rainfall occurred along several convective bands that spanned southwest to northeast over the southern and central South Plains. Thus the most adverse impacts were experienced over portions of Terry, Lubbock, Lynn, and Garza Counties, where isolated locations received more than one foot of rain through the early morning hours of Independence Day.

The Fourth of July flash floods and floods brought extensive damages and economic loss to the area. Local and state officials estimated these losses to approach $16.5 million. The State of Texas declared several South Plains counties a Disaster Area, and federal assistence was requested. In spite of the dramatic agricultural and property damages, no serious injuries were reported.

Remnant flooding, generally near swollen playa lakes, persisted and resulted in prolonged closures of several roadways and highways until the 10th.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (32.9700, -101.8300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 253672. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.