Flash Flood in Taylor County, Texas

The tropical wave that had plagued south central Texas over the past several days moved to the north on the morning of the 6th. Thunderstorms moved into Taylor county around 3 AM. Rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour produced rainfall amounts of up to 12 inches in the southern portions of the county. A fire station on the south side of Abilene reported 5.2 inches of rain in less than 2 hours. The automated weather station at the Abilene airport reported 4 inches in 2 hours. This rainfall produced flooding of low water crossings and some creek flooding during the morning in Abilene. Worse flooding was yet to come however, as the heaviest rains occurred to the south of Abilene, in the Buffalo Gap, Tuscola, Ovalo and Lake Abilene areas. Water from these areas flowed in the Elm Creek, Cat Claw Creek, and Ceader Creek, then into the city of Abilene. Cat Claw Creek, and Elm Creek crested at record levels on the evening of the 6th. The flood waters did not recede significantly until the evening of the 7th. Around 1000 residents had to evacuate to higher ground. The flooding throughout the county resulted in significant property damage with 31 homes destroyed, 339 receiving major damage, and 322 received minor damage.

The tropical wave that has been producing heavy rains over South Central Texas peaked in intensity during the early morning hours of the 6th over the Big Country and Heartland Counties of West Central Texas. Numerous thunderstorms developed shortly after midnight across northern sections of Coleman and Brown Counties. into southern Callhan County, then spread west into the Abilene area around 3 AM. Tropical rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour produced rainfall amounts of 10 to 14 inches directly over the Jim Ned Creek and Pecan Creek basins in northern Coleman and Brown Counties, and southern sections of Callahan and Taylor Counties. The Cities of Abilene and Brownwood received significant damage as the result of the flooding that followed the heavy rains.