Flood — Dimmit, Texas

1996-10-29 to 1996-10-31 · Dimmit, Texas

Wider weather episode

Rainfall of up to 13 inches on the headwaters of the Nueces River on the evening of the 27th and the morning of the 28th caused the river to rise rapidly. The Nueces finally crested just south of Uvalde at around 20 feet, where flood stage is 11 feet. This was the highest reading since 1962. As it moved southward into Zavala County near 1200CST on the 28th, flow was measured at 200,000 cfs. The river crested near Crystal City at 31 feet. Many homes had to be evacuated, with damage reported to nearly 40 home and mobile homes. The flood wave moved into Dimmit County near 1200CST on the 29th. The river crested near Asherton at just over 29 feet, where flood stage is 20 feet. Damage was reported to around 30 homes and mobile homes along the river. In addition to the damage indictated above, property damage was widespread, with hundreds of livestock drowned and millions of tons of rich topsoil washed away.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5572706. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.