Flood — Kimble, Texas

1997-06-21 to 1997-06-24 · Kimble, Texas

Wider weather episode

An upper level low pressure system was stationary over south central Texas and parts of the Hill Country through Saturday the 21st. During the evening on Saturday, this upper low moved slowly northward into the northwest Hill Country near Junction and stayed nearly stationary through Sunday the 22nd. This upper low brought cool temperatures in the mid levels of the atmosphere which combined with warm and very moist air at the surface to create a very unstable environment. Numerous outflow boundaries from weekend storms over south central Texas moved into the northwest Hill Country and provided the focus for thunderstorm development. Weak winds aloft and a continuous flow of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico resulted in nearly stationary storms over Kimble and Mason counties through Sunday the 22nd as the upper low remained over that area. Spiral rain bands around the low repeatedly moved over the same areas, bringing continuous flooding rains. Several river flood warnings were issued along the Llano River, Colorado River, San Saba River and Elm Creek.The flooding began in the Junction area during the afternoon of the 21st. Several county roads were flooded and closed by the early evening. The Llano River at Mason rose above bankfull stage of six feet around midnight overnight the 21st. The rain continued across Kimble and Mason counties the rest of the night. By 1400 CST the 22nd, Segovia in eastern Kimble County had received 9.64 inches of rain. The South Llano State Park had a 16 foot rise on the South Llano River in the park, flooding the bridge at the entrance to the state park, and closing the park. Between 1400 CST and 1600 CST the 22nd, the Llano River near Junction rose 12 feet very rapidly. The Llano River crested near Junction at 23.2 feet at 2000CST on the 22nd. Flood stage is 16 feet. No major damage occurred in the city of Junction, although some people were evacuated from mobile homes close to the river as it rapidly rose. The worst flooding occurred to the east of Junction along the Johnson Fork of the Llano River and the Llano River across Mason County. One mobile home along the Johnson Fork was swept away without a trace. The resident was not in the home at the time. One house was also flooded in eastern Kimble County.In Mason County, the situation was much worse. The flood wave raced rapidly eastward across Mason County Sunday night the 22nd. The Llano River near Mason crested at 37.2 feet around 2200 CST. Bankfull stage is six feet. This crest was a new record since the gage was put in. The previous record was 37 feet on September 8, 1980. The Red Cross reported that one house along the river was completely destroyed. Two houses sustained major damage and 14 houses had minor damage. Agricultural damage was widespread across the county with numerous cattle drowned.The flooding did not end across the Hill Country. The upper low began to track slowly northward overnight on the 22nd into the early morning of the 23rd. The heavy rainfall moved into the Heartland. Four people had to be rescued from their homes in San Saba as the water rose. The San Saba River at San Saba crested near 29.3 feet around 0800 CST on the 23rd. Flood stage is 24 feet. The Colorado River near San Saba also rose above flood stage, cresting near 34.2 feet during the evening of the 23rd. Flood stage is 30 feet.Runnels County was the last area to see flooding with this system. Over six inches of rain fell in just a few hours around the city of Ballinger, causing Elm Creek and Colorado River to rise above flood stage. The city park had to be evacuated quickly. The Elm Creek in Ballinger crested at around 9.1 feet in the early afternoon of the 23rd (flood stage seven feet). The city park and golf course were flooded. The Colorado River near Ballinger crested around 24.7 feet on the early afternoon of the 23rd (flood stage 18 feet). A fish farm near the river was flooded and a few homes received minor flood damage. The water emptied into O.H. Ivie Resevoir on the 24th, causing the lake to rise over a foot above conservation level. A release of around 7000 cfs was made on the 24th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5602401. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.