Storm Surge/Tide — Calhoun, Texas

2015-06-16 · Calhoun, Texas

Event narrative

A storm surge between 2 and 3.5 feet affected the county with the highest storm surge around Lavaca Bay. The storm surge was 3.5 feet at Port Lavaca. A new bulkhead near Alamo Beach suffered moderate damage. Fifteen piers were damaged or destroyed from Port Alto to Port Lavaca to Port O'Connor and near Seadrift. Water rose and covered some piers in a matter of minutes. Lighthouse Beach and bay front were closed due to storm surge. Residents in Indianola were cut off from homes due to rising water. Total public damage was estimated at 1.3 million dollars.

Wider weather episode

A broad area of low pressure over the northwest Gulf of Mexico strengthened into Tropical Storm Bill on the evening of June 15th. Tropical Storm Bill moved slowly northwest toward the Middle Texas coast. Tropical Storm Bill made landfall in Calhoun County on Matagorda Island south of San Antonio Bay during the late morning. Because of persistent strong east to northeast winds over Calhoun County as Bill moved slowly inland, coastal areas near the western portion of Matagorda Bay and near Lavaca Bay were impacted by storm tide levels of 3 to 4 feet above mean sea level. The storm surge reached 3.5 feet at Port Lavaca causing moderate beach erosion. The storm surge damaged new bulkheads near Alamo Beach and damaged or destroyed fifteen piers from Port Alto to Port Lavaca to Port O'Connor. Property damage was estimated near 1.3 million dollars. Rainfall amounts ranged from 1 to 3 inches as Bill moved through the northern Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads. Maximum wind gusts recorded were 47 knots at Port O'Connor and 42 knots at Port Lavaca.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 589718. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.