October 1994 Texas Flood

[Ptarmigan]

East Pacific Hurricane Rosa makes landfall on the west coast of Mexico on October 14, 1994 as a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds. Then it moves over the mountains and weakens. However, its moisture remains and heads towards Texas. A strong cold front over Texas and high pressure system over Canada cause the remnant of Hurricane Rosa to stall over Texas. Rain starts to fall on October 15th. Many areas got 1 to 2 inches of rain. Then it rains again on the 16th when all the storms formed along a warm front. Later that night and well into the early morning hours of the 17th, heavy rain begins to fall northwest of Houston. 10 to 20 inches of rain fell. The the rain switches southward on the night of the 17th to wee hours of the 18th, heavy rain starts to fall around Houston. 10 to 20 inches of rain fell. Most of the heavy rain fell at night, which would make it a tropical rain event. Rainfall rates up to 5 inches was reported during the storm. Once the storm ended, up to 30 inches of rain fell, mostly around Liberty and Magnolia. Many areas got over 20 inches of rains in the four day period. It is one Texas's largest rainfall event. There was widespread and record flooding. Many rivers and reservoirs exceeded their past records and stands to this day. On October 20th, oil pipelines burst and caused a massive fires on the San Jacinto River. It claimed 22 lives and caused two billion dollars in damages.

NWS Houston-October
Catastrophic Rainfall and Flooding in Texas
USGS Fact Sheet

[southerngale]

That was one of, if not the the worst flood ever here. The one this past October was comparable. In some areas around here, this past one was worse and in other areas, the October 1994 one was worse. A lot of people lost their homes.

October 1994 still holds the record at the Neches River in Beaumont and Pine Island Bayou.

Neches River:

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 10
Moderate Flood Stage: 7
Flood Stage: 4

Historical crests:
(1) 13.00 ft on 10/22/1994
(2) 12.00 ft on 10/22/2006
(3) 11.60 ft on 07/03/1989
(4) 9.90 ft on 05/12/1969
(5) 8.50 ft on 03/10/1992

The same exact date in October!


------------


It still holds the record for Pine Island Bayou as well (the one that affects flooding near my house). Even more than Allison!
However, some people thought this past October's flood was worse. Perhaps the drainage in some areas was just worse this last time? I've heard people say that Rita debris is still blocking drainage.
Pine Island Bayou:

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 32
Moderate Flood Stage: 29
Flood Stage: 25
Action Stage: 22

Historical Crests
(1) 37.50 ft on 10/20/1994
(2) 34.29 ft on 04/22/1979
(3) 33.70 ft on 05/22/1989
(4) 32.37 ft on 07/02/1989
(5) 31.90 ft on 06/10/2001

All of those historical crests were devastating floods for many folks.




Sources:
http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... ,1,1,1,1,1

http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... ,1,1,1,1,1

(Pine Island Bayou runs through Sour Lake, Bevil Oaks, between Beaumont and Lumberton, etc. flooding everything in its path... )

[Ptarmigan]

That was one of, if not the the worst flood ever here. The one this past October was comparable. In some areas around here, this past one was worse and in other areas, the October 1994 one was worse. A lot of people lost their homes.

October 1994 still holds the record at the Neches River in Beaumont and Pine Island Bayou.

Neches River:

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 10
Moderate Flood Stage: 7
Flood Stage: 4

Historical crests:
(1) 13.00 ft on 10/22/1994
(2) 12.00 ft on 10/22/2006
(3) 11.60 ft on 07/03/1989
(4) 9.90 ft on 05/12/1969
(5) 8.50 ft on 03/10/1992

The same exact date in October!


------------


It still holds the record for Pine Island Bayou as well (the one that affects flooding near my house). Even more than Allison!
However, some people thought this past October's flood was worse. Perhaps the drainage in some areas was just worse this last time? I've heard people say that Rita debris is still blocking drainage.
Pine Island Bayou:

Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 32
Moderate Flood Stage: 29
Flood Stage: 25
Action Stage: 22

Historical Crests
(1) 37.50 ft on 10/20/1994
(2) 34.29 ft on 04/22/1979
(3) 33.70 ft on 05/22/1989
(4) 32.37 ft on 07/02/1989
(5) 31.90 ft on 06/10/2001

All of those historical crests were devastating floods for many folks.




Sources:
http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... ,1,1,1,1,1

http://ahps.srh.noaa.gov/ahps2/hydrogra ... ,1,1,1,1,1

(Pine Island Bayou runs through Sour Lake, Bevil Oaks, between Beaumont and Lumberton, etc. flooding everything in its path... )

Now, that is just plain creepy.

[Aslkahuna]

One reason to follow EPAC storms.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

One reason to follow EPAC storms.

Steve

Very true. The October 1998 Texas flood was also in part caused by moisture being fed from Hurricane Lester and Madeline. So much for the little interest in the EPAC. TS Allison of 1989 and 1949 Texas Hurricane also came from EPAC.

[Aslkahuna]

Newton in 1986 and Ismael in 1995 brought dumpers to NM while Raymond and Lester in 1989 and 1992 respectively brought high winds and flooding rains to SE AZ. There have been many others of course.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Newton in 1986 and Ismael in 1995 brought dumpers to NM while Raymond and Lester in 1989 and 1992 respectively brought high winds and flooding rains to SE AZ. There have been many others of course.

Steve

EPAC Hurricanes give the Southwest and even Texas rain, sometimes flooding rain. Ismael is an interesting name for a hurricane, especially in light of recent events.

[Aslkahuna]

Ismael's name was retired after 1995 after the loss of many fishermen at sea in the Sea of Cortez. Originally it was replaced with the name Israel but that name was dropped for PC reasons before ever being used even though Israel is a relatively common male name in Mexico.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Ismael's name was retired after 1995 after the loss of many fishermen at sea in the Sea of Cortez. Originally it was replaced with the name Israel but that name was dropped for PC reasons before ever being used even though Israel is a relatively common male name in Mexico.

Steve

Kinda stupid that they dropped the name Israel. I knew a lot of Hispanics named Israel. Also, they dropped the name Adolf as well. It's not just a German name. I have seen many Hispanics named Adolf.