Texas, 1998

Flooding in Texas, August 24 to 25, 1998

August 24 to 25, 1998 · NWS EWX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

The heavy rainfall from the late night rainfall of the 23rd and the early morning rainfall of the 24thproduced a flood wave along the Rio Grande River that moved through Kinney County during the morning and afternoon of the 24th, and across Maverick County from the afternoon of the 24th through the morning of Tuesday, the 25th. Hundreds of cattle were drowned in Kinney and northwestern Maverick…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
$2.0 million
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS EWX wrote it up.

The heavy rainfall from the late night rainfall of the 23rd and the early morning rainfall of the 24thproduced a flood wave along the Rio Grande River that moved through Kinney County during the morning and afternoon of the 24th, and across Maverick County from the afternoon of the 24th through the morning of Tuesday, the 25th. Hundreds of cattle were drowned in Kinney and northwestern Maverick County as the river rose rapidly. Little property damage was reported in Kinney.The Rio Grande crested at Eagle Pass at 34.98 feet near midnight on the 24th. This level flooded and severely damaged businesses and homes in the lowest block adjacent to the River. This involved several hundred structures. In addition, several homes flooded as the Rio Grande River backed up Seco Creek, putting up to five feet of water in homes near it. Elm Creek closed the Highway 277 bridge for a time as the Rio Grande River backed up it. Eagle Pass Creek flooded bridges and streets and threatened a few of the lowest businesses. Any level above the 35 foot crest of this flood will flood many more businesses and homes.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Kinney

When
August 24, 1:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Kinney forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
29.350, -100.418 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Maverick

When
August 24, 4:00 PM CST to August 25, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Maverick forecast zone
Property damage
$10,000
Crop damage
$1.0 million
Reported by
EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates
28.743, -100.314 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flood
Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, August 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5666650, 5666651.