Texas, 1998

Flash Flooding in Texas, September 16, 1998

September 16, 1998 · NWS EWX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

A large mass of showers and thunderstorms developed in the afternoon of the 16th in Val Verde County and spread slowly northeastward across the eastern Edwards Plateau later that evening. General rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was reported over a six-county area, with amounts of 4 to 6 inches in Real and Edwards Counties.

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.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$8,000
Crop damage
None recorded
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.

A large mass of showers and thunderstorms developed in the afternoon of the 16th in Val Verde County and spread slowly northeastward across the eastern Edwards Plateau later that evening. General rainfall of 1 to 2 inches was reported over a six-county area, with amounts of 4 to 6 inches in Real and Edwards Counties. Numerous roads were reported closed with some of the worst flooding along SH377 and SH41. Repairs to roads and bridges across the two counties had still not been completed from the previous flooding in August associated with Tropical Storm Charley, somewhat limiting the damage totals.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Edwards

When
September 16, 6:30 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where
Edwards County, North Portion
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
29.983, -100.305 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Real

When
September 16, 6:30 PM CST to 8:30 PM CST
Where
Real County, North Portion
Property damage
$3,000
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
29.832, -99.822 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.

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, September 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: 5669582, 5669583.