Texas, 1999

Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 26, 1999

April 26, 1999 · NWS SJT · 10 events in 7 counties and zones

Severe thunderstorms that produced hail up to the size of golf balls at Ozona quickly turned into torrential rain producers across the Concho Valley, Northern Edwards Plateau, and the Heartland. Low water crossings and other low lying city streets were closed as swiftly flowing waters covered the roadways.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 7 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$5,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
10

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 SJT wrote it up.

Severe thunderstorms that produced hail up to the size of golf balls at Ozona quickly turned into torrential rain producers across the Concho Valley, Northern Edwards Plateau, and the Heartland. Low water crossings and other low lying city streets were closed as swiftly flowing waters covered the roadways. At least one motorist had to be rescued when her car stalled in a low water crossing and was swept downstream.

The radar

The San Angelo radar (KSJT), 33 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:44 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

7 flash flood, 2 hail, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Irion

When
April 26, 1:45 AM CST
Where
Irion County, Mertzon
Measured
0.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.270, -100.820

Flash Flood, Tom Green

When
April 26, 1:55 AM CST to 4:00 AM CST
Where
Tom Green County, Central Portion
Reported by
TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates
31.404, -100.462 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low water crossings flooded and impassable.

Hail, Crockett

When
April 26, 2:05 AM CST
Where
Crockett County, Ozona
Measured
1.75 in hail
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
30.700, -101.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Crockett

When
April 26, 2:05 AM CST
Where
Crockett County, Ozona
Property damage
$5,000
Reported by
NEWSPAPER
Coordinates
30.700, -101.200

High winds pulled a metal roof off of a mobile home in Ozona. Several signs around town were also damaged or destroyed.

Flash Flood, Crockett

When
April 26, 3:00 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where
Crockett County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
30.723, -101.412 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Many low water crossings across Crockett County reported flooded and impassable. A low water crossing along Johnston Draw in Ozona was covered by 10 feet of flood waters.

Flash Flood, Runnels

When
April 26, 3:00 AM CST to 5:00 AM CST
Where
Runnels County, Ballinger
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.831, -99.976 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several city streets in Ballinger were flooded and impassable.

Flash Flood, Irion

When
April 26, 3:30 AM CST to 5:30 AM CST
Where
Irion County, Southeast Portion
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.304, -100.982 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 915 south of Mertzon was closed due to flooding. One motorist had to be rescued when their car stalled in swiftly flowing flood waters.

Flash Flood, Coleman

When
April 26, 3:45 AM CST to 5:45 AM CST
Where
Coleman County, Coleman
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.773, -99.454 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Low water crossings were reported flooded across the city. Two cars were stalled as minor street flooding was also reported.

Flash Flood, Sutton

When
April 26, 4:15 AM CST to 6:15 AM CST
Where
Sutton County, Countywide
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
30.498, -100.538 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads had to be closed when flood waters covered low water crossings.

Flash Flood, Brown

When
April 26, 5:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Brown County, Brownwood
Reported by
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates
31.774, -99.000 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A street intersection in the city of Brownwood became flooded and impassable.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 1999

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: 5695556, 5695554, 5695555, 5695563, 5695557, 5695558, 5695560, 5695561, 5695559, 5695562.