Flash Flood in Texas, March 22 to 23, 2000

Flash flooding occurred over parts of Mitchell County especially on rural roads north of Colorado City. From the extreme rains in the region, the Colorado River quickly rose above flood stage. Parts of Colorado City became flooded as the river came out of its banks. The flood crest of 28.57 feet (over 13 feet above flood stage) on the 24th was the highest flood stage since the Lake J.B. Thomas Dam was constructed.Overall Synopsis...A strong upper level low pressure system was approaching the region, while frontal boundaries and outflow boundaries served as a focus for development at the surface. In Snyder, many churches combined for a prayer for rain at the local civic center on the evening of the 22nd. Storms pounded the local area during the service. Training supercells from near Snyder to the southwest past McCamey pummeled the area for about 10 hours. Radar rain totals in this area exceeded 6 inches over a path of 150 miles in length and about 20 miles in width. A few areas received close to 10 inches overnight. Lake Colorado City drew in around 4.9 billion gallons of water (15,000 acre feet), sending the lake up 12.6 feet. The lake rose from 40% capacity to 91.8% capacity (only 20 inches from the top of the spillway) from this one event.