Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, February 15 to 16, 2001

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, February 15 to 16, 2001
Start: 2001-02-15T11:30
End: 2001-02-16T16:00
Location: Texas

February 15 to 16, 2001 · NWS FWD · 30 events in 18 counties and zones

February 15-16 Episode NarrativeA large area of rain, with embedded thunderstorms, moved across Texas. This rain was the result of a slow moving storm system that affected the region.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 29 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: $755,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 30

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 FWD wrote it up.

February 15-16 Episode NarrativeA large area of rain, with embedded thunderstorms, moved across Texas. This rain was the result of a slow moving storm system that affected the region. The rain was widespread and heavy at times. Numerous reports of flash flooding were received, especially from the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex northward.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Fort Worth, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 15, 11:20 AM CST, 10 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Feb 15, 11:20 AM CST, 10 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1120 AM CST THU FEB 15 2001

WILL KEEP FLASH FLOOD WATCH OVER THE EASTERN HALF OF NORTH TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON.  MOST OF THE PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES NORTH OF THE
FRONT CONTINUE TO DECREASE SO DON'T ANTICIPATE TWO TO THREE INCH
RAIN AMOUNTS... HOWEVER...RAINFALL AMOUNTS AROUND AN INCH IN SOME
LOCATIONS WILL PRODUCE LOCALIZED FLOODING AS MANY AREAS ARE NEAR
SATURATION FROM RECENT RAINS. ANTICIPATE ISSUING A FLASH FLOOD WATCH
TONIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN THIRD NEAR THE COLD
FRONT.

WILL ADJUST TEMPS IN ALL GROUPS AND LEAVE POPS HIGH IN THE FIRST
PERIOD.  RAIN MAY LINGER A LITTLBE LONGER OVERNIGHT SO WILL ADJUST
POPS AND WORDING IN THE SECOND PERIOD ACCORDINGLY.

.FTW...FLASH FLOOD WATCH TODAY...ALONG AND EAST OF A
GAINESVILLE...FORT WORTH...MERIDIAN...GATESVILLE LINE.

79

The radar

The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:19 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 flash flood, 3 flood, 1 lightning, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: February 15, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A high water rescue was performed at the 4500 block of Bryce Ave.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: February 15, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain buckled a drainage pipe and collapsed part of the ceiling at the Osteopathic Medical Center. This heavily damaged several offices.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When: February 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Central Portion
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Access roads on Interstate 30 were impassable due to high water.

Flash Flood, Rockwall

When: February 15, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Rockwall County, Central Portion
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Access roads on Interstate 30 were impassable due to high water.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: February 15, 7:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Hopkins

When: February 15, 8:00 PM CST to February 16, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Hopkins County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread heavy rain caused flooding countywide. A high water rescue was performed near Satillo. Several county and farm to market roads were flooded along with Interstate 30 service roads. The water did not begin receding until Friday morning on the 16th.

Flash Flood, Kaufman

When: February 15, 11:00 PM CST
Where: Kaufman County, Crandall
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A bridge was washed out during the night. The washed out bridge stranded 27 families. Time of event is only an estimate.

Lightning, Collin

When: February 16, 12:24 AM CST
Where: Collin County, Plano
Property damage: $750,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning started a fire in a church.

Hail, Coryell

When: February 16, 1:19 AM CST
Where: Coryell County, Pidcoke
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.283, -97.900

Flash Flood, Dallas

When: February 16, 1:25 AM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Collin

When: February 16, 1:34 AM CST
Where: Collin County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous county roads were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Erath

When: February 16, 2:30 AM CST
Where: Erath County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.236, -98.218 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous county roads were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Johnson

When: February 16, 2:45 AM CST
Where: Johnson County, Joshua
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several county roads were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Parker

When: February 16, 2:50 AM CST
Where: Parker County, Whitt
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Farm Market 52 near Whitt was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Palo Pinto

When: February 16, 3:00 AM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Mineral Wells
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.753, -98.313 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous streets were barricaded due to high water.

Flash Flood, Dallas

When: February 16, 3:49 AM CST
Where: Dallas County, Dallas
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread flooding in the northwest part of Dallas. Several people were stranded in cars.

Flash Flood, Collin

When: February 16, 3:51 AM CST
Where: Collin County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over 13 county roads were closed by high water.

Flash Flood, Parker

When: February 16, 3:53 AM CST
Where: Parker County, 7 mi E of Dennis
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A county road in Tin Top was closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Johnson

When: February 16, 3:55 AM CST
Where: Johnson County, Venus
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water was reported over a bridge. Several county roads were closed.

Flash Flood, Ellis

When: February 16, 4:30 AM CST
Where: Ellis County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous county and farm to market roads were closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Ellis

When: February 16, 5:45 AM CST
Where: Ellis County, Palmer
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A woman had to be rescued when her car was swept off Palmyra Road, just past a bridge over Red Oak Creek.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When: February 16, 5:55 AM CST
Where: Hunt County, Greenville
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain throughout the morning caused widespread flash flooding in Greenville and surrounding areas. Many county and farm to market roads were washed out and numerous high water rescues were necessary.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When: February 16, 5:55 AM CST
Where: Hunt County, 7 mi S of Caddo Mills
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A car was swept off F.M. 1565 south of Highway 276.

Flash Flood, Bosque

When: February 16, 7:33 AM CST
Where: Bosque County, Valley Mills
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.900, -97.634 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A high water rescue was performed on the Bosque/McLennan county line. A school bus with 4 persons was stranded in high water.

Flash Flood, Lamar

When: February 16, 8:00 AM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Lamar County, Countywide
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.667, -95.571 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Schools were closed all day across the county due to high water.

Flood, Parker

When: February 16, 8:20 AM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Clear Fork of the Trinity River was out of its banks.

Flood, Parker

When: February 16, 8:20 AM CST
Where: Parker forecast zone
Reported by: NWS EMPLOYEE(OFF DUTY)
Coordinates: 32.778, -97.805 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

The Clear Fork of the Trinity River was reported out of its banks.

Flash Flood, Denton

When: February 16, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Denton County, Denton
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hickory Creek in south Denton was out of its banks. This covered a bridge over the creek.

Flash Flood, Wise

When: February 16, 12:15 PM CST
Where: Wise County, 1 mi N of Paradise
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.216, -97.654 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A high water rescue was necessary on F.M. 3259 at the Trinity River crossing. Several other roads in the area were closed due to high water.

Flood, Somervell

When: February 16, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Somervell forecast zone
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.222, -97.774 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Farm Market 200 was closed at the Paluxy River crossing due to high water released from Lake Granbury. Several county roads were closed due to high water from this release.

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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

Every storm in Texas in 2001 Every state in 2001 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, February 2001

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: 5232284, 5232285, 5232168, 5232169, 5232286, 5232395, 5232396, 5232289, 5232294, 5232290, 5232292, 5232295, 5232298, 5232296, 5232401, 5232291, 5232293, 5232297, 5232400, 5232397, 5232398, 5232302, 5232303, 5232300, 5232287, 5232301, 5232402, 5232299, 5232399, 5232288.