Name: Flooding in Texas, October 13 to 27, 2003
Start: 2003-10-13T09:00
End: 2003-10-27T12:00
Location: Texas

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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: $22 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 6

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 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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 13, 8:25 AM CST, 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Oct 13, 8:25 AM CST, 35 minutes before

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Hazardous weather outlook, Oct 13, 5:00 AM CST, 4 hours before

TXZ248>257-141100-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
600 AM CDT MON OCT 13 2003

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE..TODAY AND TONIGHT.

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR PORTIONS OF DEEP SOUTH
TEXAS UNTIL 4 PM TODAY. THE LIKELIHOOD EXISTS FOR AN
EXTENSIONS OF THE WATCH THROUGH TONIGHT AND TUESDAY. NUMEROUS SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN CONTINUE OVER THE WATCH AREA EARLY
THIS MORNING AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE DAY. WITH
MANY AREAS OF DEEP SOUTH TEXAS OVER-SATURATED BY DOWNPOURS
YESTERDAY...ANY ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL JUST EXACERBATE FLOODING.
WITH VERY HEAVY RAINFALL HAVE BEEN MOVING ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TEXAS
THROUGH EARLY MORNING AND ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THIS
AFTERNOON. RAINFALL AMOUNTS TODAY WILL AVERAGE 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH
HIGHER AMOUNTS IN ISOLATED AREAS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.

WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY ON TUESDAY AND
WEDNESDAY...THE THREAT FOR FLOODING WILL CONTINUE. A DRYING TREND
WILL BEGIN THURSDAY NIGHT WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH THE DEEP SOUTH TEXAS ON FRIDAY AND CONTINUING THE DRYING
TREND INTO THE WEEKEND.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT.

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS LIKELY TODAY...TONIGHT AND TUESDAY.

59

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Brooks

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Brooks forecast zone
Property damage: $1.2 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 27.032, -98.219 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

Flood, Cameron

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Cameron forecast zone
Property damage: $4.5 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 26.152, -97.453 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

Flood, Hidalgo

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Hidalgo forecast zone
Property damage: $9.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 26.397, -98.181 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

Flood, Starr

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Starr forecast zone
Property damage: $7.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 26.562, -98.738 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

Flood, Willacy

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Willacy forecast zone
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 26.477, -97.592 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

Flood, Jim Hogg

When: October 13, 9:00 AM CST to October 27, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Jim Hogg forecast zone
Property damage: $150,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 27.043, -98.697 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo county received over 13 inches of rain, Harlingen received 11 inches, with 10 inches falling at Mc Cook and Falfurrias. Unofficial reports of 14 inches of rain falling over southern Brooks county. The heavy rains over Starr county caused a rise of Los Olmos Creek. The creek crested at 13 feet at Rio Grande City, on Oct 14, flood stage is 10 feet. The creek quickly fell from flood stage that same afternoon. Numerous homes along Los Olmos Creek suffered water damage. The heavy rains across the rest of Deep South Texas caused flooding over mostly low lying, flood prone areas.Over 550 homes across Deep South Texas suffered minor to moderate damage due to the rising flood waters. The flooding in Brooks county resulted in the closure of U.S. Highway 281 for several days. Emergency shelters were established in Hidalgo, Brooks and Starr counties to house evacuees.

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 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, October 2003

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 2026-09-30. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5327836, 5327837, 5327927, 5327928, 5379762, 5379804.