Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, August 16 to 20, 2005

Minor to moderate rural flooding occurred along the Brazos River and its tributaries in Knox and Baylor counties on August 16-18. The Brazos River at Seymour, TX crested at approximately 18.6 feet, 6.6 feet above flood stage, at 11:00 am CST on August 17, and remained above flood stage from 7:00 am CST on August 16 to 12:00 am CST on August 19.Millers Creek, a tributary to the Brazos River that runs northward into southern Baylor, also saw heavy rainfall. Rainfall totals of 7 to 10+ inches fell over the headwaters of Millers Creek which is upstream of the Millers Creek Reservoir that straddles the Throckmorton/Baylor county line. Major inflows into Millers Creek Reservoir caused the lake elevation to rise above the conservation pool elevation and eventually the emergency spillway elevation. Millers Creek Reservoir crested at a record elevation of 1342.52 feet MSL at 12:00 pm CST on August 18. The flood flows from Millers Creek eventually traveled into the Brazos River, and exacerbated flooding on the Brazos River in extreme southern Baylor County, and at points further downstream.A second round of flooding also occurred along the South Wichita and Wichita Rivers on August 16-17 (first round Aug. 14-15). Minor rural flooding occurred again along these rivers. The South Wichita River in Knox County near Benjamin, TX had a second flood crest of 14.5 feet which occurred at 1:00 pm CST on August 16, and remained above flood stage from 1:30 am CST to 9:45 pm CST on August 16. The Wichita River in Baylor county near Seymour, TX and just upstream of Lake Kemp had a second, higher crest of 16.5 feet which occurred at 5 pm CST on August 16. The river remained above flood stage from 9:00 am CST on August 16 to 9:00 am CST August 17. The heavy runoff from the Wichita and South Wichita Rivers was beneficial for the Wichita Falls area as the reservoir levels at Lake Kemp rose to within a foot of the conservation pool level.The Little Wichita River basin in Archer and Clay counties also saw significant rises during mid August. The reservoir levels increased at both Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead. Moderate to major flooding occurred along the Little Wichita River in Archer County between Lake Kickapoo and Lake Arrowhead near Archer City, TX on August 16-19. The Wichita River crested at 25.37 feet (flood stage unknown) at 7:00 am CST on August 17. This flood crest was the tenth highest crest of record at the USGS gage site. The flooding occurred from 6:00 pm CST on August 16 to 12:00 pm CST on August 19.Moderate to major rural flooding also occurred along the Little Wichita River in Clay County near Henrietta, TX on August 16-20. The Little Wichita River crested at 23.5 feet, 6.5 feet above flood stage, at 8:30 pm CST on August 18, and remained above flood stage from 11:00 am CST on August 16 to 3:30 am CST on August 20. Some secondary roads and agricultural lands near the river were inundated during this period.

At 5:50 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that water was running into houses in downtown Munday due to localized flash flooding. Emergency management personnel in Munday assisted stranded motorists during the flash flooding, and helped rescue dogs from a local veterinarian clinic that were stranded in floodwaters up to 1.5 feet high.

At 5:50 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that water had run into some homes in Knox City during this period.

At 6:42 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that a car was stalled in high water on Texas State Highway 114, one mile southeast of Megargel.

At 7:30 am CST, a county law enforcement official reported that Texas State Highway 267 was completely under water due to flooding from the Brazos River, 7 miles north-northwest of Munday, TX, and that all roads in the county were closed due to high water.

At 7:40 am CST, a county law enforcement official reported that Texas State Highway 114 was closed between Seymour and 3 miles southeast of Seymour due to high water along Rock Creek and Little Rock Creek.

The Texas Department of Transportation reported that Texas State Highway 422 was closed due to floodwaters along Godwin Creek, 17 miles east of Seymour near the Archer County line.

The Baylor County Emergency Manager reported flooding along Seymour Creek through the east side of Seymour. Seymour Creek inundated local roads and half of Seymour City Park in Seymour.

At 9:10 am CST and 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that Texas State Highway 210 was closed due to floodwaters from the Middle Fork of the Little Wichita River, 9 miles west of Archer City, and the South Fork of the Little River, 2 miles west of Archer City.

At 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that Texas State Highway 422 was closed due to floodwaters along Briar Creek and Kickapoo Creek 14 miles west of Archer City.

At 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that Texas Farm Road 368 was closed due to floodwaters along Panther Creek, 4 miles south of Holliday, TX.

At 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that one lane on U.S. Highway 287 near Texas Farm Road 369 was closed due to floodwaters from the West Fork of Pond Creek, 2 miles east of Iowa Park. One vehicle had also been washed off of U.S. Highway 287.

At 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that U.S. Highway 183 was closed due to high water along Millers Creek, 9 miles south of Seymour, TX.

At 10:30 am CST, the Texas Department of Transportation reported that Texas Farm Road 2070 was closed due to floodwaters along several creeks, including Lake Creek, 3 miles north of Bomarton, TX.

At 10:45 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that Texas State Highway 222 was closed by floodwaters along Lake Creek, 3 miles southeast of Munday, TX.

At 10:45 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that Texas Farm Road 2365 was closed due to 3 feet of water over roadway from a local creek 4 miles east of Knox City, TX.

At 11:15 am CST and 11:55 am CST, a local law enforcement official reported that U.S. Highway 287 was closed due to high water along Bennett Creek 1.5 miles and 4 miles southeast of Jolly, TX. At 1:20 pm CST, a county emergency management official reported that the southbound lane was still closed on U.S. Highway 287 due to the high water.

At 1:20 pm CST, a county emergency management official reported that Texas Farm Road 2393 was closed due to high water 6 to 8 inches deep near a local creek, 4 miles south of Jolly, TX.