On Friday September 17th, 2010, Hurricane Karl made landfall over central Mexico near Veracruz nearly 600 miles south of Corpus Christi Texas. However, well to the north of Karl, a very moist tropical air mass resided and became the focus for a significant rainfall event.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS CRP wrote it up.
On Friday September 17th, 2010, Hurricane Karl made landfall over central Mexico near Veracruz nearly 600 miles south of Corpus Christi Texas. However, well to the north of Karl, a very moist tropical air mass resided and became the focus for a significant rainfall event. This rain event resulted in record flooding on Oso Creek in Corpus Christi, one flash flood fatality, and the flooding of numerous streets, homes, and vehicles along the immediate Texas coastline.
On Sunday September 19th, a low pressure trough developed along the mid Texas coast and interacted with an upper level disturbance which focused the heaviest rainfall over Corpus Christi, Sinton, and Rockport. The heaviest rains occurred between 900 AM and 300 PM Sunday in which up to 7 inches of rain was recorded. These heavy rains caused widespread street flooding and road closures in Aransas, San Patricio, Nueces, and Kleberg Counties. Many homes in Corpus Christi were flooded, especially in the neighborhoods near the intersection of Holly and Greenwood. On Monday September 20th, another 1 to 2 inches of rainfall were recorded.
Runoff from these heavy rains flowed into Oso Creek, which runs along the southwest edge of Corpus Christi. The only gaging site on Oso Creek, located on FM 763 about 2 miles west of town, recorded a rapid rise up to 28 feet on Sunday, before it stopped working. A post storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey confirmed the creek crested at 30.62 feet around 805 AM Monday morning which beat the previous record of 29.37 feet set back on August 10th, 1980 during Hurricane Allen.
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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 18, 10:52 PM CST, 3 hours 8 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX
1152 PM CDT SAT SEP 18 2010
.DISCUSSION...SEE AVIATION SECTION FOR 06Z TAFS.
&&
.AVIATION...DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL LEAD TO PERIODIC
SHOWERS AND MVFR CIGS/VSBYS WITH SPORADIC IFR/LIFR CIGS AND
VSBYS THROUGH LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MAY SEE SOME DECREASE
IN PRECIP ACROSS THE VCT AREA BY LATE AFTERNOON BUT MVFR
CIGS SHOULD HOLD THERE.
&&
.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1010 PM CDT SAT SEP 18 2010/
DISCUSSION...LATEST MSAS ANALYSIS SHOWS EASTERLY FLOW OF 20-25
KNOTS OFFSHORE INCREASING THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONVERGENCE ALONG
THE COAST. 00Z CRP SOUNDING SHOWED SATURATED LAYER UP TO 500 MB
WITH EASTERLY FLOW OF 30-35 KNOTS FROM 1 KFT TO 20 KFT. EXPECT
CONTINUED EASTERLY FEED OF RICH TROPICAL MOISTURE WITH PWAT VALUES
OF 2.7 TO 2.8 INCHES THROUGH SUNDAY AS SURFACE TROUGH SLOWLY MOVES
INLAND. THE MID LEVEL TROUGH AXIS WILL REMAIN ALONG THE COAST WITH
ADEQUATE UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF
25H JET AXIS OVER SOUTHEAST TEXAS. THIS WILL KEEP THREAT OF HEAVY
RAIN ALONG THE COAST AND WILL KEEP FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR THE
COASTAL COUNTIES THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON THE SAME AS ADDITIONAL 2
TO 3 INCHES OF RAIN WILL BE POSSIBLE. NO CHANGES TO EARLIER UPDATE
PACKAGE.
MARINE...00Z CRP SOUNDING SHOWED STRONG EASTERLY FLOW OF 30
KNOTS OFF THE SURFACE AND WINDS HAVE BEEN A BIT STRONGER OVER
THE GULF WATERS WITH AN OCCASIONAL INCREASE TO SCA LEVELS
OVER THE BAYS WITHIN RAIN AREAS. WILL SHOW SCA FOR WINDS TO
CONTINUE INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH A SLOW DECREASE OVER
THE GULF WATERS TOWARD MORNING TO BELOW SCA LEVELS BUT SEAS
WILL CONTINUE IN THE 7 TO 8 FEET RANGE THROUGH SUNDAY.
TIDES...TIDES LEVELS AND BAY LEVELS CONTINUE TO RUN FROM
1.25 TO 1.5 FEET ABOVE EXPECTED THIS EVENING...WITH CURRENT
READINGS ALONG THE COAST AT ABOUT 1.5 FEET MSL WHILE THE BAYS
ARE AT 1.5 TO 1.8 FEET MSL. WITH MODEST EASTERLY FLOW CONTINUING
TONIGHT AND LEVELS GOING BACK UP TOWARD HIGH TIDE...EXPECT THE
WATER WILL BE A LITTLE HIGHER THAN THE 2.2 FEET AT BOB HALL
AND PORT O'CONNOR EARLIER TODAY...MAY BE CLOSER TO 2.5 FEET
MSL AT THE AREA BEACHES. BAY LEVELS WILL LIKELY BE ABOVE 2
FEET IN AREAS NORTH OF PACKERY CHANNEL. COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY
WILL CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...AND MAY NEED TO BE
EXTENDED FOR THE BAYS AS WATER LEVELS WILL BE SLOWER TO RECEDE.
PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 658 PM CDT SAT SEP 18 2010/
DISCUSSION...AS DEEP TROPICAL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO FEED INTO
SOUTH TEXAS WITH THE SURFACE TROUGH SLOWLY MOVING INLAND ALONG
THE COAST...WILL RAISE POPS TO CATEGORICAL FOR THE COASTAL PLAINS
AND COASTAL WATERS. LOOP OF KCRP RADAR INDICATES A CIRCULATION
MOVING INLAND SOUTH OF BAFFIN BAY. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW GUSTS
BETWEEN 28-30 KNOTS ALONG THE COAST WITH THE HEAVIER RAIN BANDS
WITH SUSTAINED WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS. THERE WILL BE PERIODS OF
HEAVY RAIN MIXED IN WITH LARGER AREAS OF LIGHT PRECIP THROUGH THE
EVENING ALONG THE COAST. MOISTURE CONVERGENCE INCREASES ALONG THE
COAST AGAIN DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND RAISE POPS TO CATEGORICAL
IN THIS REGION. NO CHANGES TO FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONFIGURATION.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
CORPUS CHRISTI 76 85 76 85 77 / 80 80 50 60 40
VICTORIA 74 87 74 88 75 / 70 60 30 40 30
LAREDO 76 88 75 91 77 / 60 60 50 50 30
ALICE 74 86 75 86 75 / 80 80 50 60 30
ROCKPORT 75 85 77 85 76 / 80 80 50 60 40
COTULLA 73 85 72 89 75 / 60 50 40 40 30
KINGSVILLE 75 86 76 86 76 / 80 80 50 60 30
NAVY CORPUS 77 85 79 85 79 / 80 80 50 60 40
&&
.CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARANSAS...CALHOUN...KLEBERG...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN
PATRICIO.
COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY UNTIL 5 PM CDT SUNDAY FOR THE FOLLOWING
ZONES: ARANSAS...CALHOUN...KLEBERG...NUECES...REFUGIO...SAN
PATRICIO.
GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 5 AM CDT SUNDAY FOR THE
FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT
ARANSAS OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO
MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY
TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS
TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 10 AM CDT SUNDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT
ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO
MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 5 AM CDT SUNDAY
FOR THE FOLLOWING ZONES: COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO
PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM...COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS
TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM.
&&
TMT/89...SHORT TERM/AVIATIONHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 258 PM CDT SAT SEP 18 2010 GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-TXZ229>234-239>247-191100- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT O'CONNOR- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM-LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- 258 PM CDT SAT SEP 18 2010 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH TONIGHT. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL COUNTIES OF SAN PATRICIO...NUECES...KLEBERG...ARANSAS... REFUGIO AND CALHOUN THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY BETWEEN BAFFIN BAY AND THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL. TROPICAL FUNNELS AND WATERSPOUTS ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE MARINE AREAS THROUGH TONIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TODAY FOR HIGH SWELLS. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS NEAR THE COAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HIGH SWELLS IS EXPECTED TO END AROUND NOON ON SUNDAY. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON FOR THE COASTAL COUNTIES MENTIONED IN THE DAY 1 OUTLOOK. THE COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE IS ALSO A LOW POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED WATERSPOUTS AND WEAK TORNADOES THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED THIS AFTERNOON OR TONIGHT. GW
The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 19 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 07:57 UTC.
20 flash flood, 6 flood, 3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.
Rainfall amounts of 7 inches occurred in the Kings Crossing subdivision with a two day rainfall total at 10.15 inches.
Rainfall total of nearly 3 inches in the past 8 hours.
Rainfall amount of 4.5 inches with 2.5 inches in 1 hour between 3 and 4 PM.|Water was over the roads but passable.
Shelly Blvd. between Ailsie Avenue and General Cavazos Boulevard barricaded due to water over the roadway.
Tranquitas Creek flooded and overflowed 17th Street near the Lee Avenue intersection. 17th Street was barricaded near this intersection. The intersection of 14th Street and King Avenue was barricaded due to high water.
The swollen Petronila Creek generated 4 feet of water over County Road 18 between CR 73 and 73B.
Widespread flooding occurred in the Las Colonias subdivision in Corpus Christi. 171 homes received damage from the flooding with 55 homes being considered major and 2 homes destroyed. Flood water depth in the homes ranged from 1/2 foot to 4 feet in this area. One hundred and twenty five residents in the subdivision were rescued and transported to an American Red Cross shelter.
Flooding across the entire county caused damage to roads and infrastructure. Flooding also damaged a hotel in Aransas Pass with 23 rooms receiving damage. A total of 78 homes were flooded in the cities of Sinton, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass. Sixteen residents in Sinton were evacuated from their homes during the flooding. 17 homes and 3 business were affected by flooding in Ingleside.
Intersection of FM 2444 and Highway 286 north of Chapman Ranch under a foot of water.
South bound Interstate 37 closed at Carbon Plant Road Underpass. Underpass flooded with cars stalled.
County Road 69 between Robstown and Calallen had over a foot of water over the road.
FM 1717 east of Highway 77 closed along the intersection with Escondido Creek.
Great Lakes Drive in the Lakes subdivision residential area on the south side of Corpus Christi completely covered with water.
Highway 188 closed between Sinton and Interstate 37 with 2 feet of water over portions of the roadway.
Roads flooded and impassible around the Rockport High School area. Some vehicles needed assistance getting out of the flooded roadways.
Highway 181 and Highway 35 closed due to high water in Gregory. FM 1069 closed North of Ingleside due to water over the roadway.
FM 1944 and FM 631 to Highway 77 to the south of Sinton and east of Odem closed due to high water.
Frontage road along Highway 44 about 3 miles west of the Corpus Christi International Airport impassable due to high water. Some of the homes on the north side of the highway were flooded.
Street flooding in Beeville with some roads closed including Adams Street and Tyler Street. Average reports of 4 to 6 inches of water in some places.
Water over the roadways of FM 774 and Highway 35 along Artesian Creek.
FM 1360 closed southeast of Woodsboro due to flooding.
A 35 year old male drove around a barricade at Weber Road and the flooded Oso Creek. The vehicle was swept 50 yards downstream where he drowned.
Area around Weber Road and Yorktown intersection closed.
FM 1069 from State Highway 188 to Business 35 is closed due to high water.
High water closed FM 629 from FM 136 to FM 3037 southeast of Woodsboro.
Water over the road on State Highway 44 near San Diego.
FM 796 closed due to high water from FM 888 to State Highway 359.
Several roads closed due to flood along Oso Creek. FM 43, FM 763, and FM 2444 closed at Oso Creek. Runoff from heavy rains flowed into Oso Creek which runs along the southwest edge of Corpus Christi. The gaging site on Oso Creek, located on FM 763 about 2 miles west of town, recorded a rapid rise up to 28 feet on Sunday before it stopped working. A post storm survey conducted by the National Weather Service and United States Geological Survey confirmed the creek crested at 30.62 feet around 805 AM Monday morning which beat the previous record of 29.37 feet set in August 1980 during Hurricane Allen.
Road closed due to high water on FM 665 from FM 2292 to FM 763. The frontage road on US Highway 77 closed between County Roads 44 and 48.
As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.
| Event | Date | Age | Sex | Where | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Flood, Nueces | 2010-09-20 | 35 | Male | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, September 2010
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: 261303, 261304, 261305, 261190, 261192, 261195, 264451, 264457, 261199, 261202, 261207, 261257, 261589, 261252, 261292, 261293, 261294, 261595, 261295, 261598, 261600, 261301, 261299, 261300, 261306, 261307, 261308, 261604, 261605.