Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, January 24 to 25, 2012

Name: Flash Flooding and Flooding in Texas, January 24 to 25, 2012
Start: 2012-01-24T14:00
End: 2012-01-25T15:00
Location: Texas

January 24 to 25, 2012 · NWS FWD · 21 events in 14 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: 2
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $411,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 21

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.

Rich low level moisture combined with increasing warm air advection and a very slow moving upper level low resulted in a heavy rainfall event that began during the afternoon of the 24th and ended from west to east during the day on the 25th. An average of 2-5 of rain fell across North Texas with isolated higher amounts. The flooding was the most significant in Tarrant County, but an 18-wheeler was swept down a creek in Erath County. A fatality occurred in Hunt County due to hydroplaning. The extended rainfall event contributed to an above normal month for precipitation which immensely improved the drought conditions across the region and helped fill area water supplies.

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 Jan 24, 12:07 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jan 24, 12:07 PM CST, 1 hour 53 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1207 PM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

.AVIATION...
/18Z TAFS/

CONCERNS...TIMING OF CIGS/VSBY/THUNDER.

SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE INVADING FROM THE SOUTH...WITH THUNDER
POTENTIAL INCREASING THIS EVENING.

METROPLEX...
MAIN CONVECTIVE EVENT STILL APPEARS TO BE 08-12Z (2-6 AM CST) FOR
THE METROPLEX. RAIN SHOULD TAPER OFF BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. CEILINGS
WILL GRADUALLY DETERIORATE TODAY...BECOMING IFR BY EARLY EVENING.
IFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL BEYOND END OF CURRENT TAF PERIODS.
REDUCTIONS IN VSBY WILL ACCOMPANY PRECIP...BUT BR WILL ALSO BE
WIDESPREAD THIS EVENING THROUGH THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY.

WACO...
MVFR CIGS ALREADY IN PLACE...WITH PASSING SHOWERS. SOME ISOLATED
THUNDER POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON...BUT MAIN ACTIVITY WILL BE THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. IN THE WARM SECTOR...WACO WILL SEE
IMPROVEMENT TO MVFR BY MID-MORNING WEDNESDAY. ALTHOUGH MAIN
(POTENTIALLY SEVERE) EVENT STILL APPEARS TO BE LATE NIGHT THROUGH
DAYBREAK...LAGGING SURFACE LOW MAY KEEP CHANCES FOR SEVERE STORMS
THROUGH MIDDAY WEDNESDAY.

25

&&

.UPDATE...
OVERALL THE CURRENT FORECAST FOR TODAY WAS ON TRACK BUT THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT CHANGE WAS TO INCREASE TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION.
DESPITE LOW CLOUD COVER THIS MORNING...TEMPERATURES ARE WARMING
FASTER THAN WAS EXPECTED AND WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO WARM INTO THE
AFTERNOON HOURS DESPITE INCREASING RAINFALL AND CONTINUED CLOUD
COVER. INCREASED TEMPERATURES ABOUT 4 TO 5 DEGREES ACROSS THE
BOARD.

SCATTERED SHOWERS CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH THROUGH THE SOUTHERN
COUNTIES OF NORTH TEXAS THIS MORNING. ADDITIONAL RAIN ACTIVITY IS
INCREASING IN COVERAGE ACROSS THE HILL COUNTRY AND THE TEXAS
COAST...ALSO MOVING NORTH. THE WARM FRONT HAS MADE LITTLE PROGRESS
NORTH SO FAR THIS MORNING BUT THE WESTERN END OF THE FRONT HAS
STARTED TO MOVE NORTH IN RESPONSE TO CYCLOGENESIS OVER WEST TEXAS.
THE OVERALL THINKING OF HOW THE PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSPIRE TODAY
THROUGH TONIGHT IS LARGELY UNCHANGED. WE EXPECT THAT SHOWERS AND
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH ACROSS OUR AREA
WITH THE GREATEST CHANCES FOR RAIN LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
EVENING. DURING THE EVENING...THIS FIRST ROUND OF RAIN WILL HAVE
PUSHED NORTH TOWARDS THE RED RIVER AND THERE WILL LIKELY BE A DRY
PERIOD DURING THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. HOWEVER...A SQUALL
LINE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEST OF OUR REGION THIS EVENING AND
MARCH EAST OR SOUTHEAST OVERNIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. THE
PARTICULARS OF WHEN THIS MCS WILL ARRIVE AND EXACTLY WHAT AREA THE
MCS WILL COVER ARE STILL UNCLEAR BUT WILL MAINTAIN HIGH POPS IN THE
OVERNIGHT PERIOD.

REGARDING THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT OVER NORTH TEXAS...THE
CONVECTION FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY WILL REMAIN ELEVATED BUT
SMALL HAIL MAY BE POSSIBLE OUT OF STRONGER STORMS THIS EVENING.
THE WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BE OVER OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES THIS
EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AND THUS THIS AREA PRESENTS THE GREATEST
SEVERE WEATHER THREAT OVERNIGHT. AS THE MCS APPROACHES...STORMS
SOUTH OF THE FRONT WILL LIKELY BECOME SURFACE BASED AND WITH EAST
WINDS AT THE SURFACE...THE WINDS WILL BE FAVORABLE FOR ISOLATED
TORNADO DEVELOPMENT. THE LATEST CONVECTIVE DAY 1 OUTLOOK FROM SPC
LINES UP WELL WITH OUR THINKING THAT SEVERE AND POSSIBLY TORNADIC
STORMS MAY OCCUR SOUTH OF A LINE FROM COMANCHE TO WACO TO
CENTERVILLE. ELSEWHERE... HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE
MAIN THREATS DUE TO THE ELEVATED NATURE OF THE STORMS.
HOWEVER...THE ACTUAL LOCATION OF THE WARM FRONT WILL BE A KEY
FACTOR IN WHERE SURFACE BASED STORMS WILL OCCUR.

82/JLD

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 436 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012/
WATER VAPOR SHOWS COMPACT UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE NOW BEGINNING TO
MOVE INTO SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO. THIS SYSTEM WILL CLOSE OFF AND
INTENSIFY DURING THE DAY...BECOMING A FORMIDABLE UPPER LEVEL LOW
THAT CROSSES THROUGH THE STATE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. IN A GENERAL
SENSE THE FORECAST IS RATHER EASY...IT IS GOING TO RAIN. TRYING
TO GLEAN MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION FROM THE MODELS...SUCH AS RAIN
AMOUNTS...TIMING...CONVECTIVE MODE...AND SEVERE THREAT IS MUCH
MORE DIFFICULT DUE TO POOR AGREEMENT. THE NAM SUGGESTS A SLOWER
EVOLUTION OF THE EVENT...WITH HEAVIEST QPF AXIS IN THE WESTERN
CWA. GFS IS FASTER...BUT HAS HIGHEST QPF OF 3-4 INCHES IN THE
EASTERN CWA. ECMWF IS IN BETWEEN. THIS FORECAST WILL PUT A LOT OF
EMPHASIS IN THE SOLUTIONS OFFERED BY SEVERAL OF THE HI-RES WRF
NMM/ARW MODELS...WHICH ARE FAST WITH THE PROGRESSION OF THE MAIN
LINE OF CONVECTION. BASED ON THE LATEST TRENDS AND OBS IT LOOKS
LIKE MORE INSTABILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS SYSTEM...WHICH
ALLOWS FOR CONVECTIVE COLD POOLS TO DEVELOP AND HELPS TO KEEP
STORM COMPLEXES FROM TRAINING. THUS MY CONCERN FOR HEAVY RAINFALL
IS LESSENING SOMEWHAT...BUT THE CONCERN FOR SEVERE WEATHER IS
INCREASING SOUTH OF A COMANCHE TO HILLSBORO TO CANTON LINE.

A WARM FRONT HAS DEVELOPED OVERNIGHT ALONG THE TEXAS COAST. TO
THE SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT...UNSEASONABLY HIGH DEWPOINTS IN THE
LOW 70S WERE FOUND IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS...WITH EVEN A 74F READING
AT BUOY 002. AS LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY FLOW INTENSIFIES IN RESPONSE
TO THE APPROACHING UPPER SYSTEM...THIS VERY RICH GULF MOISTURE
WILL BE LIFTED ISENTROPICALLY UP AND OVER THE FRONT. SCATTERED
CONVECTION WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THIS SURGE OF
HIGH THETA-E AIR AT 850 MB. THIS ACTIVITY SHOULD ARRIVE INTO THE
SOUTHERN ZONES EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...AND CONTINUE TO EXPAND AND
MARCH NORTH INTO THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA BY SUNSET. THIS BROAD
WEST-EAST SWATH OF SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED
STORMS WILL CONTINUE TO LIFT NORTH AND OUT OF THE AREA BY MID
EVENING WITH A LIKELY LULL IN RAIN COVERAGE FROM MID-LATE EVENING.

MEANWHILE UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL BE MOVING INTO WEST TEXAS...WHILE
THE SURFACE WARM FRONT SHOULD ADVANCE NORTH TO SJT-CLL-BPT LINE BY
MIDNIGHT. SURFACE BASED INSTABILITY ON THE ORDER OF 1000 J/KG
WILL BE PRESENT TO THE SOUTH OF THE WARM FRONT WHERE SUFFICIENT
SHEAR IS AVAILABLE FOR SEVERE CONVECTIVE MODES. THE HI-RES MODELS
ARE DEVELOPING A MCS /OR SQUALL LINE/ IN THE HILL COUNTRY TONIGHT.
MOTION OF THIS SYSTEM WOULD BE EAST AND NORTHEAST...WITH IT
ROLLING INTO THE CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT...LIKELY REACHING THE I-35
CORRIDOR BY 6 AM...AND CONTINUING EAST AND OUT OF THE AREA BY
NOON. DEPENDING ON HOW FAR NORTH THE WARM FRONT MAKES IT WILL ALSO
DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF THE SEVERE WEATHER THREAT. IT APPEARS THE
SOUTHERN ZONES WILL GET INTO THE WARM SECTOR...WITH DAMAGING WINDS
ALONG THIS SQUALL LINE THE MAIN THREAT EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. IT
SHOULD BE NOTED THE HI-RES MODELS BRING THE SURFACE LOW THROUGH
THE SOUTHERN ZONES AND LOW LEVEL WINDS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BACKED...
CREATING LARGE VALUES OF LOW LEVEL SHEAR FOR POSSIBLE TORNADOES.
NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT...SEVERE THREAT IS LOW WITH THE LINE OF
STORMS LIKELY A BIT ELEVATED. CONCERNING HEAVY RAIN...PWATS REACH
1.5 INCHES WHICH IS EXTREMELY HIGH FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR AND
STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF DOWNPOURS. THE MAIN QUESTION IS WHETHER
THIS WILL BE A GOOD SETUP FOR CELL TRAINING...AND HI-RES MODELS
SUGGEST IT WILL NOT BE AS SQUALL LINE KEEPS A HEALTHY EASTWARD
MOTION. FOR QPF...WILL KEEP AMOUNTS BROAD...EXPECTING 1-2 INCHES
WEST OF I-35 AND 2-3 INCHES ALONG AND EAST OF I-35. THIS IS BELOW
FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE...AND THUS NO FLOOD WATCH WILL BE ISSUED.

AS THE MAIN LINE OF RAIN/STORMS MOVES EAST WEDNESDAY MORNING...
ATMOSPHERE SHOULD BE FAIRLY WORKED OVER IN OUR AREA. IN ADDITION
A DRY SLOT MOVES INTO THE AREA...AND EXPECT LITTLE TO NO RAIN FOR
MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING HOURS. COOLER AIR MOVES
INTO THE AREA ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE SURFACE LOW AND TEMPS WILL
HOLD IN THE 50S FOR HIGHS WEDNESDAY. BUT AS THE UPPER LOW MOVES
OVER THE CWA...WRAP AROUND RAIN WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP AND AFFECT
PRIMARILY THE NORTHWESTERN HALF OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WRAP
AROUND RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY BEFORE SLIDING EAST.
THURSDAY WILL BE DAMP/COOL WITH HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOW 50S.

CLEARING IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR THURSDAY NIGHT WITH LOWS DROPPING
OFF INTO THE 30S BY FRIDAY MORNING. WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON
POSSIBLE FOG FOR FRIDAY MORNING WITH THE CLEARING SKIES AND DAMP
GROUND. OTHERWISE FRIDAY SHOULD BE PLEASANT WITH MORE SUNSHINE.
NEXT FRONT ARRIVES FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH BREEZY NORTH WINDS SATURDAY
AND A COOL DOWN TO NEAR NORMAL FOR THE WEEKEND. RETURN FLOW BRINGS
MOISTURE AND WARMER TEMPS BACK ON MONDAY...BUT FORECAST STAYS DRY.

TR.92

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX  65  51  55  44  51 /  60 100 100  50  40
WACO, TX              63  54  58  45  52 /  70 100 100  20  30
PARIS, TX             66  50  57  46  52 /  40 100 100  50  50
DENTON, TX            64  48  52  43  51 /  60 100  80  50  40
MCKINNEY, TX          65  50  55  43  51 /  50 100 100  50  40
DALLAS, TX            65  52  57  45  51 /  60 100 100  50  40
TERRELL, TX           66  54  58  45  51 /  60 100 100  30  40
CORSICANA, TX         66  57  62  46  52 /  70 100 100  20  40
TEMPLE, TX            64  55  59  45  54 /  70 100 100  20  20
MINERAL WELLS, TX     62  47  51  42  52 /  60 100  50  50  30

&&

.FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
NONE.

&&

25/82

Hazardous weather outlook, Jan 24, 11:17 AM CST, 2 hours 43 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX
1117 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-251200-
MONTAGUE-COOKE-GRAYSON-FANNIN-LAMAR-YOUNG-JACK-WISE-DENTON-COLLIN-
HUNT-DELTA-HOPKINS-STEPHENS-PALO PINTO-PARKER-TARRANT-DALLAS-
ROCKWALL-KAUFMAN-VAN ZANDT-RAINS-EASTLAND-ERATH-HOOD-SOMERVELL-
JOHNSON-ELLIS-HENDERSON-COMANCHE-MILLS-HAMILTON-BOSQUE-HILL-NAVARRO-
FREESTONE-ANDERSON-LAMPASAS-CORYELL-BELL-MCLENNAN-FALLS-LIMESTONE-
LEON-MILAM-ROBERTSON-
1117 AM CST TUE JAN 24 2012

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH TEXAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

THERE IS A CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS
THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TONIGHT. SOME STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE
TONIGHT...GENERALLY SOUTH OF A COMANCHE TO WACO TO CENTERVILLE LINE.
HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS...WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH AND
ISOLATED TORNADOES ARE ALL POSSIBLE.

HEAVY RAIN IS ALSO POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND COULD RESULT IN LOCALIZED
FLOODING.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY.

ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE EARLY
WEDNESDAY MORNING...PRIMARILY FOR AREAS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 20
AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF QUARTERS AND
WIND GUSTS OF 60 MPH ARE THE PRIMARY HAZARDS...WITH ISOLATED
TORNADOES A POSSIBILITY.

HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY EAST OF INTERSTATE 35
WEDNESDAY...WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOCALIZED FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT MAINLY FOR AREAS SOUTH OF A
COMANCHE TO WACO TO CENTERVILLE LINE.

The radar

The Dyess AFB radar (KDYX), 110 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

12 flood, 3 lightning, 3 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Flood, Erath

When: January 24, 2:00 PM CST to January 25, 8:30 AM CST
Where: Erath County, 0.63 mi SW of Edna Hill to 1.75 mi NNW of Victor
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.943, -98.327

Nearly 19 hours of continuous rain resulted in the flooding of low-lying areas, creeks, streams, and ditches across Erath County. The county received an average of 4-6 of rain. The newspaper also reported that one driver had to be rescued south of Dublin in a flash flood along Resley Creek.

Flood, Hood

When: January 24, 10:00 PM CST to January 25, 9:00 AM CST
Where: Hood County, 3.09 mi NNW of Lipan to 1.13 mi NNE of Cresson
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Law Enforcement
Coordinates: 32.562, -98.067

Nearly 19 hours of continuous rain resulted in the flooding of low-lying areas across Hood County. During the evening hours, many low-lying areas in Tolar and Lipan had to be barricaded. The Sheriff's Office reported that the water was nearly 2 feet deep in a few low-lying areas.

Lightning, Denton

When: January 25, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Denton County, 5.64 mi SE of Navo
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.168, -96.855

Lightning struck a 2-story house on the 10800 block of Stone House Lane in Frisco. The attic and second story of the home were heavily damaged.

Strong Wind, Hopkins

When: January 25, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Hopkins forecast zone
Measured: 26 kt (30 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.150, -95.564 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A tree fell on a home along FM 69 South, and knocked a hole in the roof of the home. Many of the trees in the county had been weakened or killed by the persistent drought that plagued the region for the previous 15 months.

Flood, Tarrant

When: January 25, 2:30 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 1.71 mi NW of Eagle to 4.71 mi NE of Grapevine
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.995, -97.543

Nearly 18 hours of continuous rain resulted in widespread nuisance and low-lying flooding across the county. The county received an average of 3-5 of rain during this event. Several creeks and streams overflowed their banks, flooding the surrounding lands and roads. In addition, several low water crossings filled with water resulting in temporary road closures. One home in Hurst on Hurstview Drive reported water in their house. Five roads in Colleyville had to be closed due to usual low water spots filling with water. In Keller, U.S 377 near Mt Gilead Road had to be closed and so did a part of Bear Creek Parkway. The flooding was the worst in Haltom City where a few high water rescues had to be conducted near Highway 121 and Midway Road and also along Fossil Creek at Glenview Drive. On Cromwell Marine Creek Road in northwest Fort Worth, two cars drove into a flooded low water crossing. One car was swept about 200 feet down the creek. Also in Fort Worth, at least 5 cars stalled at Trinity Boulevard between Precinct Line and Norwood Drive where the water was knee deep.

Flash Flood, Erath

When: January 25, 4:00 AM CST to 6:00 AM CST
Where: Erath County, 3.28 mi N of Edna Hill to 2.69 mi W of Purves
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $7,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.997, -98.327

Part of CR 309, south of Dublin, was closed after Resley Creek overflowed its banks and flooded the road. An 18 wheeler was swept off the road and carried 200 yards downstream. The driver of the truck had to be rescued, and during the rescue the water level rose another 2 feet in 30 minutes. The exact time of the flash flood or rescue could not be obtained, and the time was estimated from radar. The flash flood occurred during an extended period of areal flooding in the area.

Flood, Dallas

When: January 25, 4:30 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, 2.41 mi NNW of Coppell to 2.9 mi WSW of Cedar Hill
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.984, -97.028

Nearly 17 hours of continuous rain resulted in widespread nuisance and low-lying flooding across the county. The county received an average of 3-5 of rain during this event. Several creeks and streams overflowed their banks, flooding the surrounding lands and roads. In addition, several low water crossings filled with water resulting in temporary road closures. One person had to be rescued after a car was swept into a swift moving creek near South Story Street and Ruby Street in Irving. High water was also reported at Loop 635 and Park Central in Dallas, and the frontage road had to be closed. One person had to be rescued from this location after she drove into the flooded intersection. In northwest Dallas, flooding was also reported at Northwest Highway and Webb Chapel Road, and at Highway 360 and Abrams Road. The city of Dallas reported 8 high water rescues on this day.

Flood, Denton

When: January 25, 5:00 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where: Denton County, 7.64 mi WNW of Bolivar to 7.5 mi SW of Justin
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.430, -97.382

Nearly 19 hours of continuous rain resulted in widespread nuisance and low-lying flooding across the county. The county received an average of 3-4 of rain during this event. Several creeks and streams overflowed their banks, flooding the surrounding lands and roads. The local newspaper reported that several roads near Clear, Denton, and Hickory creeks had to be barricaded due to high water. Two streets near the University of North Texas campus had to be closed due to localized flooding, and a school bus stalled in high water along South Bonnie Brae Street in the city of Denton. In addition, the low-water crossing at Oliver Creek Road near Justin was washed out.

Lightning, Tarrant

When: January 25, 5:00 AM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 3.41 mi SSE of Webb
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 32.584, -97.047

Lightning struck a 2-story home on the 2900 block of Montalbo in Grand Prairie.

Flood, Parker

When: January 25, 5:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 4.26 mi NNW of Whitt to 5.07 mi WSW of Dennis
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.003, -98.058

Flood, Collin

When: January 25, 5:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Collin County, 6.65 mi NNW of Celina to 3.91 mi SW of Shepton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.405, -96.835

Nearly 17 hours of continuous rain resulted in widespread nuisance and low-lying flooding across the county. The county received an average of 4-6 of rain during this event. Several creeks and streams overflowed their banks, flooding the surrounding lands and roads. In addition, several low water crossings filled with water resulting in temporary road closures. The county roads that were closed due to high water were: County Roads 413, 58, 317, 325, 275, 618, 384, 210, 375, 429, 1105, 677, 833, 670, 572, 484, 592, 590, 622, 558, 596, 668, 201, 678, 597, 600, 458, 825, 425, 400, 470, and 578. Culvert repairs were needed on CRs 1006, 623, 660, and 335. In addition, the following roads in McKinney were closed due to either water or mud covering the roadways: Alma at Stacy, Town Lake at Parkview, Parkview at Highway 75, Woodland at Highway 380 (north side), Industrial, McIntyre from Highway 5 to Woodlawn, Valley Creek near Highway 75, Northbrook at Parkview, Virginia Independence to Coit Road, Railroad near Rike, CrR 202 to CR 1006, and CR 201 to CR 1006.

Flood, Hunt

When: January 25, 6:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, 6.2 mi SSW of Union Vly to 4.8 mi NNW of Lane
Cause: Heavy Rain
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.839, -96.296

Nearly 20 hours of continuous rain resulted in nuisance and low-lying flooding across Hunt County. The county received between 2 to 5 inches of rainfall. The local newspaper reported several people drove into flooded areas and had to be rescued. There were also several minor accidents, but one male was killed on U.S. Highway 69 near Lone Oak when his vehicle hydroplaned and hit a tree. Portions of Stonewall Street between Stanford and Templeton Streets in Greenville were under water.

Flood, Bell

When: January 25, 6:00 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Bell County, 5.06 mi N of (Grk)gray Aaf Ft Hoo to 4.46 mi NW of (Grk)gray Aaf Ft Hoo
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.143, -97.840

A culvert along Tank Destroyer Blvd between Clarke Road and Main Street in Copperas Cove was washed out by heavy rainfall. Approximately 2 inches of rain fell in the area. The culvert had been identified as weak back in October, but the damage caused by the heavy rainfall finally caused the bridge to become impassable. It was estimated that the repairs would take 5-6 months.

Flood, Palo Pinto

When: January 25, 6:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 4.78 mi SSE of Santo to 5.76 mi SSE of Santo
Cause: Heavy Rain
Reported by: Trained Spotter
Coordinates: 32.535, -98.193

A trained spotter reported than a foot of water was flowing over FM 4 at Buck Creek. This location is in the far southern portion of the county, south of Santo.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: January 25, 6:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Tarrant County, 1.17 mi SE of Richland Hills to 1.99 mi SSW of Richland Hills
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 32.807, -97.217

High water rescues were needed in Haltom City at Highway 121 and Midway Road. Fossil Creek rose out of its banks covering the intersection in an estimated two feet of water. Two drivers had to be rescued from their vehicles and another two were able to walk to higher ground.

Lightning, Cooke

When: January 25, 6:48 AM CST
Where: Cooke County, 4.64 mi SSW of Gainesville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 33.564, -97.166

Lightning struck an oil field along I-35 between Gainesville and Valley View, igniting a tank battery on fire.

Flood, Limestone

When: January 25, 7:00 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Limestone County, 5.65 mi SSE of Kosse to 5.7 mi N of Billington
Cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 31.224, -96.596

Nearly 7 hours of continuous rain resulted in nuisance and low-lying flooding across Limestone County. The local newspaper reported some roadways were flooded with a few inches of water flowing over parts of US Highway 84 in Mexia. Some of this water ran into homes in downtown Mexia. Water was also flowing across some parts of Highway 84 between Mexia and Groesbeck. One swift water rescue was performed on FM 339 near Ben Hur when a car was swept off the road. Highway 165 in Groesbeck had to be closed under the railroad tracks due to high water, and Frost Creek jumped out of banks and flooded Groesbeck City Park. Two to five inches of rain fell across the county during this event.

Flood, Hopkins

When: January 25, 8:00 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 6.06 mi ENE of Sulphur Bluff to 2.75 mi SE of Pickton
Cause: Heavy Rain
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: Newspaper
Coordinates: 33.378, -95.312

Nearly 20 hours of continuous rain resulted in nuisance and low-lying flooding across Hopkins County. The county received between 2 to 4 inches of rainfall. The local newspaper reported several county roads were covered with water but these roads typically flood with heavy rain. The roads include: CRs 1119, 1157, 1120, 1127 off FM 2653, and FM 71 west of the Sulphur River. The entrance to Cooper Lake at FM 71 and FM 3505 was also covered with water. In addition, a bridge along FM 69 near the town of Dike was washed out. The bridge was located along FM 69 approximately 4 miles north of FM 1537/Mahoney Road. The bridge was under construction at the time.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: January 25, 8:05 AM CST
Where: Anderson County, 0.71 mi ESE of Bethel
Measured: 87 kt (100 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $110,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.917, -95.918

A mobile home was completely destroyed by a downburst near Highway 287 and FM 2706 in the Bethel area. The single-wide home was sitting on a pier and beam concrete foundation, but the entire home was torn apart by winds estimated around 100 mph. On the same property, a vehicle was turned over and two tractor trailers were blown over.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: January 25, 8:43 AM CST
Where: Anderson County, 1.32 mi S of Elmwood
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.901, -95.631

Emergency management reported that trees and power lines were blown down near the intersection of County Road 444 and FM 315.

Thunderstorm Wind, Anderson

When: January 25, 9:05 AM CST
Where: Anderson County, 1.75 mi N of Salmon
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph) estimated gust
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: Emergency Manager
Coordinates: 31.595, -95.495

Emergency management reported two storage buildings blown down near the intersection of CR 181 and CR 179. Trees were also blown down in the same location.

The people who died

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
Flood, Hunt	2012-01-25	36	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect
Flood, Hopkins	2012-01-25	36	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
Strong Wind: Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
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.
Thunderstorm Wind: Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2012 Every state in 2012 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 2012

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: 362702, 358446, 359059, 359053, 361685, 362692, 361716, 358964, 359127, 359134, 361725, 359050, 359056, 362780, 358449, 358961, 359045, 359051, 358445, 358300, 358308.