Heavy Rain in Texas, August 12, 2013

Name: Heavy Rain in Texas, August 12, 2013
Start: 2013-08-12T12:00
End: 2013-08-12T17:00
Location: Texas

August 12, 2013 · NWS AMA · 4 events in 2 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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

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The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 2
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 4

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 AMA wrote it up.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms developed along a surface trough draped across the southern Texas Panhandle during the afternoon hours of the 12th. These thunderstorms moved very slowly and stayed over one area for a prolonged period of time. This slow movement coupled with unseasonably high Precipitable Water values of 1.4 inches lead to periods of heavy rain across the southern Texas Panhandle. In the most intense downpours, visibility was greatly limited which made traveling on local roadway extremely difficult and dangerous. The surface trough which provided the focus for thunderstorm development moved south of the Texas Panhandle by 6 PM CST which lead to the dissipation of precipitation across the panhandle.

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 Amarillo, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Aug 12, 11:56 AM CST, 4 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Aug 12, 11:56 AM CST, 4 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
1256 PM CDT MON AUG 12 2013

.AVIATION...
FOR THE 18Z TAFS, THIS IS A SOMEWHAT LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST.

WHILE A SHRA/TSRA CAN'T BE RULED OUT VIRTUALLY ANY TIME AFTER 19Z,
HAVE THE HIGHEST CONFIDENCE OF VCTS AT KAMA 20Z-00Z. VCTS WILL ALSO
BE POSSIBLE AT KDHT AND KGUY 01Z-07Z, BUT CONFIDENCE IS ONLY
MODERATE AND TIMING IS LOW CONFIDENCE. BETTER CHANCES FOR STORMS AT
KDHT AND KGUY MAY BE AFTER 09Z, BUT CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE TOO LOW
TO MENTION AT THIS TIME. IF THERE IS A DIRECT IMPACT TO A TERMINAL,
BRIEF LIFR CONDITIONS AND GUSTY WINDS UP TO 45 KT WILL BE POSSIBLE.

MVFR CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE 14Z-15Z AT KDHT AND KGUY, BUT
CONFIDENCE OF OCCURRENCE IS HIGHEST AT KGUY.

JACKSON

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 641 AM CDT MON AUG 12 2013/

AVIATION...
12Z TAFS...ONGOING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS EASTERN NM AND
THE SOUTHERN TX PANHANDLE MAY IMPACT KAMA THROUGH 15 OR 16Z...AND
HAVE INSERTED A TEMPO GROUP ACCORDINGLY. COULD SEE A SHOWER OR STORM
NEAR KDHT AS WELL THIS MORNING...ALTHOUGH CHANCES ARE LESS...AND THE
PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN SOUTH OF KGUY. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND
TONIGHT. FOR NOW WILL CARRY A VCTS MENTION AT KDHT AND KGUY FROM
02-07Z AND 03-08Z RESPECTIVELY...MARKING THE LOCATIONS AND TIMES OF
HIGHEST CONFIDENCE OF THUNDERSTORM OCCURRENCE. HOWEVER...THUNDERSTORMS
CAN/T BE RULED OUT AT OTHER TIMES LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...OR
AT THE KAMA TERMINAL.

OUTSIDE OF THE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...VFR CONDITIONS ARE
ANTICIPATED. THERE IS A SMALL THREAT OF LOW CLOUDS AT KGUY LATE
TONIGHT BEHIND A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY...BUT CONFIDENCE IN AN MVFR OR
LOWER CIG IS LOW AT THIS POINT. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL GUST UP TO 20
KTS AT KAMA AND KDHT LATE THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.

KB

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 405 AM CDT MON AUG 12 2013/

DISCUSSION...
MOISTURE AXIS ACROSS THE PANHANDLES IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANY TIME
SOON. SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES WILL CONTINUE TODAY AS THE
MOISTURE COMBINES WITH WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGHS MOVING ACROSS THE
REGION. A WEAK BOUNDARY COULD SETTLE INTO THE NORTHERN CWA TONIGHT
AND THIS MAY ENHANCE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SO HAVE GONE WITH
HIGHEST POPS THERE.

UPPER RIDGE OVER TEXAS WILL THEN MOVE BACK TO THE WEST WHERE IT WILL
TAKE UP RESIDENCE OVER THE SOUTHERN ROCKIES FOR THE REST OF THIS
FORECAST. WITH A RIDGE OVER THE WEST AND A TROUGH TO OUR EAST...
THIS WILL KEEP THE PANHANDLES IN A NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT THROUGH THE
REST OF THIS WORK WEEK. A COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE
PANHANDLES TUESDAY NIGHT...SO THIS WILL AGAIN HELP TO ENHANCE THE
SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM CHANCES. AM A LITTLE CONCERNED THAT WE MAY
HAVE A LULL IN THE RAIN CHANCES ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND THE FRONT. IT
MAY TAKE THE ATMOSPHERE SOME TIME TO RECOVER BEHIND THIS FRONT AND
WE MAY NOT SEE MOUNTAIN CONVECTION ROLL THIS WAY UNTIL WEDNESDAY
NIGHT AND THIS MAY BE CONDITIONAL BASED ON HOW MUCH INSTABILITY IS
FOUND ACROSS THE PANHANDLES. AT ANY RATE...DO NOT HAVE THE
CONFIDENCE TO LOWER POPS ON WEDNESDAY NOW AS THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
MESOSCALE FACTORS PLAYING IN THIS SCENARIO AS WELL.

NORTHWEST FLOW ALONG WITH UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGHS WILL KEEP
RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST THROUGH SATURDAY. THE FLOW ALOFT
BECOMES MORE NORTHERLY BY SUNDAY...SO IT MAY BE TOUGHER TO BRING
MOUNTAIN CONVECTION INTO THE PANHANDLES. WE WILL HAVE TO RELY ON A
SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE FLOW TO BRING US A CHANCE OF
RAIN. AT THIS POINT...AM NOT WILLING TO ADD POPS BASED ON THE
POSSIBILITY THAT A SHORT WAVE TROUGH MAY BE MOVING BY AT THIS TIME.

TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY BEHIND THE FRONT ON WEDNESDAY. IF
CLOUDS STAY IN ALL DAY...THEN OUR HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST WILL BE
WAY TOO WARM.

FIRE WEATHER...
NO ELEVATED OR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH
SUNDAY DUE TO THE EXPECTED RAINFALL. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL
ALSO STAY ABOVE 20 PERCENT AND WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN BELOW 20
MILES AN HOUR.

&&

.AMA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
OK...NONE.

&&

CLK/JJ

Hazardous weather outlook, Aug 12, 3:13 AM CST, 8 hours 47 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AMARILLO TX
413 AM CDT MON AUG 12 2013

OKZ001>003-TXZ001>020-122115-
CIMARRON-TEXAS-BEAVER-DALLAM-SHERMAN-HANSFORD-OCHILTREE-LIPSCOMB-
HARTLEY-MOORE-HUTCHINSON-ROBERTS-HEMPHILL-OLDHAM-POTTER-CARSON-
GRAY-WHEELER-DEAF SMITH-RANDALL-ARMSTRONG-DONLEY-COLLINGSWORTH-
413 AM CDT MON AUG 12 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE TEXAS AND OKLAHOMA
PANHANDLES.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT.

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE PANHANDLES THROUGH TONIGHT.
A STORM OR TWO MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS.
HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO LEAD TO ISOLATED AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING.

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

THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS MUCH OF THE PANHANDLES THROUGH
SATURDAY. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY BECOME SEVERE WITH LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS THE MAIN THREATS. HEAVY RAIN MAY ALSO CAUSE ISOLATED
AREAS OF FLASH FLOODING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.

GOEHRING

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Potter

When: August 12, 12:00 PM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Potter County, 7 mi ENE of Valle de Oro
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.489, -101.995

Slow moving thunderstorms developed over Potter County during the early afternoon hours of the 12th. These thunderstorms moved slowly and produced heavy rain. A KVII Schoolnet site at Lahey Creek, 7 miles east-northeast of Valley De Oro, (Potter County) reported 2.52 inches of storm total precipitation. No swift water rescues or stranded motorist were reported in association to this heavy rain.

Heavy Rain, Donley

When: August 12, 2:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Donley County, 1.98 mi E of Clarendon
Deaths: 0 direct, 1 indirect
Injuries: 0 direct, 2 indirect
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 34.928, -100.865

Heavy rain over Donley County indirectly caused a fatal car wreck around 3 pm CST 2 miles east of Clarendon (Donley County). A 2012 Cadillac SRX was traveling in the eastbound lane of U.S. Highway 287 when it encountered heavy rain from a thunderstorm. Visibility was restricted to the point of the driver of the Cadillac stopped on the highway. An eastbound 2005 Ford F-250 pickup truck struck the rear of the Cadillac. The driver of the Cadillac was pronounced decease at the scene and the passenger of the Cadillac was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. The status of the pickup driver is unknown at the time of this report.

Heavy Rain, Donley

When: August 12, 2:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Donley County, 2.32 mi NNW of Clarendon to 1.15 mi ESE of Clarendon
Reported by: Storm Chaser
Coordinates: 34.960, -100.918

Slow moving thunderstorms developed over the city of Claredon (Donley County) during the early afternoon hours of the 12th. These thunderstorms moved slowly and produced heavy rain. A storm chaser in Clarendon (Donley County) reported this heavy rain caused minor flooding in the city of Clarendon (Donley County) on U.S. Highway 287 and U.S. Highway 70. No swift water rescues or stranded motorist were reported in association to this flooding.

Heavy Rain, Donley

When: August 12, 2:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Donley County, 11 mi N of Clarendon
Reported by: Broadcast Media
Coordinates: 35.089, -100.900

Slow moving thunderstorms developed over Donley County during the early afternoon hours of the 12th. These thunderstorms moved slowly and produced heavy rain. A KVII Schoolnet site at Matthews Ranch, 11 miles north of Clarendon, (Donley County) reported 4.01 inches of storm total precipitation. No swift water rescues or stranded motorist were reported in association to this heavy rain.

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
Heavy Rain, Donley	2013-08-12	77	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Indirect

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2013 Every state in 2013 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, August 2013

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: 475036, 475033, 475034, 475035.