An upper level trough caused southwesterly winds aloft that transported tropical moisture from the Pacific across Mexico into Texas. Surface flow from the southeast brought in low level Gulf moisture.
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 EWX wrote it up.
An upper level trough caused southwesterly winds aloft that transported tropical moisture from the Pacific across Mexico into Texas. Surface flow from the southeast brought in low level Gulf moisture. A cold front dropped through central Texas and provided a focus for showers and thunderstorms that produced heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding. Significant flash flooding was seen across portions of South Austin where rainfall totals exceeded 10 inches. Down over the Rio Grande Plains, the same system produced a rain area that exceeded 17 inches near the towns of Crystal City and Carrizo Springs. This flooding rain went into the Nueces watershed and led to major flooding along the Nueces from Asherton all the way down to Lake Corpus Christi.
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 Austin/San Antonio, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 12, 10:21 PM CST, 1 hour 24 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1121 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 .AVIATION... A MOIST UNSTABLE WEATHER PATTERN FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS DISTURBANCES IN THE WSWLY FLOW ALOFT WILL INTERACT WITH MOIST GULF AIR IN THE LOW LEVELS. OTHERWISE MVFR CIGS PREVAILING WITH SHRA/TSRA INCREASING IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS DISTURBANCES MOVE INTO S TX FROM THE MEXICO AND ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE LATER TONIGHT. IN ADDITIONS A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS CENTRAL TX WILL BE A FOCUS FOR CONVECTION OVERNIGHT AND SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BACKBUILD INTO THE NRN SECTIONS OF SOUTH CENTRAL TX. MVFR-IFR CIGS/VSBYS IN THE SCT- NMRS SHRA/TSRA THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY. S-SELY SFC WINDS OF 10-15 KNOTS PREVAILING. PERIODS OF BREAKS SUNDAY AFTERNOON...HOWEVER THE SCT-NMRS SHRA/TSRA WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1026 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013/ UPDATE... AS A BOUNDARY NEARS THE HILL COUNTRY FROM THE NORTH AND SHORTWAVE DISTURBANCES MOVING ACROSS THE AREA FROM THE SOUTHWEST...EXPECT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO PREVAIL OVERNIGHT ACROSS MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. WITH PWATS (NEAR 2 INCHES CRP AND 1.58 DRT PER OOZ SOUNDINGS) ON THE INCREASE TONIGHT AND PLENTY LOW LEVEL MOISTURE PUSHING NORTHWARD FORM THE GULF...WE ARE ANTICIPATING LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS TONIGHT WITH ANY STORM DEVELOPMENT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE HALF TO ONE INCH ARE POSSIBLE PER HOUR WITH STRONGEST STORMS. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 755 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013/ UPDATE... LOWERED EVENING POPS GIVEN CURRENT RADAR TRENDS...BUT KEPT CHANCE- LIKELY POPS FOR AFTER MIDNIGHT AS CONVECTION APPROACHES FROM WEST OF THE RIO GRANDE IN MEXICO. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 559 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013/ AVIATION... A WARM MOIST UNSTABLE WEATHER PATTERN FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS AS DISTURBANCES IN THE WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT INTERACT WITH WARM MOIST GULF AIR AND OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES. OTHERWISE VFR CONDITIONS PREVAILING THIS EVENING WITH ISOLD SHRA/TSRA MOVING N AND NEWD ACROSS THE AREA...WITH INCREASING COVERAGE ACROSS ALONG THE RIO GRANDE AS ANOTHER DISTURBANCES APPROACHES THE AREA FROM NRN MEXICO. MVFR CIGS REDEVELOPING AFTER 04Z THIS EVENING AND PREVAILING THRU THE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO SUNDAY MORNING. MVFR-IFR CIGS/VSBYS POSSIBLE IN THE SCT-NMRS SHRA/TSRA THAT WILL BE DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS OVERNIGHT INTO SUNDAY. S-SELY SFC WINDS OF 10-15 KNOTS PREVAILING. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 310 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013/ SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT)... UPPER AIR ANALYSIS THIS MORNING SHOWS A WEAKENING AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GULF WITH A TROUGH MOVING INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THIS IS BRINGING SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT ACROSS TEXAS AND THIS IN TURN IS PULLING MOISTURE IN FROM A DEVELOPING TROPICAL SYSTEM IN THE PACIFIC. IN THE LOW LEVELS...VAD WIND PROFILES FROM AREA RADARS SHOW SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW FROM THE SURFACE UP TO AROUND 7K FEET. THERE IS ALSO A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY STRETCHING FROM ARDMORE...OK TO DRYDEN. SEEING CONVECTION IN THE MOIST WARM SECTOR ACROSS OUR EASTERN COUNTIES AND BUILDING TOWARD THE WEST. AN UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION WITH INCREASING CHANCES FOR RAIN TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. PW VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO AROUND 2 INCHES WHICH IS ABOVE THE 75TH PERCENTILE FOR OUR AREA. THIS ALONG WITH SLOW STORM MOVEMENT WILL LEAD TO SOME ISOLATED HEAVY RAINFALL. LONG TERM (MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY)... MONDAY WE WILL SEE THE UPPER RIDGE BUILD BACK UP THROUGH TEXAS AND LOWER RAIN CHANCES. AT THE SAME TIME THE NEXT TROUGH WILL BEGIN TO MOVE OUT OF THE ROCKIES INTO THE PLAINS. THIS WILL BRING THE NEXT FRONTAL SYSTEM WHICH LOOKS TO BE STRONGER THAN THE FIRST ONE. THIS COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH OUR CWA TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AND WILL BE A BETTER TRIGGER AND FOCUS FOR CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT. LOOKS LIKE TUESDAY NIGHT WEDNESDAY WILL BE THE BEST CHANCE FOR WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT RAIN. PW WILL AGAIN BE ABOVE TWO INCHES AND WITH A BETTER LIFTING MECHANISM...LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN IS POSSIBLE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THURSDAY THE FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE COAST AND THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL SWING THROUGH NORTH TEXAS...SO THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR SOME LINGERING SHOWERS. PRECIP CHANCES WILL THEN END AS WEAK UPPER RIDGING BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST TOWARD THE END OF THE WEEK. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 74 81 72 87 71 / 50 70 50 40 20 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 74 81 72 87 70 / 50 70 50 30 20 NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 74 81 73 87 72 / 60 70 40 30 20 BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 71 80 70 83 67 / 50 70 60 40 30 DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 72 81 74 86 72 / 60 70 60 30 30 GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 72 81 71 86 69 / 50 70 50 40 30 HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 74 85 73 87 70 / 60 70 50 30 20 SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 74 80 72 86 71 / 60 70 50 30 20 LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 75 85 73 87 71 / 30 60 40 20 20 SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 75 85 74 87 72 / 60 60 40 20 20 STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 74 86 74 89 72 / 60 60 40 20 20 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && MESOSCALE/AVIATION...01 SYNOPTIC/GRIDS...17
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 950 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-140300- LLANO-BURNET-WILLIAMSON-VAL VERDE-EDWARDS-REAL-KERR-BANDERA- GILLESPIE-KENDALL-BLANCO-HAYS-TRAVIS-BASTROP-LEE-KINNEY-UVALDE- MEDINA-BEXAR-COMAL-GUADALUPE-CALDWELL-FAYETTE-MAVERICK-ZAVALA- FRIO-ATASCOSA-WILSON-KARNES-GONZALES-DE WITT-LAVACA-DIMMIT- 950 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT... SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING AND AND CONTINUING OVERNIGHT WILL PRODUCE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 3 TO 4 INCHES. LOCALIZED MINOR FLOODING OF SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS IS POSSIBLE ALONG WITH LOW WATER CROSSINGS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... LOW LEVEL GULF MOISTURE AND UPPER LEVEL PACIFIC MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ENTRENCHED ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE AIRMASS WILL BE TROPICAL WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL. THE GREATEST THREAT FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL AND MINOR FLOODING WILL BE TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS A SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT INTERACTS WITH THE REMNANTS OF A PACIFIC CYCLONE. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 650 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 TXZ202-217-130030- KINNEY-MAVERICK- 650 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN MAVERICK AND SOUTHERN KINNEY COUNTIES UNTIL 730 PM CDT... AT 640 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR DARLING...OR 12 MILES SOUTH OF SPOFFORD... MOVING NORTH AT 25 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... SPOFFORD... ANACACHO... LAT...LON 2922 10063 2926 10026 2893 10029 2891 10053 TIME...MOT...LOC 2350Z 185DEG 21KT 2906 10042
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 906 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 TXZ171-172-130245- BURNET-LLANO- 906 PM CDT SAT OCT 12 2013 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR CENTRAL BURNET AND NORTHEASTERN LLANO COUNTIES UNTIL 945 PM CDT... AT 858 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES NORTHEAST OF BUCHANAN DAM...MOVING EAST AT 5 MPH. HAIL UP TO ONE-HALF INCH IN DIAMETER AND WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH HEAVY RAIN. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... BURNET... LAKE VICTOR... SUNNYLANE... THIS STORM MAY INTENSIFY...SO BE CERTAIN TO MONITOR LOCAL RADIO AND TV STATIONS...AS WELL AS LOCAL CABLE TV OUTLETS... FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND POSSIBLE WARNINGS FROM THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. THE HEAVY RAIN MAY FLOOD LOW LYING AREAS SUCH AS DITCHES...LOW WATER CROSSINGS AND UNDERPASSES. DO NOT DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE ACROSS FLOODED ROADWAYS. LAT...LON 3074 9810 3075 9844 3093 9846 3099 9812 TIME...MOT...LOC 0206Z 265DEG 6KT 3085 9834
The Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 34 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:44 UTC.
13 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Pflugerville. Several roads and low water crossings were not passable due to rising water.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in the Austin area. Low water crossings were flooded closing Bee Caves Rd., Joe Tanner Ln., Wasson Rd., and David Moore Dr.
There was flooding reported along Barton Creek and water rescues along Bee Cave Road.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Hays County. Numerous roads were closed due to flooding around Wimberley, Driftwood, Dripping Springs, Kyle, and Buda.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in the Rollingwood and Sunset Valley sections of Austin. Rainfall totals were as much as 11.33 inches in Travis County near Barton Creek and Loop 360 in west Austin. There were several high water rescues in both Rollingwood and Sunset Valley. Major flooding was reported along Williamson Creek near Heartwood Drive in south Austin. One fatality was discovered along Williamson Creek near Heartwood drive. The fatality was a homeless man. Several homes along Heartwood drive sustained considerable flood damage and damage was reported along Lady Bird Lake and Barton Springs Pool.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Caldwell County. Numerous roads around the county were closed due to water covering them. Rainfall totals in the county were as much as 4.02 inches.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Uvalde County. FM1051 was closed due to flooding after as much as 3.47 inches of rain fell.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Crystal City. There was a high water rescue on JFK Dr. and several other roads were closed including Starr St.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Big Wells and Carrizo Springs. Parts of Highway 85 were covered with water and closed due to needed repair. Some homes in Carrizo Springs were flooded up to the window sills. A co-op observer in Carrizo Springs reported 10.65 inches and a co-op observer in Big Wells reported 9.50 inches.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Eagle Pass. Several homes were evacuated, manhole covers were blown out, roads were damaged by flood water, and several roads were closed due to flooding.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Dimmit County. Nearly all major roads in the county were closed due to high water including Highway 83 between Carrizo Springs and Asherton, FM1433, FM1407, FM1556, and FM468. A CoCoRaHS observer 3.0 miles NNE of Carrizo Springs reported a rainfall total of 17.67 inches of rain during this event. Several other rainfall totals of 11 to 13 inches were reported in the Carrizo Springs and Crystal City area.
The Zavala County Emergency Manager reported street flooding in Crystal City. A shelter was opened for displaced residents.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding in Dimmit County. Highway 85 was closed between Carrizo Springs and Dilley and a few stranded motorists needed assistance.
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, Travis | 2013-10-13 | 50 | Male | Outside/Open Areas | Direct |
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, October 2013
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: 481171, 481175, 481353, 481163, 481159, 481160, 481161, 481164, 481165, 481169, 481179, 481352, 481180.