During the early morning commute and school trip, a band of very heavy rain developed along the Rio Grande east of Brownsville, and spread across the city from the Sabal Palm Sanctuary through Southmost and into downtown between 630 and 830 am. Soon after the torrents began, poor drainage and rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour overwhelmed many areas, with nuisance flooding (up to 2 feet) in…
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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 BRO wrote it up.
During the early morning commute and school trip, a band of very heavy rain developed along the Rio Grande east of Brownsville, and spread across the city from the Sabal Palm Sanctuary through Southmost and into downtown between 630 and 830 am. Soon after the torrents began, poor drainage and rainfall rates of 2 inches per hour overwhelmed many areas, with nuisance flooding (up to 2 feet) in numerous locations and more life/property threatening flash flooding (3 feet or more, water into property) in some of the worst draining areas as well as locations where 3 inches fell in an hour or less. More than 3.5 inches fell near downtown during the event, which matched closely with known flash flood areas.
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 Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Oct 22, 5:59 AM CST, 21 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 659 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 .DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. && .AVIATION...AN AREA OF SHOWERS CLOSE TO KBRO WILL BE IMPACTING THE TERMINAL WITH MODERATE TO HEAVY RAINS. MOST OF THE LIGHTNING ACTIVITY HAS REMAINED SOUTH OVER THE GULF WATERS. MENTIONED TEMPO GROUP FOR THIS CONVECTION. WITH DAYTIME HEATING...EXPECT ISOLATED SHOWERS TO DEVELOP LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL REMAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE DURING THE DAY FROM THE EAST. SHOWERS WILL DIMINISH BY THIS EVENING AS DRY AIR MOVES INTO THE AREA. EXPECT NORTHEAST FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 336 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014/ SHORT TERM /NOW THROUGH THURSDAY/...DURING THE SHORT TERM PERIOD DEEP SOUTH TEXAS CONTINUES TO BE UNDER A STATIONARY BOUNDARY WITH DEEP MOISTURE CONCENTRATED SOUTHWARD AND A DRY AIRMASS TOWARDS N TEXAS. MEANWHILE...IN THE MID LEVELS OF THE ATMS A TROUGH ACROSS THE DESERT SW LIFTS NE THROUGH TONIGHT AND TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9 OVER THE EASTERN BAY OF CAMPECHE WILL GRADUALLY MOVE NE OVER THE NORTHERN SECTIONS OF THE YUCATAN PENINSULA TODAY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KEEP A WESTERLY TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND WEAK GRADIENT AT THE SURFACE WHICH IS MAINTAINING LIGHT TO MODERATE EASTERLY FLOW. THE EASTERLY FLOW WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE STILL AVAILABLE ACROSS THE AREA WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE ISOLATED SHOWERS TODAY. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES AS OF THE 00Z KBRO SOUNDING INDICATED 2.0 INCHES. GFS STILL SHOWS IN THE MID LAYERS DEEP LEVEL MOISTURE OF AROUND 70 PERCENT AVAILABLE ACROSS THE AREA WHICH WILL PROVIDE A FAVORABLE MOIST ENVIRONMENT FOR SOME STORMS TO DEVELOP WITH DAYTIME HEATING. EXPECT 30 PERCENT CHANCE RIGHT ALONG THE RIO GRANDE. DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER EXPECTED...HIGH TEMPS WILL RANGE BETWEEN THE MID TO LOW 80S WHICH IS VERY SIMILAR TO TUESDAY. THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING AND A GRADUAL NORTHEAST DRY AIR FILTERING INTO THE CWA WILL ALLOW FOR SHOWERS TO DIMINISH TOWARDS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL COUNTIES TONIGHT. STILL DEEPER MOISTURE WILL MIGRATE WEST SO THERE STILL A GOOD CHANCE THAT A FEW SHOWERS COULD CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IN THE EVENING HOURS ESPECIALLY OVER THE COASTAL COUNTIES AND FOR THE LOWER AND MIDDLE VALLEY. CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE BY THE EARLY MORNING HOURS THURSDAY WITH MORE OF THE DRY AIR MASS ALOFT MOVING INTO THE CWA. STILL SOME LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE LOWER LEVELS WILL AID FOR MID TO LOW LEVEL CLOUDS AND A FEW AREAS COULD SEE PATCHY FOG IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ESPECIALLY FROM BROOKS COUNTY TO NORTHERN HIDALGO. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE BETWEEN THE MID TO LOW 60S ACROSS THE CWA AND LOW 70S RIGHT ALONG THE COAST. THURSDAY...THE DRIER AIR IS NOTED ALOFT IN THE BUFF SOUNDING AND CROSS SECTIONS WITH SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE STILL LINGERING ACROSS THE AREA. THIS WILL HELP PRODUCE A FEW TO SCATTERED CLOUDS BUT NO POTENTIAL FOR RAIN IS EXPECTED. HIGH TEMPS WILL RETURN TO THE MID 80S ACROSS THE CWA WITH A MORE NORTHEAST FLOW THROUGH OUT THE DAY. LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...500MB RIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST UNITED STATES THURSDAY WILL PROVIDE SUBSIDENCE ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS THURS NIGHT THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE MOVES EASTWARD FRIDAY AND MOVES ACROSS THE STATE SATURDAY. LOW TO MID LEVEL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN LIMITED THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK EVEN AS A LONGWAVE 500MB TROUGH MOVES INTO THE WESTERN U.S. SUNDAY. SOUTHWEST TO WEST FLOW ALOFT SHOULD PROVIDE WARMER AIR ALOFT AND THIS SHOULD PROVIDE A CAP ON ANY RAIN CHANCES ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TX MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AS A WEAK COLD FRONT MOVES INTO CENTRAL TX TUESDAY. MARINE... NOW THROUGH THURSDAY...BUOY020 HOLDS STEADY SCEC CONDITIONS THROUGH MOST OF THE NIGHT WITH SEAS UP TO 5 FEET AND WINDS GUSTING CLOSE TO 20 KNOTS. EXPECT THIS SAME PATTERN TO CONTINUE AS WE KEEP AN EASTERLY FLOW ACROSS THE GULF WATERS TODAY. THIS IS DUE TO A STATIONARY BOUNDARY BETWEEN SURFACE HIGH TOWARDS THE NORTHERN GULF COAST WITH DRY CONDITIONS AND TROPICAL DEPRESSION 9 OVER NORTHEAST BAY OF CAMPECHE WITH REALLY VERY MOIST ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS KEEPING AN EASTERLY FETCH AND MODERATE WINDS OVER THE GULF WATERS. DO NOT EXPECT SCA AT THIS TIME...AS THE TROPICAL DEPRESSION WILL SOON MOVE INTO THE YUCATAN PENINSULA AND IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN INTO A TROPICAL STORM KEPT WINDS AND SEAS MODERATE FOR TODAY. ON THURSDAY... WEAK FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE GULF WATERS SHIFTING WINDS TO THE NE AND FILTERING DRY AIR INTO THE AREA. THE WINDS WILL REMAIN AROUND 10 TO 15 KNOTS SO EXPECT CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE. THERE IS A COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT AS THE SWELLS REMAIN ELEVATED TODAY COMBINED WITH HIGHER THAN NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES. THIS COULD PRODUCE MINOR COASTAL FLOODING. BY THURSDAY CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE. THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY...LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTHEAST WINDS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE COASTAL WATERS THURS NIGHT WITH HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE EASTERN UNITED STATES AND TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE OVER THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN WEAK ACROSS THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL VEER TO THE SOUTHEAST ON SUNDAY. && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...NONE. && THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 67/60
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 344 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 TXZ248>257-230845- ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-BROOKS-KENEDY-STARR-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY- INLAND CAMERON-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON- 344 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE TODAY. BRIEF PERIODS OF OVER WASH WILL BE POSSIBLE AROUND HIGH TIDE ON PADRE ISLAND...WITH GULF WATERS POSSIBLY RUNNING UP TO THE DUNES. THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG AREA BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AND BOCA CHICA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. AN ELEVATED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY AND BEGIN TO IMPROVE BY FRIDAY AND THE WEEKEND. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED. GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-230845- LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TO THE ARROYO COLORADO- LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE ARROYO COLORADO TO 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TX- LAGUNA MADRE FROM 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BAFFIN BAY TX- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD OUT 20 NM- WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 344 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE LAGUNA MADRE. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. MARGINAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE GULF WATERS TODAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX 648 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 TXZ255-221245- INLAND CAMERON- 648 AM CDT WED OCT 22 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR... SOUTHERN CAMERON COUNTY IN DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. UNTIL 745 AM CDT... AT 646 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH HEAVY RAINFALL...OVER BROWNSVILLE...MOVING NORTHWEST AT 15 MPH. THESE SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING... GUSTY WINDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. TORRENTIAL RAINFALL RATES OF ONE TO TWO INCHES PER HOUR. LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE... BROWNSVILLE SOUTH PADRE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. BROWNSVILLE. RANCHO VIEJO. INDIAN LAKE. VILLA CAVAZOS. RUSSELLTOWN. MONITOR NOAA WEATHER RADIO...LOCAL MEDIA...OR WEATHER.GOV FOR UPDATES. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH HEAVY RAIN...SLOW DOWN. ALWAYS LEAVE A SAFE DISTANCE BETWEEN YOU AND OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN USING WIPERS...TURN ON HEADLIGHTS. AVOID DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES THAT COULD HIDE POTHOLES OR CAUSE HYDROPLANING. MAKE SURE YOUR HEADLAMPS...TIRES...AND WIPERS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. KEEP AN EMERGENCY KIT WHICH INCLUDES A FLASHLIGHT...FLARES...AND SIMPLE HAND TOOLS. SEVEN THOUSAND PEOPLE DIE IN WEATHER RELATED AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS EACH YEAR... MANY DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY AND WET ROADS. && 61
The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 8 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 12:18 UTC.
1 heavy rain, 1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Numerous reports of heavy rainfall was reported by CoCoRaHS observers. Totals ranged from 2 inches to 4.15 inches. The heavy rainfall brought widespread nuisance flooding, especially in poor drainage and low lying areas. Numerous roads and intersections were impacted.
Emergency management, local law enforcement, and members of the public reported flash flooding across portions of Brownsville, especially the western and downtown areas. There were several reports of 3 feet or more of water into properties.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, October 2014
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: 546172, 546179.