The remnants of Tropical Storm Odile continued to pump mid-level moisture into South Central Texas and a stationary boundary moved into this tropical moisture. This produced thunderstorms that in turn produced heavy rain and led to flash flooding.
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.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Odile continued to pump mid-level moisture into South Central Texas and a stationary boundary moved into this tropical moisture. This produced thunderstorms that in turn produced heavy rain and led to flash flooding.
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 Sep 17, 10:44 PM CST, 1 hour 45 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1144 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014 .AVIATION...KEWX RADAR HAS LIT UP WITHIN THE PAST HOUR...WITH A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING TOWARDS THE SOUTH- SOUTHWEST INTO THE NORTHEAST QUADRANT OF SOUTH-CENTRAL TEXAS. AS THIS CONVECTION IS IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO AUS...THE TAF FOR THIS SITE WAS REWORKED HEAVILY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXPECTED TIMING OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS. ELSEWHERE...FOR SAT AND SSF...ALTHOUGH THE PREVIOUSLY-MENTIONED CONVECTION IS NOT EXPECTED TO REACH THESE TWO AERODROMES...OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES MAY INITIATE NEW CONVECTION DURING THE NEAR-SUNRISE HOURS OF THURSDAY MORNING... AND THEREFORE THE TEMPO PERIODS FOR CONVECTION BETWEEN 10 AND 14 UTC WERE RETAINED FROM THE PREVIOUS TAFS. ONLY THE AERODROME IN DRT IS LIKELY TO REMAIN ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT THROUGH THE NEXT 24 HOURS. OVERALL...AT ALL OF THE AERODROMES...VFR/MVFR IS FORECAST TO PREVAIL. AMENDMENTS TO THE FORTHCOMING ISSUANCE OF TAFS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS THE CURRENT AREA OF CONVECTION EVOLVES AND NEW SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 907 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014/ UPDATE... A QUICK UPDATE ISSUED TO REFLECT LOWER EVENING POPS OVER WESTERN AND CENTRAL COUNTIES TO STRESS THE LATE NIGHT TIMING OF THE EXPECTED HEAVY PRECIPITATION OVER CENTRAL TX. ONE OR TWO OF THE FINER RES MODELS SUGGESTED A POTENTIAL FOR SWWD PROPATING CELLS IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS TO EXPAND THE HEAVY RAIN THREAT DEEPER INTO THE HILL COUNTRY. A MORE CONSERVATIVE APPROACH IS FAVORED OUTSIDE THE WATCH AREA AS IS NOTED FROM THE MINIMAL INFLOW FROM THE LLJ AS NOTED IN THE LATEST SPENES PRODUCT FROM NESDIS. AS OUTFLOW BOUNDARIES INTERSECT OVER CENTRAL TX...THE FLASH FLOOD POTENTIAL WILL ONLY INCREASE IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS FOR THE COUNTIES IN THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 633 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014/ AVIATION...REASONING OF PREVIOUS SET OF TAFS APPEARED FINE AND NO CHANGES WERE MADE EXCEPT FOR INITIAL CONDITIONS. CEILINGS CONTINUE TO BE EXPECTED TO DROP TO MVFR AT THE AERODROMES DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS...WITH VFR LIKELY TO RESUME DURING THE POST-SUNRISE HOURS OF THURSDAY. CONVECTION WILL LIKELY AFFECT 3 OUT OF 4 TAF SITES. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 331 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014/ SHORT TERM (TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT)... MORNING RAOB DATA CONTINUES TO SHOW ABUNDANT MOISTURE IN PLACE ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS WITH PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES OF 2.0" AT KDRT...WHICH IS ALMOST +2 SD ABOVE NORMAL. THE LATEST WATER VAPOR LOOP ALSO SHOWS NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE REGION WITH PLENTY OF MID AND UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE FROM THE REMNANTS OF ODILE. LATE AFTERNOON RADAR IMAGERY SHOWS SCATTERED CONVECTION ONGOING ACROSS A GOOD PORTION OF SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. WE EXPECT THIS CONVECTION TO CONTINUE INTO THE MID-EVENING HOURS...THEN GRADUALLY WEAKEN FOR MOST LOCATIONS. HOWEVER...GIVEN NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND THE LATEST HI-RES MODEL GUIDANCE...CAN/T RULE OUT ADDITIONAL CONVECTION THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE HILL COUNTRY AND ADJACENT NORTHERN I-35 CORRIDOR (LLANO...BURNET...WILLIAMSON COUNTIES). NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT PERSISTS ON THURSDAY AND THE LATEST GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO SHOW GOOD POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL RAINFALL FOR AREAS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 71. BASED ON RECENT RAINFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS THE MENTIONED REGION AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL RAINFALL TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY THURSDAY...WE HAVE ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL RUN FROM TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON FOR AREAS ALONG AND NORTH OF HIGHWAY 71. AVERAGE RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES POSSIBLE. LONG TERM (FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY)... OVERALL...WE HAVE MADE LITTLE CHANGES TO THE FORECAST FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS WEEK INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE AXIS TRIES TO BUILD INTO THE REGION ON FRIDAY. HOWEVER...THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SUGGEST MOISTURE LEVEL WILL NOT DROP SIGNIFICANTLY ON FRIDAY AND WE/LL MAINTAIN A 30-50% CHANCE FOR RAINFALL. MOISTURE LEVELS TO DROP A LITTLE THIS WEEKEND...SO A DECREASE TO 20-30% RAIN CHANCES LOOKS REASONABLE. THE MODELS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH THE STRENGTH OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO NORTH TEXAS ON MONDAY. RECENT MODEL TRENDS FROM THE ECMWF HAVE SHOWN A WEAKER FRONT ON THE 12Z RUN VS. A STRONGER FRONT ON THE 00Z RUN. TODAY/S DATA FOLLOWS A SIMILAR TREND AND TO PRESERVE SOME CONSISTENCY...WE/LL NOT DEVIATE MUCH FROM THE INHERITED FORECAST. WE/LL SHOW A NORTHEAST TO EAST WIND SHIFT WITH THE BOUNDARY ON MONDAY...BUT ANY COLD AIR ADVECTION SHOULD BE RATHER WEAK. SOUTHEAST WINDS RETURN ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. A 20% CHANCE FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL REMAIN IN THE FORECAST ON TUESDAY FOR AREAS GENERALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 90 AS MOISTURE LEVELS WILL BE HIGHER ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN AREAS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AUSTIN CAMP MABRY 74 87 71 91 72 / 70 80 30 40 20 AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTL AIRPORT 71 87 70 90 72 / 70 80 30 40 20 NEW BRAUNFELS MUNI AIRPORT 73 89 72 90 72 / 50 50 30 40 20 BURNET MUNI AIRPORT 72 85 70 89 72 / 70 80 30 40 20 DEL RIO INTL AIRPORT 74 91 76 90 74 / 20 20 20 30 20 GEORGETOWN MUNI AIRPORT 74 84 71 90 72 / 80 80 30 40 20 HONDO MUNI AIRPORT 73 91 73 92 72 / 40 30 30 40 20 SAN MARCOS MUNI AIRPORT 73 88 71 90 73 / 60 60 30 40 20 LA GRANGE - FAYETTE REGIONAL 74 87 73 91 72 / 80 80 30 50 20 SAN ANTONIO INTL AIRPORT 76 90 75 91 75 / 50 40 30 40 20 STINSON MUNI AIRPORT 75 91 75 92 74 / 50 40 30 40 20 && .EWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTIES: BASTROP...BURNET...FAYETTE...LEE...LLANO...TRAVIS... WILLIAMSON. && MESOSCALE/AVIATION...TOMASELLI
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 500 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014 TXZ171>173-183>194-202>209-217>225-228-181100- 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- 500 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. A FLASH FLOOD WATCH WILL BE IN EFFECT FOR BASTROP...BURNET... FAYETTE...LEE...LLANO...TRAVIS...AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES BEGINNING AT 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BECOME MORE NUMEROUS THROUGH TONIGHT. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WITH HIGH RAIN RATES ARE POSSIBLE. ISOLATED RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO 5 INCHES COULD LEAD TO URBAN FLOODING AND ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE AREA. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR BASTROP...BURNET...FAYETTE...LEE...LLANO ...TRAVIS...AND WILLIAMSON COUNTIES WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING. THE MOIST TROPICAL AIR MASS WILL PERSIST ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS BRINGING GOOD CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. BECAUSE THE STORMS WILL BE SLOW MOVING...THE THREAT FOR HEAVY RAINFALL AND ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING WILL PERSIST UNTIL FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER... RAINFALL REPORTS WILL BE NEEDED THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. WE ENCOURAGE ALL COCORAHS AND SKYWARN SPOTTERS TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL AMOUNTS.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1041 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014
TXZ173-180430-
WILLIAMSON-
1041 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN WILLIAMSON COUNTY UNTIL
1130 PM CDT...
AT 1036 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR BARTLETT...OR 9 MILES NORTH OF GRANGER...
MOVING SOUTHWEST AT 15 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 40 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
GRANGER...
SERENADA...
BARTLETT...
GRANGER DAM...
JARRELL...
WEIR...
SUN CITY...
SCHWERTNER...
HOXIE...
THEON...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
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 3088 9762 3078 9736 3075 9731 3059 9736
3068 9782 3089 9768
TIME...MOT...LOC 0341Z 031DEG 13KT 3083 9749SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX 1135 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014 TXZ173-192-180515- TRAVIS-WILLIAMSON- 1135 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014 ...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWESTERN WILLIAMSON AND NORTHWESTERN TRAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL 1215 AM CDT... AT 1135 PM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A STRONG THUNDERSTORM 6 MILES EAST OF LIBERTY HILL...OR 8 MILES WEST OF SERENADA...MOVING SOUTH AT 10 MPH. THIS STORM IS EXPECTED TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER THUNDERSTORM THAT IS MOVING NORTHEAST AT 10 MPH TOWARD THE CITY OF LEANDER. WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WHEN THESE TWO STORMS COLLIDE. THE STORMS SHOULD ALSO PRODUCE VERY HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING. LOCALIZED FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH AT LEAST 2 AM CDT. LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE... CEDAR PARK... LIBERTY HILL... LEANDER... SEWARD JUNCTION... BRUSHY CREEK... IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A STURDY BUILDING. 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 3046 9772 3058 9807 3079 9795 3069 9764 TIME...MOT...LOC 0433Z 019DEG 10KT 3066 9782
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1152 PM CDT WED SEP 17 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
1146 PM HEAVY RAIN 1 N JARRELL 30.83N 97.60W
09/17/2014 M4.23 INCH WILLIAMSON TX PUBLIC
4.23 INCHES OF MEASURED RAINFALL IN ONE HOUR BEGINNING
AT 1036 PM CDT. DAVIS VANTAGE VUE DIGITAL MEASUREMENT.
&&
EVENT NUMBER EWX1400646
LJHSPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1216 AM CDT THU SEP 18 2014
TXZ173-192>194-180630-
BASTROP-LEE-TRAVIS-WILLIAMSON-
1216 AM CDT THU SEP 18 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR NORTHERN BASTROP...WILLIAMSON...
EASTERN TRAVIS AND NORTHWESTERN LEE COUNTIES UNTIL 130 AM CDT...
AT 1212 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR HUTTO...OR 6 MILES WEST OF TAYLOR...MOVING
SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
ELGIN...
TAYLOR...
GRANGER...
COUPLAND...
GRANGER DAM...
THRALL...
BARTLETT...
BUTLER...
WATERLOO...
HOXIE...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
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 3081 9744 3081 9743 3078 9737 3040 9712
3018 9757 3060 9788 3083 9749
TIME...MOT...LOC 0516Z 249DEG 4KT 3060 9751
TOMASELLISPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO TX
1236 AM CDT THU SEP 18 2014
TXZ172-173-190-192-180645-
BLANCO-BURNET-TRAVIS-WILLIAMSON-
1236 AM CDT THU SEP 18 2014
...SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR EXTREME NORTHEASTERN BLANCO...
SOUTHERN BURNET...SOUTHWESTERN WILLIAMSON AND TRAVIS COUNTIES UNTIL
145 AM CDT...
AT 1231 AM CDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A
STRONG THUNDERSTORM NEAR LAKEWAY...OR 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF ANDERSON
MILL...MOVING SOUTHEAST AT 5 MPH.
WIND GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM...ALONG WITH
HEAVY RAIN AND FREQUENT DANGEROUS LIGHTNING.
LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS STORM INCLUDE...
CEDAR PARK...
ANDERSON MILL...
TANGLEWOOD FOREST...
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INT AP...
BEE CAVE...
MANSFIELD DAM...
WEST LAKE HILLS...
ROLLINGWOOD...
ONION CREEK...
LOST CREEK...
IF THREATENING WEATHER APPROACHES YOUR AREA...TAKE SHELTER IN A
STURDY BUILDING.
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 3018 9757 3007 9777 3036 9816 3067 9843
3067 9793
TIME...MOT...LOC 0536Z 299DEG 6KT 3040 9791
TOMASELLIThe Ft Hood radar (KGRK), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:28 UTC.
11 flash flood, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing County Road 105 and County Road 110 at Highway 79.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding requiring a swift water rescue at Fritz Hughes Park. A Travis County Sheriffs Deputy was reported missing around 1 AM after she called in by radio that her patrol car was being swept away by fast moving water. The 35 year old Deputy had been on patrol checking a low water crossing near the 3400 block of Fritz Hughes Park Road near Lake Austin. Her car was recovered on Thursday and her body was finally found Friday afternoon. Lower Colorado River Authority Rain gauge network reported rains in the area that totaled nearly 4 inches in 30 minutes.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. ATXFloods reported multiple roads closed in the City of Austin. Rainfall totals of four to five inches were reported in the area.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. ATXFloods reported approximately 50 low water crossings closed around Austin and other parts of Travis County. Rainfall totals exceeding six inches were reported in the area.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. ATXFloods reported over 50 low water crossings were closed across the southern half of Austin and other parts of Travis County.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing several county roads east of Highway 130 near Highways 29 and 79.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding requiring the evacuation of several condominiums on Stoney Creek Cove in Lakeway. Highlands Blvd. was also closed due to the flooding.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing several city streets in Austin near Escarpment Blvd. and Highway 290 and the 9100 block of Highway 71.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending four feet of water over County Road 301, Cypress Mill Rd. There was still water over the road at 8:30 PM.
A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that ripped the roof off a mobile home.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending water over Ranch Road 648 at Squaw Creek in northern Gillespie County.
Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending water over RM-1888 at Hunter's Creek Crossing southeast of Luckenbach.
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 | 2014-09-18 | 35 | Female | Vehicle/Towed Trailer | Direct |
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, September 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: 543806, 543807, 543808, 543809, 543810, 543811, 543812, 543814, 543817, 543819, 543903, 543904.