Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected the North and Central Texas region as an upper level low approached from the west. The first round affected locations east of Interstate 35 resulting in flooding of mainly roads and along creeks and streams.
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 FWD wrote it up.
Two rounds of heavy rainfall affected the North and Central Texas region as an upper level low approached from the west. The first round affected locations east of Interstate 35 resulting in flooding of mainly roads and along creeks and streams. Overnight, a squall line moved through the region producing some instances of damaging wind, but most of the estimated wind speeds were below severe criteria. A large area of rain lingered behind the squall line resulting in more flooding across counties mainly east of Interstate 35. Rainfall totals for the 2 day period along a line from Lamar to Leon counties where most of the flooding occurred was 2-4 inches.
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 Dec 12, 2:56 PM CST, 2 hours 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 256 PM CST SAT DEC 12 2015 .DISCUSSION... THE FIRST ROUND OF CONVECTION IS NOW ONGOING AND INCREASING WITHIN AN ENHANCED AREA OF LOW LEVEL WAA AND MOISTURE TRANSPORT ACROSS THE EASTERN CWA. VERY STRONG 925-850MB WINDS 35-50 KTS WERE NOTED PER AREA VAD WIND PROFILES ON REGION WSR-88D/S. STRONG S/SWLY EFFECTIVE WIND SHEAR NEAR 50 KTS AND WEAK INSTABILITY ARE IN PLACE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS OUR SOUTHEAST COUNTIES. AN ISOLATED SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WILL CONTINUE WITH EMBEDDED TSTORMS IF THEY CAN GET ROOTED TO THE SURFACE. THE BIG QUESTION IS WHETHER ANY STORMS WILL BECOME ROOTED AT THE SURFACE OR NOT...AS THE APPROACHING DEEP UPPER LOW APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND LIFTS AND MOISTENS WHATEVER SUBSIDENCE INVERSION THAT REMAINS. LAPSE RATES ARE NOT STEEP IN THIS AREA...SO ANY THREATS WOULD BE ISOLATED AREAS OF DAMAGING WINDS OR A BRIEF TORNADO WITH BOTH 0-1KM/0-3KM SRH VALUES BETWEEN 150-300 S2/KM2. BY NIGHTFALL...THIS FIRST AREA SHOULD BECOME MORE OF A HYDROLOGIC THREAT AS UNIDIRECTIONAL...DEEP LAYER SSWLY FLOW CONTINUES FROM SOUTH CENTRAL TEXAS UP TOWARD THE ARKLATEX AND EAST TX. TRAINING OF SHOWERS AND SCATTERED STORMS CONTAINING MODERATE TO BRIEF HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THIS AREA THIS EVENING. ISOLATED FLASH FLOODING IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. AS THE NIGHT PROGRESSES...THE STRONG UPPER TROUGH WILL BEGIN LIFTING OUT OVER THE HIGH PLAINS OF WEST TX AND THE OK/TX PANHANDLES. THIS WILL OCCUR OVER THE TOP OF A STRONG SURFACE COLD FRONT CURRENTLY NOW MOVING INTO THE NORTHERN TX PANHANDLE AREA THAT WILL MOVE INTO THE SOUTH PLAINS THIS EVENING. MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG THE SURFACE COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST AND FORM POSSIBLY INTO A BROKEN SQUALL LINE AT A TIME THE LOW LEVEL JET INCREASES ACROSS THE REGION. SURFACE GRADIENT SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL ALSO BE STRONG AND LIKELY 15 TO 25 MPH WITH ENHANCED GUSTS 30 TO 35 MPH. AT THIS TIME...A WIND ADVISORY WAS NOT ISSUED BUT WILL BE SOMETHING WE MONITOR CLOSELY THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. TIMING OF THE LINEAR STORMS ALONG THE COLD FRONT WILL LIKELY BE AROUND MIDNIGHT ACROSS OUR FAR WESTERN COUNTIES...BEFORE IT TRACKS PROGRESSIVELY EAST ACROSS ALL OF THE CWA OVERNIGHT INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SUNDAY. STEEPENING OF LAPSE RATES ALOFT IN AN AREA OF COOLING MID LEVEL TEMPERATURES WITH THE UPPER TROUGH COULD ENHANCE CAPE WITHIN THE HAIL GROWTH ZONE ACROSS OUR FAR WESTERN COUNTIES. A BRIEF WINDOW FOR A LARGE HAIL THREAT COULD COME TO FRUITION ACROSS THESE AREAS AROUND MIDNIGHT. HOWEVER...WE EXPECT THE MAIN THREATS TO CONTINUE TO BE LOCALLY HEAVY RAINS...FREQUENT LIGHTING...AND DAMAGING WINDS. ANY BREAKS IN THE LINE AND WHERE STORM-RELATIVE INFLOW CAN BE LOCALLY ENHANCED COULD RESULT IN A BRIEF SPIN-UP TORNADO OR TWO. THE HAIL THREAT SHOULD COME DOWN READILY AS THE LINEAR SYSTEM APPROACHES I-35 AND POINTS EAST AS MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES READILY DECREASE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA. THOUGH THIS SECOND LINEAR SYSTEM WILL BE PROGRESSIVE...IT WILL ADD TO THE ALREADY HEAVIER RAIN AMOUNTS WHEN IT REACHES OUR EASTERN COUNTIES BY SUNRISE. AS SUCH...WE HAVE ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH MIDDAY SUNDAY FOR AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF A LINE FROM BONHAM...TO CORSICANA...TO CAMERON. WIDESPREAD 2 TO 3 INCHES OF RAINFALL WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS TO BETWEEN 4 AND 5 INCHES ARE CERTAINLY POSSIBLE CONSIDERING THE MOISTURE FLUX ACROSS THESE AREAS AND PWAT VALUES NEAR RECORD LEVELS DECEMBER. THROW IN IT/S BEEN THE WETTEST YEAR ON RECORD...ANY TRAINING OR PROLONGED PERIODS OF EVEN MODERATE RAINFALL COULD PRODUCE RUN OFF AND FLASH FLOODING. IN ADDITION...THE TRINITY RIVER BASIN EAST INTO THE SULPHUR BASIN WILL LIKELY ENHANCE LONG STEM RIVER FLOODING ON THOSE BASINS AS WE MOVE THROUGH THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL LIFT NORTHEAST READILY OVER OK/KS BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THIS WILL SUPPORT MOVING THE SURFACE COLD FRONT EAST OUT OF THE AREA BY SUNDAY AFTERNOON WITH FEW LINGERING SHOWERS ACROSS THE EAST...BUT CLEARING READILY ACROSS THE WEST. GUSTY W/SWLY WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WILL LIKELY OCCUR ALONG AND WEST OF I-35 SUNDAY AS LOW LEVEL DRIER AIR FILTERS IN AND MODEST CAA OCCURS. AGAIN...DO NOT THINK IT WILL LAST LONG OR BE WIDESPREAD ENOUGH FOR CONFIDENCE IN A WIND ADVISORY FOR SUNDAY AFTERNOON... BUT DEFINITELY BEARS WATCHING. CLEARING SKIES AND COOLING OF THE DRY AIRMASS ENTRAINING INTO THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT SHOULD ALLOW FOR LOWS TO FALL BETWEEN 35 AND 45 DEGREES FOR THE START OF THE WORK WEEK. A DRY PERIOD IS EXPECTED INTO THE EARLY HALF OF TUESDAY...BEFORE ANOTHER MID LEVEL LOW LIFTS OUT OVER THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS LATE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE RETURN WILL BE MINIMAL AND ONLY OCCUR ACROSS OUR FAR E/SE COUNTIES WHERE I WILL CONTINUE CARRYING A CHANCE FOR JUST A LIGHT RAIN OR SHOWERS. ANOTHER SURFACE COLD FRONT WILL ARRIVE LATER TUESDAY NIGHT...BUT ANY LIGHT PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED REMAIN WELL AHEAD OF THE COLDER AIR AND WE DO NOT EXPECT ANY THREAT OF WINTER WEATHER WITH THIS SYSTEM. WHAT THIS COLD FRONT WILL BRING IS COLDER TEMPERATURES WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S AND HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S. IT IS ALMOST CHRISTMAS IF WE HAVE FORGOTTEN...SO THIS CERTAINLY IS NOTHING UNUSUAL FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON. 05/ && .AVIATION... /ISSUED 1211 PM CST SAT DEC 12 2015/ /18Z TAFS/ WIDESPREAD MVFR CIGS ARE IN PLACE ACROSS NORTH TEXAS AND SCATTERED SHOWERS ARE NOW DEVELOPING AND SPREADING NORTH INTO THE REGION. THINK ACTIVITY WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. WACO WILL LIKELY SEE SOME ON AND OFF SHOWERS THROUGH MUCH OF THE AFTERNOON AND WILL KEEP A TEMPO FOR -SHRA. SCATTERED SHOWERS MAY BE A LITTLE LATER THIS AFTERNOON FARTHER NORTH IN THE METROPLEX. EITHER WAY...MVFR CIGS SHOULD PREVAIL WITH BRIEF REDUCTIONS IN VISIBILITY IN PRECIPITATION. THERE WILL LIKELY BE A LULL IN THE ACTIVITY LATE THIS EVENING AS THE MAIN AREA OF PRECIPITATION TO THE EAST CONTINUES TO PULL NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE MAJOR AIRPORTS. THE MAIN UPPER LOW WILL REMAIN TO THE WEST AND A SQUALL LINE SHOULD BE IN THE DEVELOPING STAGES WELL WEST OF THE MAJOR AIRPORTS PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT. THE LINE OF STORMS SHOULD MOVE EAST RATHER QUICKLY AND THE TIMING ON THUNDERSTORMS IS WITH FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE. THINK THE LINE WILL MOVE THROUGH THE METROPLEX BETWEEN 7 AND 10Z WITH AFW/FTW BEING IMPACTED FIRST...THEN A PROGRESSION EASTWARD THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. STRONG WEST WINDS WILL ACCOMPANY THE SQUALL LINE FOLLOWED BY A BRIEF RESPITE IN THE WINDS AFTER THE STORMS PASS. THERE MAY BE A FEW HOURS OF LIGHT RAIN BEHIND THE MAIN LINE OF STORMS CONTINUING INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE AGAIN BY MID MORNING TO AROUND 20 KT. THERE MAY SCT/BKN MID LEVEL CLOUDINESS THAT PERSISTS THROUGH THE DAY AS THE CORE OF THE UPPER LOW CROSSES THE AREA. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED DURING THIS TIME HOWEVER. DUNN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 53 63 43 68 47 / 100 70 0 0 0 WACO, TX 52 63 40 70 46 / 100 70 0 0 0 PARIS, TX 57 62 41 66 45 / 100 90 10 0 0 DENTON, TX 51 63 39 68 45 / 100 60 0 0 0 MCKINNEY, TX 52 61 40 66 46 / 100 70 5 0 0 DALLAS, TX 52 63 44 69 47 / 100 70 5 0 0 TERRELL, TX 53 61 42 68 47 / 100 80 5 0 0 CORSICANA, TX 55 61 44 70 49 / 100 80 5 0 0 TEMPLE, TX 54 64 41 70 48 / 100 60 0 0 0 MINERAL WELLS, TX 49 62 37 70 43 / 100 30 0 0 0 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLASH FLOOD WATCH THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING FOR TXZ094-095-105>107- 120>123-135-146>148-160>162-174-175. && /05
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORT WORTH TX 340 PM CST SAT DEC 12 2015 TXZ091>095-100>107-115>123-129>135-141>148-156>162-174-175-131200- 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- 340 PM CST SAT DEC 12 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTH AND CENTRAL TEXAS. .DAY ONE...TONIGHT. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE MAINLY EAST OF INTERSTATE 35 THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. A FEW STORMS COULD BECOME STRONG AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS OR A BRIEF TORNADO. IN ADDITION...LOCALIZED VERY HEAVY RAINFALL MAY CAUSE FLASH FLOODING THROUGH LATE EVENING. LATER TONIGHT...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS WEST TEXAS AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT. PORTIONS OF THIS LINE OF STORMS COULD BE STRONG AND PRODUCE DAMAGING WINDS. A BRIEF TORNADO WILL BE POSSIBLE ALTHOUGH THE OVERALL THREAT IS LOW. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WITH THIS LINE OF STORMS COULD PRODUCE SOME FLASH FLOODING DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THUNDERSTORMS WILL END FROM WEST TO EAST DURING THE MORNING HOURS ON SUNDAY. THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A THREAT FOR FLOODING AND STRONG WINDS WITH ANY THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE MORNING HOURS. MOST OF THIS ACTIVITY WILL BE EAST OF INTERSTATE 35. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... LIMITED SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUESTED THROUGH TONIGHT ACROSS ALL OF NORTH TEXAS. DUNN
The Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 150 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 22:59 UTC.
10 flash flood, 9 thunderstorm wind, 7 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy rain resulted in flooding of roads in Commerce. Some high water rescues were needed for motorists stuck in the water.
Water was over FM 71 in the Peerless area.
Flooding of roadways near low-lying areas and creeks and streams continued for a few hours after several inches of rain fell across mainly the eastern half of the county.
High water was reported at US 79 and Texas Highway 75 in Buffalo. Water was also reported over Texas Highway 164 at Interstate 45 north of Buffalo. Additional flooding was also reported in the town of Buffalo; in particular the parking lot of the Community National Bank was covered in water with the water extending up to the doors of the building.
High water was reported over Highway 7, east of Texas Highway 39 near Concord. The flooding possibly was due to Spring Creek flowing out of its banks and over the highway.
Flooding continued in Buffalo, across low-lying areas in the county, and along creeks and streams after several inches of rain fell in a short amount of time.
Flooding was occurring across low-lying areas in the county, and along creeks and streams after several inches of rain fell in a short amount of time. Many county roads were closed due to the flooding and many of the closed roads were along creeks and streams. Some of the closed county roads included CRs 468, 463, 321, & 2715.
Flooding was occurring across low-lying areas in the county, and along creeks and streams after several inches of rain fell in a short amount of time. Many roads along the swollen creeks and streams were closed due to flooding. The local TxDOT office reported FM 80 near Streetman between Interstate 45 and FM 833 was closed and remained closed until the 14th.
The roof and sides of a large metal barn used as a storage shed and workshop were torn off in the Itasca area. The beams of barn were made of wood.
The metal paneling roof and sides of a large metal barn used as a storage shed and workshop were torn off along Loop 340 on the southwest side of Waco. The beams of the barn were made of metal and still standing. A brick facade was also knocked down.
The sheriff's office reported trees had fallen on CR 274, blocking the road and requiring removal.
Entire roof of metal building removed from structure. Also, trees were knocked over onto 2 vehicles.
Thunderstorm wind damage occurred near Larimore Ln and Barstow Rd in southwest Dallas. Some tree damage, downed fences and blown off shingles were reported along an approximate 3 block path.
The automated weather station at Rockwall Municipal Airport reported a 54 kt wind gust. In the area, damage to fences and carports was reported.
The roof of a metal building used as a storage shed for vehicles and possibly a workshop was partially torn off along W Tyler Street in Athens. The exact location of the building could not be determined. Another metal roof of a building was also partially torn off in the western portions of Athens.
County Road 436 was washed out at Highway 39 north of Flynn.
A metal barn and carport that were attached to a house in the Ben Wheeler area were destroyed by thunderstorm winds. The roof of the house where the carport was attached was partially lifted and damaged.
Many county roads were closed due to flooding. Many of the closed roads were near creeks and streams.
Many county roads were closed due to flooding. Many of the closed roads were near creeks and streams.
An amateur radio operator located 2 miles east of Centerville reported his private road was washed out by heavy rainfall.
Several roads were closed across the county due to flooding.
Law enforcement reported a county road near FM 16 near Colfax was washed out.
Flooding continued across Leon County after another round of heavy rain produced several more inches of rain across the county. Some flooding was still ongoing from the first round of heavy rain the night before and was exacerbated by this second round of heavy rain. Several roads were closed across the county including the access roads along Interstate 45 in some locations. Some roads were washed out including a large portion of CR 393 northeast of Concord as reported on social media. Significant flooding along creeks and streams occurred. Pictures of flooding along Bliss Creek southeast of Buffalo and Brushy Creek near Marquez were shared on social media. Brushy Creek near Marquez was flowing over CR 429 forcing the closure of the road. Bliss Creek was flooding CR 212 and some vehicles were stuck in the high waters. The local TxDOT office also reported FM 1848 at Buffalo Creek (north of Buffalo) was closed on the 13th and hopefully would reopen on the 14th.
Flooding of roadways continued for a few hours after several inches of rain fell across the county. Several of these closed roads were likely near low-lying areas and creeks and streams.
Flooding of roadways continued for a few hours after several inches of rain fell across the county. Several of these closed roads were likely near low-lying areas and creeks and streams.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, December 2015
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: 609816, 609817, 609819, 609821, 609822, 609936, 611657, 611658, 609967, 609966, 609970, 609972, 609975, 609995, 609996, 610000, 609938, 610005, 611540, 611541, 609939, 609941, 611536, 609940, 609820, 611552.