Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, October 30 to 31, 2015

A weak EF0 tornado formed 1 mile southwest of the town of D'hanis during the early morning hours of October 30. The tornado produced minor tree damage on the southwest side of town along and near CR 5223. The tornado crossed Hwy 90 and produced additional damage to a few homes including roof and shingle damage. Winds were estimated to be near 85 mph when the tornado crossed the downtown area. The second story of a building in downtown D'hanis collapsed. Other damage was observed to several businesses and private residences as the tornado moved northeast and crossed FM 1796 before finally dissipating near CR 423 approximately 2 miles NE of town. Peak winds were estimated to be 85 mph.

A tornado touched down near Hickory Circle about 0.5 miles south of Floresville. The tornado produced tree and minor roof damage across several city streets as it moved north. The damage increased in coverage and intensity as it approached Hwy 181. Just east of the intersection of Hwys 181 and 97, substantial roof damage was observed to a few homes as well as businesses along Hwy 181. This included several campers and recreational vehicles that were destroyed. One 5th wheel camper was thrown on top of a local hotel. One large billboard metal sign and structure was destroyed along with multiple power poles. The damage peaked at Floresville high school. A large two story classroom building on campus had the upper story wall collapse inward which appears to have caused a partial roof collapse of the building. The other side of the building had its wall blown out toward Hwy 97. Winds were estimated to be 120 mph. Other minor window damage and impact damage was observed at the school. The tornado weakened as it continued north of the high |school and west of Hwy 97, producing minor roof, shingle, and tree damage. City damage is estimated at 1.5 million dollars, this does not include insured losses and damage to the High School.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending Huebner Creek out of its banks and over Evers and Poss Rds. in northwestern San Antonio.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing at least 10 streets around San Antonio.

A citizen reported damage to their mobile home and barn, as well as damage to adjacent properties.

There were numerous low crossings and county roads flooded due to intense rainfall and high rainfall rates.

There was minor tree damage seen on the south side of Seguin along and near Interstate 10.

A man drowned after his Nissan Sentra was swept off the road into Rebecca Creek near Spring Branch. The man went missing after he left for work around 7 am. He went missing around the 1700 block of Knoll Schwope.

A tornado developed in an open field just south of Cordova Rd. between CR 105 and Hwy 123. The tornado continued north-northwestward for approximately 8.3 miles and dissipated in an open field just north of Schwarziose Road. The tornado damaged approximately 20 homes along the path and destroyed approximately 5 homes. The most severely damaged homes were along and off of CR 105 (Huber road). Damage to slab homes ranged from minor loss of roofing material to complete removal of the roof structure. One mobile home was displaced roughly 20 yards. Another mobile home was rolled and completely destroyed. Several other garages, barns, trailers, and farm equipment were also damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were snapped with a few uprooted. The peak wind was estimated to be 111-120 mph. Two people were injured. At the time of this writing, there is no estimate of insured monetary losses.

A contract worker at Camp Bullis drowned when their vehicle was swept off the road at a low water crossing.

A tornado developed near Centerpoint Rd. and Old Zorn Rd. in Guadalupe County and continued to the north-northeast for approximately 2.25 miles into Hays County ending near Centerpoint Rd. and Viewpoint Rd. . The tornado caused minor roof damage to a few homes where it first developed. As it continued north-northeastward, the tornado struck a series of electrical transmission line towers, causing 11 towers to either partially or completely collapse. The tornado continued through an open field near Centerpoint Rd. causing mainly tree damage. Several homes east of Centerpoint Rd., in the Southridge Estates subdivision, received minor roof damage along with large tree limbs snapped. In addition, a garage with an attached apartment completely collapsed in the Southridge Estates subdivision. Peak winds were estimated to be 90-100 mph. One person was injured. At the time of this writing, there is no estimate of insured monetary losses.

A tornado developed near Centerpoint Rd. and Old Zorn Rd. in Guadalupe County and continued to the north-northeast for approximately 2.25 miles into Hays County ending near Centerpoint Rd. and Viewpoint Rd. The tornado caused minor roof damage to a few homes where it first developed. As it continued north-northeastward, the tornado struck a series of electrical transmission line towers, causing 11 towers to either partially or completely collapse. The tornado continued through an open field near Centerpoint Rd. causing mainly tree damage. Several homes east of Centerpoint Rd., in the Southridge Estates subdivision, received minor roof damage along with large tree limbs snapped. In addition, a garage with an attached apartment completely collapsed in the Southridge Estates subdivision. Peak winds were estimated to be 90-100 mph. One person was injured. At the time of this writing, there is no estimate of insured losses.

Several areas along Highway 1102 were flooded and impassable. Comal ISD had a delay in the morning with classes eventually being cancelled due to significant flooding across all of Comal County. Rainfall totals of 6-12 inches were common across the County especially out near Canyon Lake.

Numerous county roads were flooded across western Wilson and Eastern Bexar County due to heavy rainfall.

Massive flooding occurred along and just west of Interstate 35 on the morning of October 30th as a supercell thunderstorm merged with another line of storms. Torrential rains with rain rates of 7+ inches per hour caused massive runoff and quickly flooded the Blanco River, Onion Creek, Plum Creek, the San Marcos River and other smaller creeks and streams. Rainfall totals along I-35 were as high as 16 inches which led to significant flooding in Kyle and Buda as well. Sections of I-35 were shut down as water made the interstate impassable. Areas of San Marcos were inundated with water, trapping people and school kids. Dozens of swift water rescues continued during the morning and afternoon. The extent of the flooding was similar to the historic flood of October 1998. Hundreds of homes were flooded, as many as 100 of them completely destroyed. These estimates are probably low as FEMA assessments are still ongoing as of this writing. Infrastructure losses to roads and bridges are in the millions. There are no monetary loss estimates to uninsured/insured homes at the time of this writing.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending water over the Hwy 12 bridge at Cypress Creek in Wimberley. Rainfall totals from that morning totaled over 10 inches, much of that rain coming in only a few hours time. Several businesses in downtown Wimberley along Cypress Creek were flooded and damaged. The Blanco River was just a few feet short of overtopping the Highway 12 bridge.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding leading to two high water rescues in Austin. One at Stassney Ln. and Palo Blanco Ln. and the other at Pleasant Valley Rd. and Onion Creek Dr. in southern Austin.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding sending creeks feeding into the Blanco River out of their banks southwest of Kyle. Tremendous rainfall totals in excess of 5-10 inches of rain fell across this area during the morning hours.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that blew down a large tree near Bolm Rd. and Hwy 183. in eastern Austin.

A gas station near the Circuit of the Americas race trace sustained wind damage. Several tents and temporary structures were also damaged at the racetrack along with a portion of the grandstands.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 60 mph that damaged the roofs of several houses along Thaxton Rd. in southern Austin.

A female was swept out of her house and drowned when Dry Creek flooded due to heavy rainfall. The husband was also swept out of the house but survived. A man was stranded in his car near Toll 130 and FM 812. He was swept away and his body was recovered the next day near McAngus Road.

A man drown when his vehicle was flooded and he was swept downstream on Dry Creek just west of Highway 183 in southern Travis County.

Historical rains occurred in the morning hours of the 30th across much of south Austin. This flooding caused high water and major flooding along Onion Creek and Dry Creek, along with other creeks and rivers in Austin/Travis County. 86 homes were damaged near Dry Creek, with several hundred more across southern sections of south Austin and Travis County. This area experience unprecedented rainfall and rainfall rates, on the order of 7 inches of rain per hour, maybe higher. 2 and 3 hour rain totals hit 12+ inches. Due to high rainfall totals the previous week, this intense rain on the 30th caused massive runoff. Cars were underwater on Highway 71 near Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Areas that were not known to flood, saw flooding for the first time in decades. In total, Austin and Travis County saw close to 600 homes flooded, over 100 of those were destroyed. Damage to infrastructure and repair totals more than 10 million dollars. This total does not include insured/uninsured losses to homes.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding. A CoCoRaHS observer southwest of Kyle reported 7.36 inches of rain in an hour and that the bridge near their house appeared to have been washed away with the road floating.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing FM 1854 at Hwy 21. There were also reports of vehicles stranded in high water at other points along Hwys 21 and 130. In total there were 130 homes affected due to flooding on the 30th in Caldwell County, 31 homes were destroyed, most were mobile homes along the San Marcos River between San Marcos and Martindale. The county totaled nearly 1 million dollars in infrastructure losses and debris cost. This total does not include insured/uninsured losses to homes.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing Bedroll Loop and Hwy 71.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding requiring high water rescues of people in stranded vehicles in Elgin.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding leading to high water rescues on Tucker Hill Ln. near the Bastrop and Travis County line. Damage assessment from Bastrop County indicated nearly 60 homes destroyed, with 40 also sustaining major damage. Overall more than 100 homes were flooded or affected by the flooding many of them along Dry Creek near the Bastrop/Travis County line. Debris line showed that water was flowing over Highway 71 near this area. Other homes experienced flooding as the Colorado River went into flood due to all the rainfall that fell upstream of Bastrop. County monetary losses are estimated to be 2.1 million dollars to infrastructure, this does not include insured/uninsured losses to homes.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing FM 696 west of Lexington.

A thunderstorm produced a wind gust measured at 82 mph.

A thunderstorm produced a wind gusts measured at 66 mph.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts estimated at 70 mph that blew down numerous trees along Crabapple and Oakhaven Rds. in northern Fredericksburg.

A thunderstorm produced wind gusts measured at 61 mph.

After a day where up to 16 inches of rain fell across portions of South Central Texas, an additional 1-2 inches of rain fell across the Hill Country keeping multiple low water crossings flooded.

Additional rains in the predawn hours caused additional flooding across Caldwell County and surrounding counties. Many roads were flooded and impassable.

Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that caused flash flooding closing Old Fredericksburg Rd. at Loop 1604 in northwestern San Antonio.