The Coastal Bend experienced a significant heavy rain event that began on the morning of May 15th and ended on the morning of May 16th. As much as 10 to 15 inches of rainfall occurred across the south side of Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass.
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 CRP wrote it up.
The Coastal Bend experienced a significant heavy rain event that began on the morning of May 15th and ended on the morning of May 16th. As much as 10 to 15 inches of rainfall occurred across the south side of Corpus Christi, Flour Bluff, Ingleside, and Aransas Pass. This amount of rainfall produced widespread flooding in these cities. Several hundred homes were flooded in Ingleside and Aransas Pass. Numerous roads and highways were closed due to the high water. Numerous water rescues occurred in San Patricio and Nueces counties. Many schools and businesses delayed opening or remained closed. Widespread 5 to 10 inches of rainfall fell across the rest of the Coastal Bend.
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 Corpus Christi, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 15, 5:52 AM CST, 5 hours 49 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Corpus Christi TX 652 AM CDT SUN MAY 15 2016 .DISCUSSION...Update for 12Z aviation cycle. && .AVIATION... This morning...Mixture of VFR/MVFR/IFR. Scattered showers and embedded thunder continue to move through the region, with some direct impacts on our terminals. Conditions should become more MVFR after the current shower activity moves north. Light and variable winds expected through late morning before becoming more easterly. Medium confidence. Today...Mostly MVFR. Weak cold/stationary front to our north will allow for more scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms to develop during the afternoon hours. Numerous outflow boundaries are expected to move through the region each providing the opportunity for shower/thunder ignition. Continue to carry the VCTS and TEMPO groups to try and provide better timing of impacts. Cigs may rebound back towards VFR briefly by late in the afternoon outside of any storms. Low to medium confidence. Tonight...Mostly MVFR. Shower activity will wane a bit later this evening but there could still be some terminal impacts. Looking like a majority of the activity stays north of a line from KLRD to KALI. Light easterly winds expected to veer more southeasterly. Medium confidence. && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... /Issued 444 AM CDT SUN MAY 15 2016/ Short Term (Today through Monday)... Stuck in the muck is one way to put it today. The column continues to modify today with pwats expected to climb close to 2 inches by later this afternoon. Quick hand surface analysis places the stalled frontal boundary just to our north early this morning but there are several other weakly defined mesoscale fronts/outflows across the Coastal Bend into the North Brush Country allowing for better low- level convergence and an increased convective activity. This trend will continue through much of the morning and into the afternoon hours. We have increased pops to likely for a majority of our CWA to account for better daytime instability present, the ongoing outflow influence and the stalled boundary nearby. We decided to hold off on any flash flood headlines this morning for a few reasons, mostly placement and how long will the heavier rainfall last plus not too sure how much our instability will recover after this morning's activity moves through. Models are showing a wetter solution moving into the late evening/overnight hours across our northern tier counties. Stronger mid-level shortwave riding along the stalled boundary and diffluent flow aloft with jet energy present will help to enhance the overall lift and add to the potential for localized flash flooding. Weak shear in place will allow for more multicell convective mode that could congeal into a backbuilding MCS given the strength of the Corfidi vectors late tonight. The best timing for the heavier rainfall is late this evening into the early Monday morning hours where a widespread 1 to 2 inches with localized higher amounts is possible. Given the MUCAPE is forecasted to be around 2000-2500J/kg this afternoon a few of the storms may contain small hail and gusty winds, wet microburts, as we continue to be outlooked as marginal for the severe thunderstorm threat. Once the shortwave moves through the region and to our east we will begin to see a gradual decrease in rain chances and overall coverage. Rain chances being mostly confined to the eastern third of the CWA. Models continue to show deeper instability in place Monday afternoon, but with weak shear, so a few of the storms may produce marginally severe hail and wind gusts. Long Term (Monday night through Saturday)...By Monday night, things should quiet down as the upper disturbance exits the region. However, this will be short-lived as yet another embedded short wave trough approaches the area on Tue and swings across the area through Tue night. The best chances will be across the northern portions of the CWA where deeper moisture and better proximity to upper dynamics are expected to be located. The GFS progs CAPE values above 5000J/Kg across the central portions of the CWA, however there will also be a strong capping inversion in place. The western portions of the CWA may just break the cap which may lead to some strong storms, possibly SVR storms. Storm Prediction Center has S TX in a slight risk for SVR weather for day 3/Tuesday. A cold front moving south through N and central TX will approach S TX by Wed/Wed night and likely stall just north or across the northern portions of the CWA. The front combined with ample moisture and another upper short wave warrants keeping higher pops in the forecast Wed through Thu, but do not want to go likely pops just yet as models have been flip flopping the timing of the short waves and the placement of the higher QPF values. Therefore, have generally broadbrushed 40-50 pops Wed-Thu time frame. Have pops trending down Thu night through Fri/Sat. As for temps in the long term, Tue looks to be the warmest day across the western CWA, then cooler temps the middle of the week due to increased rain chcs/clouds, then warming again the end of the week as rain chances and cloud cover decrease. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Corpus Christi 74 86 76 88 76 / 40 40 10 10 30 Victoria 69 84 74 87 73 / 60 60 20 30 50 Laredo 72 96 76 98 75 / 40 20 10 30 40 Alice 71 89 74 93 75 / 40 40 10 10 30 Rockport 74 84 77 83 77 / 50 50 20 10 30 Cotulla 70 91 72 94 71 / 60 30 10 30 40 Kingsville 72 89 76 92 76 / 40 30 10 10 30 Navy Corpus 75 83 77 84 77 / 50 30 10 10 20 && .CRP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...None. GM...None. && GH/77...SHORT TERM
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CORPUS CHRISTI TX 550 AM CDT SUN MAY 15 2016 TXZ229>234-239>247-161100- LA SALLE-MCMULLEN-LIVE OAK-BEE-GOLIAD-VICTORIA-WEBB-DUVAL- JIM WELLS-KLEBERG-NUECES-SAN PATRICIO-ARANSAS-REFUGIO-CALHOUN- 550 AM CDT SUN MAY 15 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS, HAIL, AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. FLOODING OF POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW-LYING AREAS IS POSSIBLE. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY THUNDERSTORMS CHANCES CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY THEN AGAIN TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE WEEK. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS SOUTH TEXAS IN A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ON MONDAY AND A SLIGHT RISK ON TUESDAY. THE MAIN THREAT WOULD BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER OR FLOODING REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GMZ230-235-250-255-270-275-161100- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS- BAYS AND WATERWAYS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO PORT O\CONNOR- COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT ARANSAS FROM 20 TO 60 NM- WATERS FROM PORT ARANSAS TO MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL FROM 20 TO 60 NM- 550 AM CDT SUN MAY 15 2016 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH TEXAS AND THE MIDDLE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT NUMEROUS THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TODAY ACROSS THE REGION. SOME OF THE STORMS MAY PRODUCE GUSTY WINDS, HAIL, AND VERY HEAVY RAINFALL. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY ONSHORE WINDS MAY INCREASE CLOSE TO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS MONDAY...MOSTLY ACROSS OUR OUTER GULF WATERS. THUNDERSTORMS CHANCES CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY THEN AGAIN TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE WEEK. THE STORM PREDICTION CENTER HAS SOUTH TEXAS IN A MARGINAL RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS ON MONDAY AND A SLIGHT RISK ON TUESDAY. THE MAIN THREAT WOULD BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WINDS. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SEVERE WEATHER REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. GH/TE
The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 44 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:41 UTC.
7 flash flood, 2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Roads were closed due to flooding at the intersection of North 17th Street and Lee Avenue.
Many roads were flooded and caused damage to some of the roadways in Aransas Pass. There were around 25 water rescues performed due to stranded motorists or water reaching into homes. Parts of Farm to Market Road 1069 were under flood waters. Hundreds of homes were affected by flood waters.
Many roads were flooded in the northern parts of Aransas Pass. North Commercial Avenue, North Houston, and North Avenue A were under flood waters. Numerous homes were affected by flood waters.
Torrential rainfall caused flooding across Corpus Christi, especially on the south side near Oso Creek and in Flour Bluff. Numerous water rescues occurred as many roads became impassable. Water was to the roof of cars in the low lying areas. About 20 units of the Treyway Terrace apartments were damaged by flooding. Flooding near the intersection of Saratoga Boulevard and Greenwood Drive caused a sewage overflow where 400 thousand gallons of wastewater spilled into La Volla Creek. Oso Parkway and Farm to Market Road 2444 near Oso Creek were under water. The basement at Ray High School was flooded. Hundreds of homes were affected by water reaching into them.
Ingleside Fire Department rescued residents from their homes on 4th Street. Numerous homes were flooded.
Several roads in the southern portion of Rockport were under water.
Flood waters from 10 to 12 inches of rainfall were slow to recede over a large area of Aransas Pass. Many streets remained impassable through the afternoon hours. Flood waters caused some damage to roads.
Flood waters from 10 to 12 inches of rainfall were slow to recede over portions of Corpus Christi from Flour Bluff to the southside along Oso Creek. Many streets remained impassable due to flood waters through the afternoon. Oso Parkway and Farm to Market Road 2444 near Oso Creek were under water. Flood waters caused damage to some roads.
Portions of Eleventh Street in Port Aransas were impassable due to flood waters.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Texas in 2016Every state in 2016This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, May 2016
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: 634769, 634783, 634791, 634788, 634790, 634789, 635074, 635075, 634792.