Texas Flooding
One of the flooding disasters on NOAA’s billion-dollar list: $1.8 billion in losses at 2024 prices ($942 million at the time) and 31 deaths.
What the offices filed during it
The 38 most significant flooding episodes filed in these dates, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Losses, 2024 dollars
- $1.8 billion
- Losses at the time
- $942 million
- Deaths
- 31
The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.
By state, as filed
| State | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 66 | 26 | 6,090 | $599 million |
| Alaska | 6 | 0 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| Puerto Rico | 6 | 2 | 0 | $2.2 million |
| Iowa | 19 | 0 | 0 | $640,000 |
| California | 2 | 0 | 14 | $320,000 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | 0 | 0 | $100,000 |
| Arizona | 10 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Kansas | 6 | 0 | 0 | $2,000 |
| Missouri | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Illinois | 11 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Episode by episode
- Flood in Hawaii, October 15, 1998Heavy showers affected the Hamakua, North and South Hilo, and Puna districts on the Big Island. Highway 19 near Hakalau was closed for a few hours due to a landslide.
- Flood and Hail in Kansas, October 16 to 17, 1998Heavy rain caused minor flooding for a time in Lawrence. Nearly 3 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period from mid afternoon of the 16th to mid afternoon of the 17th.
- Flooding in Missouri, October 17 to 23, 1998Locally heavy thunderstorm rains on October 17th produced another episode of river flodding over West Central Missouri during the October 17th to 21st time period.Big CreekBlairstown, MOFlood Stage 20 ftAbove Flood Stage 10/17 to 10/19Crest 24.6 ft on 10/18South Grand…
- Flood in Kansas, October 17, 1998Minor flooding occurred along the Delaware River in Muscotah, KS on October 17th.Delaware RiverMuscotah, KSFlood Stage 27 ftAbove Flood Stage 10/17Crest 27.91 ft
- Flash Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 19, 1998The Great October FloodIn advance of a very slow-moving upper level trough of low pressure over West Texas, a cold front drifted slowly southeastward into West Central Texas during the evening of Friday, October 16th.
- Flooding in Iowa, October 17 to 20, 1998October of 1998 was a fairly wet month across Iowa, in sharp contrast to September. According to the data provided by the State Climatologist, Harry Hillaker, October of 1998 was the 4th wettest on record with a statewide average rainfall of 4.82 inches.
- Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 20, 1998Flooding along the San Antonio River, Cibolo Creek and Geronimo CreekIn Bexar County, the San Antonio River begins just below Olmos Dam where it merges with spring flow.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 20, 1998Flooding along the Medina River, Olmos Creek, Leon Creek, Helotes Creek, and Salado CreekThe Medina River in Bexar County produced moderate lowland flooding from above Lacoste to above the San Antonio gauge at Highway 281.
- Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 21, 1998Flooding along the Guadalupe RiverThe Guadalupe River at New Braunfels crested at 35.1 feet, with flood stage at 7 feet. This was over three feet higher than the disastrous flood of May 12, 1972.
- Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 20, 1998Flooding along the San Marcos RiverIn Hays County, the flooding along the San Marcos River was most devastating to the eastern part of San Marcos, with many permanent homes flooded and several mobile homes washed from their sites, Homes and apartments were flooded along the San…
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 19, 1998Flooding along the Comal RiverAt New Braunfels, the Comal River reached well above the flood stage of 15 feet, causing widespread flooding of homes in New Braunfels along Dry Comal Creek. Water rose to the roofs of some of the lowest homes.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 18, 1998Shoal Creek at W 12th Street in Austin crested at 15.4 feet. This level flooded several businesses downstream up to two feet, and put nearly feet of water over Shoal Creek Boulevard just above W 12th Street.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 18, 1998Sandies Creek in Dewitt County crested at 28.6 feet, with flood stage at 21 feet. Flow just barely topped the two- foot high railing at the bridge near Westhoff.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 19, 1998Flooding along the Blanco RiverAt Wimberley, the Blanco River crested at 26.7 feet, with flood stage at 13 feet. Several businesses in Wimberley were flooded.
- Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 20, 1998Flooding along the Colorado River.The Colorado River at Bastrop reached a crest of 32.3 feet, with flood stage 25 feet, flooding a golf course. At Smithville, the Colorado crested at 34.6 feet, where flood stage is 20 feet.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 18, 1998Berry Creek crested at 12.3' at IH 35 near Georgetown, flood stage 11 feet, causing moderate lowland flooding, but with no reports of significant damage.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 19, 1998Plum Creek at Lockhart crested at 22.2 feet, with flood stage at 15 feet. The Creek was reported to be near a mile wide, flooding Highway 183 near Lockhart.
- Flooding in Texas, October 17 to 28, 1998Severe flooding revisited the Houston HSA during the month of October. The event began Saturday afternoon October 17th as train echo development across the northwest HSA.
- Flooding in Illinois, October 17, 1998Three to 5 inches of rain fell over parts of north central and northeast Illinois. Most of the rain fell from mid afternoon through early evening. The heavy rain caused flooding of streets and small streams in the area.
- Flash Flooding in Iowa, October 17, 1998Rain developed over Northern Missouri and spread across Iowa and Illinois with two to four inches of rain falling across much of Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois by late afternoon.
- Flash Flooding in Illinois, October 17 to 18, 1998Rain developed over Northern Missouri during the early morning hours and spread northward dumping two to four inches of rain across much of Eastern Iowa and Northwest Illinois by late afternoon.
- Flash Flood in Kansas, October 17, 1998Thunderstorms produced localized flooding of low lying areas and roadways.
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, October 17, 1998Thunderstorms produces localized flooding of low areas and low water crossings.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 20, 1998Flooding along the Lavaca and Navidad RiversThe Navidad River near Sublime at Highway 90A crested at 32.2 feet, with flood stage 24 feet, causing major flooding. Near Speaks at FM 530, the river rose to 28.5 feet, with the flood stage at 24 feet.
- Flood in Texas, October 17 to 18, 1998Flooding along the Sabinal and Frio Rivers The Sabinal River crested at 14.7 feet Sunday morning, where flood stage is 12 feet, producing moderate lowland flooding from above Sabinal to the Frio River confluence.
- Flash Flood in Texas, October 18, 1998FM 819 closed between Sandy Drive and Daniel MC Call due to high water.
- Flood in Oklahoma, October 18 to 20, 1998The Neosho River at Commerce rose above its flood stage of 15 feet and reached a flood crest of 17.0 feet at 6 AM CDT on October 19.
- Flash Flood in Texas, October 18, 1998Over 5 inches of rain fell in the Evadale area, according to SKYWARN observers. Several streets were flooded.
- Flash Flood in Texas, October 18, 1998Widespread street flooding. Fifty houses damaged by high water, mainly in the Las Lomas and Chaparral Subdivisions.
- Flash Flood in Texas, October 18, 1998SKYWARN spotters recorded up to 5 inches of rain during the afternoon across Orange County, resulting in widespread flooding. 26 roads were closed across Orange County, and sandbags were passed out to residents in Bridge City.
- Flood in Puerto Rico, October 19, 1998Civil Defense indicated urban flooding in downtown Mayaguez.
- Flash Flooding and High Wind in Alaska, October 20 to 27, 1998Flooding occurred along the Taiya and Skagway Rivers due to heavy rain over Oct.19-20. The Haines ASOS measured 4.40 inches of rain in 24 hours. A Park Service Campground near Haines was flooded, and the highways along the rivers near Skagway were damaged due to erosion.
- Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 22, 1998A slow moving tropical wave south of Puerto Rico produced widespread flash flooding across the southwest and south sections of Puerto Rico. Several low lying sectors, streets and neighbourhoods in Guanica, Cabo Rojo, Yauco, Ponce and Penuelas flooded due to these heavy rains.
- Flash Flood in U.S. Virgin Islands, October 22 to 23, 1998A slow moving tropical wave produced heavy rains across most of St. Croix. Flooding of streets and low lying areas was observed in Frederiksted and the Princess and Whim sectors. Several homes were reported flooded in the western half of the island.
- Flash Flooding in Puerto Rico, October 22, 1998A slow moving tropical wave produced between 6 to 8 inches of rain during afternoon and evening hours across eastern Puerto Rico. Widespread flooding was observed across the eastern and central interior sections of Puerto Rico.
- Flood and Dust Storm in California, October 24, 1998The cool season's first significant rain pushed through Central California starting about 1100 PDT in Merced County and through Kern County by 2100 PDT.
- Flash Flood and Hail in Arizona, October 25 to 30, 1998Church services interrupted by hail and very heavy rain.
- Flood in Arizona, October 25, 1998Heavy rain caused ponding of water to a depth of 6 inches along Route 66 in Flagstaff.
More
Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 1998Tornadoes in 1998
Sources
NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.