National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office

During the week of August 28 through September 5, 2001, South Texas experienced a significant rainfall event in which 10 to 20 inches of rain fell across the area, providing much needed rainfall, but causing widespread flooding across the area. Doppler radar Storm Total Precipitation Map shows where the heaviest rains fell.

The heavy rains caused significant flooding of area streams, creeks and rivers in the Coastal Bend, cutting off many roads, some major highways and stranding families in their homes. The most significant flooding occurred along the Guadalupe River near Victoria, Coleto Creek near Victoria, San Antonio River in Goliad, Aransas River at Skidmore, and San Fernando Creek in Alice. During the height of the storm, Texas DPS had to rescue folks by helicopter. Because of timely warnings, the hard work of our dedicated emergency managers and law enforcement, no lives were lost!

This rainfall event took place during the peak of hurricane season. Abundant tropical moisture from the remains of tropical storm Chantal moved up the western Gulf of Mexico into South Texas. The moisture collided with an upper level low pressure system parked over the state which allowed for the formation of showers and thunderstorms for several days.

The photograph shown here is of a heavy rain producing thunderstorm over the Victoria Airport. Observations at the airport measured over 2.50 inches of rain in less than an hour. This caused flash flooding at the entrance of the airport. Garcitas Creek, about 8 miles east of Victoria near the town of Inez, cut off the frontage road along highway 59.

Some of this rainfall fell in the Corpus Christi watershed. The level of Lake Corpus Christi rose 9.1 feet between August 28 and September 9. This increase brought the pool level up to 68% of capacity, versus 21.3% the week before. The Choke Canyon reservoir system only rose 1 foot during this same time period bringing the pool level up to 33.6% of capacity, versus 31.8% the week before. The combined totals rose from 29.1% to 42.5% during this time.