Three teams of National Weather Service employees from the NWS Corpus Christi office surveyed the flooded rivers on July 3^rd, 10^th, and 11^th. Aerial photographs were taken with digital cameras, and can be enlarged by clicking on the graphic. Aerial photos were taken by Steve Smart, Hydrometeorological Technician (HMT) and Andy Patrick, Science Operations Officer (SOO) - NWS Corpus Christi employees. Other photographs were made available courtesy of the Victoria Advocate Newspaper in Victoria Texas.

Synoptic Weather Pattern

A slow-moving tropical wave moved west across the northern Gulf of Mexico and into south Texas during the week of June 30^th to July 7^th. An abundance of tropical moisture accompanied the tropical wave. The tropical wave moved inland over central Texas and became a stationary low pressure system.

Winds circulate counter-clockwise around low pressure. During the night, disturbances developed on the western side of the low over north central Texas and moved south through the heart of the state generating tremendous amounts of rain. During the day, disturbances developed on the eastern side of the low along the southern Mexican coast south of Brownsville, and moved north spreading tropical rains into the Coastal Bend and Texas Hill Country.

The low pressure system remained stationary over south Texas for a week bringing disastrous flooding to parts of the Texas Hill Country and south Texas. Total rainfall amounts of 25 to 35 inches were reported across the Texas Hill Country with 10 to 15 inch amounts noted over the Coastal Bend and Rio Grande Plains. This set the stage for record flooding of creeks and rivers in the area. On July 14-16, another heavy rainfall event occurred which caused the rivers to rise again. The Guadalupe River , San Antonio River , Atascosa River , Frio River , and Nueces River all reached major flood levels. Click on the following link to observe the Storm Total Rainfall for the last few days of the event. Storm Total Rainfall for July 14-16

NWS Corpus Christi Performance During the Flood Event

Days before the event occurred, NWS Corpus Christi issued a heavy rainfall outlook alerting south Texas to the possibility of heavy rains. Once the rains began, a Flash Flood watch was issued. Because of the flooding rains, A total of 62 Flash Flood Warning were issued covering 14 out of 15 counties in our County Warning Area over a duration of 179 hours. During the next two weeks, the NWS in Corpus Christi issued a total of 370 river forecast updates for 11 river forecast points along 5 major rivers.

The NWS in Corpus Christi received hundreds of phone calls during the event from concerned citizens living along the rivers. Most calls were from folks along the Guadalupe and Nueces Rivers. Despite the disastrous floods no lives were reported lost in our county warning area, however there was one major injury. Numerous photos, graphs, and statistics of this disastrous flood are provided within this detailed flood survey.

President Declares Texas Disaster Area

On July 4, 2002, the heavy rains and extensive flooding caused President Bush to declare a major disaster for Texas making federal assistance available for specific counties inundated by flood waters. Over half the counties in the NWS Corpus Christi County Warning Area were declared a disaster.

Aerial Flood Survey

Two dedicated NWS Corpus Christi employees, Steve Smart (HMT) and Andy Patrick (SOO) conducted a flood survey on July 13, 2002. Their Cessna 172 was piloted by Rich Rowe, Jr., Corpus Christi School of Aviation. Their 3 1/2 hour journey began at the Corpus Christi International Airport. They first photographed the San Antonio and Guadalupe River confluence. Next, they flew north over the Guadalupe River to Nursery, then south to view the San Antonio River at Goliad. Choke Canyon Reservoir and Lake Corpus Christi were surveyed before following the Nueces River back to Corpus Christi.

The following is an account of the flight and aerial survey - by Steve Smart, NWS Corpus Christi.

The amazement in seeing Choke Canyon and Lake Corpus Christi filled with precious water was sobered by sights of fields, bridges, buildings, homes and property inundated by flood waters. The extent and magnitude of the river flooding offered a surreal yet eye-opening experience. Surveying our area by aircraft, it was evident that flooding in our County Warning Area was far beyond closing a few roadways, overflowing drainage ditches, or inconveniencing the casual commuter. It dramatically altered the landscape we are accustomed to seeing. Beyond words and description, the flooding incapacitated and devastated communities, families, and individuals.

The flooded rivers seemed to herald a stark reminder that weather and the elements will not be mastered or contained. After our aerial survey was completed, it was easy to think and believe how catastrophic it will be when a major hurricane strikes our region. Our only hope is that the people of south Texas realize, plan and brace for the worst of weather conditions to occur when least expected.

For south Texas, this weather event was kind in ways. True and sadly, it consumed property, washed away agricultural resources, and caused many to modify their current lifestyles. However, it did not cause the loss of lives in the Corpus Christi county warning areas and we were left with a gift of water reserves for future use. Will the next weather event be so kind and will we be adequately prepared to face it? Lets hope so.

Excessive rainfall in the Guadalupe River Basin led to flash flooding and eventually major river flooding along the lower Guadalupe River Basin.

While the most devastating flooding along the Guadalupe River was in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area, major flooding also occurred in the Victoria area. Beginning Monday afternoon July 1, the Guadalupe River began to slowly rise from approximately 8 feet to 10 feet by early Tuesday morning July 2. The river rose more sharply and reached flood stage (21 feet) over the next 24 hours.

During the next eight days, the river rose gradually reaching 30.36 feet in Victoria on Wednesday July 10 at 8pm. At the Dupont plant in Bloomington, flooding occurred in a similar manner. Flooding was mainly confined to the southwest side of Victoria including Riverside Park, low roadways along Highway 59, and the flood plain from Victoria south to the San Antonio River Confluence (see the photos below).

At the early stages of the event, the NWS Corpus Christi received hundreds of phone calls from concerned citizens along the Guadalupe River. Many were significantly impacted by the floods of 1998. How does this flood compare with the record floods of 1998?

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge in Victoria from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood. Also during the flood, Victoria gauge readings were confirmed by our backup gauge the the CPL plant in South Victoria.

The graph on the right shows the all time record flood events for the Guadalupe River at Victoria. As you can see when viewing the actual amount of water flowing down the Guadalupe River, the flood of July 2002 pales in comparison to the flood of August 1998. During the height of the July 2002 flood, over 60,000 cubic feet of water was measured flowing past the gauge per second (cfs). During the height of the August 1998 flood, the flow was measured at nearly one-half a million cfs.

Click the link for the forecast statistics for the Guadalupe River at Victoria

Excessive rainfall in the San Antonio River Basin led to flash flooding and eventually near record flooding along the Lower San Antonio Basin.

During the last week of June and the first week of July 2002, an upper level disturbance moved slowly from the western Gulf into Texas Big Bend area. This disturbance allowed for a significant increase in tropical moisture over central and south Texas. While this system brought beneficial rainfall to the region, excessive rainfall (as much as 30 inches), especially near the San Antonio area and over the Texas Hill Country, led to flash flooding and eventually river flooding along the upper San Antonio River Basin.

Beginning on the morning of July 1, rapid rises began in the Falls City area as flood waters primarily from the Medina River moved south. In Goliad, rises in the San Antonio River began on the morning of July 2. Prior to the onset of flood waters, the stage at Goliad was near 4 feet. By the morning of July 4, the river rose to flood stage (25 feet), and during the next five to six days, the river continued to slowly rise cresting at 52.24 feet at 11:30 PM on Tuesday July 9. The river began to slowly fall on Wednesday July 10, but new rains upstream will cause the river to rise again.

Access to the city of Goliad was limited due to the massive flooding. North bound U.S Highway 183 and Highway 2441 were closed a few miles south of town. U.S. Highway 59 was also closed east and west of Goliad. Numerous streets and homes were flooded within the town of Goliad.

The crest of 52.24 feet was second highest flood of record. The record flood of 53.70 feet occurred on September 23, 1967 as Hurricane Beulah brought torrential rains to central and south Texas.

Click for San Antonio River Forecast Statistics for Goliad

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge in Victoria from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood. Also during the flood, Victoria gauge readings were confirmed by our backup gauge the the CPL plant in South Victoria.

The graph on the right shows the all time record flood events for the San Antonio River at Goliad. Only Hurricane Beulah surpassed the record flooding for this event. Continue scrolling for flood photos.

Excessive rainfall in the Nueces River Basin led to flash flooding and eventually major river flooding along the Atascosa River near Whitsett.

Beginning Monday afternoon July 1, the Atascosa River was slowly falling below 5 feet. But Monday night the river rose sharply, reaching flood stage of 20 feet by midnight. The river continued to rise cresting at 28.23 feet by noon Tuesday July 2nd.

This flood was the fourth highest flood on record, with the record flood occurred on Sept 23, 1967, when Hurricane Beulah made landfall on the Texas coast.

Click for Atascosa River Forecast Statistics for Whitsett

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge in Whitsett from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

The graph on the right shows the all time record flood events for the Atascosa River at Whitsett. While Hurricane Beulah produced the record, this event was the fourth highest crest.

Excessive rainfall in the Nueces River Basin led to flash flooding and eventually major river flooding along the Nueces River from Cotulla to Calallen.

The flooding across the Nueces River Basin began on July 1^st. A River Flood Statement was first issued for the Nueces River early on the 1^st. As the rain continued this statement was followed by Flash Flood warnings across many of our western counties. Things began snow-balling as the day progressed and by the afternoon of the 1^st, flooding was in full tilt across the northern areas of the Nueces Basin. Thunderstorms and heavy rain continued off and on from the 1^st through the 16^th.

The Nueces at Cotulla went above flood stage for the first time for this event on the afternoon of the 1^st. As the evening progressed the rain continued and caused many of the smaller rivers and creeks across the area to approach, or exceed flood stages.

July the 1^st was a precursor of what was to be, in many areas, record, or near record floods.

Click on the following links to view the products and flood statistics for each location on the Nueces River.

• Nueces River at Cotulla Statistics
• Nueces River south of Tilden Statistics
• Nueces River at Three Rivers Statistics
• Nueces River at Mathis Statistics
• Nueces River at Bluntzer Statistics
• Nueces River at Calallen Statistics

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge in Cotulla from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge 11 miles south of Tilden from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge at Three Rivers from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge at Mathis from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge at Bluntzer from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. Bluntzer is not an official forecast site but may become one in the coming year.

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge at Calallen from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.

Excessive rainfall in the Nueces River Basin led to flash flooding and eventually Record river flooding along the Frio River at Tilden. The previous record of 29.80 feet was set on June 28, 1997.

Beginning Monday afternoon July 1, the Frio River began to quickly rise from approximately 2 feet to 25 feet by late Monday evening July 1, surpassing the flood stage of 22 feet. The river continued to slowly rise over the next 9 days cresting at a new record high of 30.06 feet at 10:30 AM CDT July 10, 2002.

This flood caused extensive inundation from Tilden to Choke Canyon reservoir. See the images below to view the flooding

Click for Frio River Forecast Statistics at Tilden

The graph on the left depicts the preliminary unofficial river reading from the gauge in Tilden from July 1-15, 2002. The blue line is the actual measurement of the river in feet. The colored lines depict the collection of forecasts issued by the National Weather Service West Gulf River Forecast Center in Fort Worth, Texas. River forecasts were updated every 12 hours during the event, and more frequently during the height of the flood.