In 2015, winter storms resulted in numerous vehicle accidents, fatalities, and closures of schools and businesses. The ice stifled air and ground travel. Sadly, the icy roads claimed the lives of 5 motorists last winter; two on Interstate 10 in Crockett County, two near Mertzon and one near Rochester. Spring storms produced tornadoes, wind, hail, and floods that also threatened our livelihood, while Drought and wildfires plagued area farmers and ranchers.
One man drowned from flooding in Brown County.
The National Weather Service said in a news release, “We are extremely grateful for our first responders who constantly save lives from hazardous weather. Special thanks to our local emergency officials who work diligently to warn and protect their communities. We are also thankful to many partners in emergency management, fire departments, law enforcement, amateur radio operators, county judges, DPS, USGS, TxDOT, Farm Safety Service, radio, TV, and social media, NWS Cooperative Observers, rainfall observers, and trained spotters who assist us with real time reports.”
Following is a recap of the most significant weather events of 2015.
Winter Storms
December 30-January 2
A high impact winter storm event affected much of West Central Texas during the period from December 30, 2014 through noon on January 2, 2015. The winter storm continued through midnight on January 3rd for areas north of Interstate 20. The freezing rain and sleet formed an icy glaze on area roads that either slowed or shut down ground travel, air travel and commerce across much of the region by the morning of December 31st. There were hundreds of accidents in the cities of
Abilene and San Angelo. A hospital in San Angelo had to divert patients as it ran out of room. Full diversion status means there are not enough beds or staff available in the facility to adequately care for more patients. An arctic cold front caused temperatures to drop below freezing across much of the region by the afternoon and the evening of the 30th. And these freezing temperatures remained through New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
February 22-23
An upper level disturbance moving over a frigid air mass brought areas of sleet and freezing rain to the Big Country. Periods of sleet and some freezing rain resulted in roads becoming icy over the northern half of West Central Texas, resulting in numerous school closures and some vehicular accidents.
Tornadoes
April 22 EF0 2 miles north northwest of Wastella in northwest Nolan County
April 24 EF1 Began 11 miles east-northeast of Winters and crossed the Runnels/Coleman County line about 5 miles southwest of Novice and ended 2 miles north of Novice.
April 26 EF0 1 mile north northwest of Burkett
April 26 EF0 2 miles west northwest of May
April 26 EF1 2 miles northwest of Lake Brownwood
May 5 EF0 4 miles southwest of Silver
May 5 EF0 14 miles north of Sterling City
May 6 EF0 8 miles west of Throckmorton
May 6 EF0 10 miles west northwest of Throckmorton
May 6 EF0 4 miles northwest of Elbert
May 8 EF0 4 miles east of O’Brien
May 8 EF0 13 miles northwest of Throckmorton
May 8 EF0 1 mile north northwest of Throckmorton
May 25 EF0 Fisher/Nolan County line along U.S. Highway 70
Floods/Flash Floods
May 18-19
This flash flood impacted Tom Green County and San Angelo, flooding several homes, numerous roads and low water crossings across the city and county. Loop 306 was flooded at Knickerbocker Road and Jefferson Street. Water covered U.S. Highway 87 and surrounding fields for a considerable distance about 1 mile east of Wall. At 1139 PM CDT, a NWS employee, located 6 miles south southwest of San Angelo, measured 4.64 inches of rain in a 90 minute period. An amateur radio operator reported 6.51 inches of rain about 12 miles south of San Angelo. A woman was rescued from a car that was swept away 3 miles west southwest of San Angelo at the Southwest Boulevard low water crossing. At 103 AM CDT, the San Angelo Regional Airport was closed because of flooding and flights were diverted to Abilene. San Angelo police confirmed one fatality in a vehicle crash on Knickerbocker Road near Bentwood Country Club.
The driver lost control in the very heavy rain as his truck hydroplaned and collided with a tree. The Concho River at Carlsbad was classified as a major flood. At 5 AM CDT, on May 19, the Concho River at Carlsbad went above the 12 foot flood stage. The river crested to 21.45 feet at 8 AM CDT and fell below flood stage at 615 PM CDT. The river flooded homes along the river including parts of San Angelo State Park. About 150 homes were flooded throughout Tom Green County including San Angelo. These homes were flooded by the river and from earlier flash flooding and the cost of damage was around 0.5 million dollars.
May 23
US Highway 377 had six feet of water over the road near South Llano State Park.
July7-8
A complex of thunderstorms dumped very heavy rainfall that resulted in flash flooding across a large part of West Central Texas that included Abilene, Brownwood, Brady, San Angelo, and Coleman. Abilene Police Department reported several vehicle water rescues across the city with water entering some homes. Streets were also beginning to flood across town. The Abilene ASOS measured 5.40 inches of rain at 0735 AM CDT.
Abilene Police Department reported 34 water rescues between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. CDT across the City of Abilene. Abilene Regional Airport received 8.26 inches of rainfall on July 7, setting an all-time daily record.
The previous record of 6.54 inches was on May 11, 1928. Many of the low water crossings were flooded. Most of the creeks in the Button Willow area of south Abilene overflowed their banks. On July 8, a man drowned when his truck was swept off the road by rushing waters approximately 6 miles north of Bangs where Jim Ned Creek crosses FM 2492 near County Road
105. The driver was able to exit the vehicle but was quickly washed downstream. Flood water from Pecan Bayou was overflowing several bridges with up to a foot of water reported in parts of Brownwood.
The Kroger Parking lot filled with water up to the entrance.
Some shelters were also opened.
October 22
Very heavy rainfall in the Concho River watershed resulted in river flooding near Sterling City.
Drought
The drought continued to expand across West Central Texas through April before coming to an end in May. The record breaking wet spring came to an end after floods in early July. However, West Central Texas experienced a very dry and hot extended period through mid-October, resulting in the development of moderate drought across the region. As the rains returned in October and November, the region was no longer in a drought. Wildfires
As the rains ended in early July, hardly any rain fell through mid-October.
Plenty of the vegetation that blossomed from the wet spring quickly dried and fueled many wildfires that burned over 45,000 acres across West Central Texas.
About half of the acreage in the Lone Star State burned in West Central Texas this past summer and kept fire crews very busy.
October 15 – 17
Wildfire southwest of Brownwood.
Two ways to keep safe:
1) Always have more than one way to receive forecast and warning information via phone apps and weather radio;
2) Know what to do by having a plan!
