Flash Flood in Val Verde County, Texas

Heavy rain began falling over southern Val Verde County early on the morning of May 27. The rain continued through the morning, with reports from the city of Del Rio of accumulations approaching 6 inches by 8 am CST. An additional 2.5 inches of rain fell over the Del Rio area between 8 am and 2 pm. As a result of the rainfall, county roads flooded across the southern third of the county. Some of the worst flooding occurred in and around the city of Del Rio, where 11 people were evacuated to shelter at the Civic Center as water threatened to enter their homes. Many students were unable to get to their schools that morning. Others who had reached their schools were dismissed early as soon as a temporary break in the heavy rainfall occurred. Law enforcement officials guarded the most dangerous low water crossings through the morning and mid afternoon. This rainfall set a record for the month of May.

Showers and thunderstorms associated with Erin spread across the northwest half of Val Verde County in the mid-afternoon. Rain totals averaged between 3 and 4 inches with up to 8 inches east of Juno and around Pandale. Flash flooding began in the evening and continued through midnight into the early morning hours. SH163, FM189, and FM1024 were reported closed due to high water.

Showers and thunderstorms moving across the county from mid morning through the late evening produced general 2 to 3 inch totals over the eastern half of the county. Isolated totals to 5 inches were indicated near Del Rio. Roads in and around low water crossings were closed from the late morning into the mid and late afternoon over the northeast part of the county. Roads in and around the Del Rio area were closed from noon through midnight. Damages were generally confined to roads and bridges.