41
Recorded events
4
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$10.2M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Washington County, Texas: 41 recorded events between 1996 and 2024. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #797 nationally and #122 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Washington County, Texas: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Washington County is the 1990s, when 14 of the county's 41 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Washington County archive, flash flood makes up 19.2% of all recorded severe weather across 7 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #797 for this hazard and #122 within Texas, putting it in the 73.6 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jan is the peak month for flash flood in Washington County with 6 recorded events, while Apr is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2016 | BURTON | 0 | 4 | 0 | $10.0M |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 2024 | WESLEY | 0 | $0 |
| Jan 24, 2024 | WESLEY | 0 | $0 |
| Jan 24, 2024 | WESLEY | 0 | $0 |
| Jan 24, 2024 | WESLEY | 0 | $0 |
| Jan 24, 2024 | WESLEY | 0 | $0 |
| Oct 31, 2018 | GAY HILL | 0 | $0 |
| Mar 29, 2018 | BURTON | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 27, 2017 | BURTON | 0 | $0 |
| May 26, 2016 | BURTON | 0 | $10.0M |
| Oct 25, 2015 | GAY HILL | 0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Washington County
- Thunderstorm Wind 72
- Hail 55
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Flood waters inundated homes and there were numerous water rescues in the town of Brenham and around the county. Sections of Highway 36 were impassable due to water over the roadway from Brenham and Somerville. FM 2935 at New Year's Creek was closed due to flooding. All of FM 390 from Burton eastward to FM 105, as well as SH 36 at Highway 290, was closed. There were four fatalities in Washington County. Over 20 inches of rain was measured at one gauge. Damages are estimated.
Flooding on Chapell Hill Road between Chapell Hill and Brenham.A powerful squall line associated with a strong cold front swept quickly across southeast Texas on the night of the 5th. This was one of the most significant severe weather events of the year. Wind damage was widespread with heavy rainfall and flash flooding occurring in the northern part of southeast Texas. Two tornadoes were reported, an F1 near Conroe in Montgomery County and an F0 near Shepherd in San Jacinto County.
Numerous county-wide roads and some downtown Brenham streets were closed due to flooding. FM 1155 at New Years Creek and a portion of FM 2935 were closed due to high water. Some of these roadways were closed due to high water over them through Wednesday evening.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Washington County, Texas?
41 flash flood events are recorded in Washington County between 1996 and 2024, causing 4 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Washington County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Washington County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Washington County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Flash Flood in Washington County, Texas.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/texas/washington-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.