Flood in Hidalgo County, Texas

Several thunderstorms crossed southern Hidalgo County during the afternoon of October 10, 2017. The most persistent band affected the McAllen/Metro area between 130 and 3 PM CST, dropping several inches of rain and resulting in numerous road closures due to high water from the west side of town (Nolana and 23rd to 29th Street) to the south side of town (10th and Wichita, just east of Miller Airport). For the day, 5.07 inches of rain fell at Miller Airport, more than double the monthly average. Additional heavy rainfall of 3.5 inches fell in La Joya and 3.79 inches in nearby Mission to the west. Local minor flooding may have also occurred in these areas, but reports were unavailable as of this writing.

Bands of heavy rainfall associated with repeating thunderstorms eventually were too much for local drainage systems to handle in the south part of Weslaco to the north part of Progresso. Bias corrected radar estimates of more than 5 inches of rain likely contributed to street flooding in the Quail Hollow neighborhood in south Weslaco, where 2 feet of standing water backed up and allowed minimal passage of vehicles through the neighborhood. Water failed to flow through a nearby drain, worsening the situation.

Street flooding of some poor drainage neighborhoods and urban areas was reported in Pharr when a steadily moving thunderstorm with heavy rainfall passed through the area. Near the intersection of Jackson Road and West Sam Houston Boulevard, one call was stalled in the road in water depth of approximately 2 feet. Other areas had one foot or more of water, with some diversion of traffic around the flood. No non-vehicle property damage was reported.