May 29^th & June 19^th
Flood Events
Montra Lockwood, Service Hydrologist
Sam Shamburger, Journeyman Forecaster
 

A significant, but isolated, rain event began late in the evening of May 28 through May 29.  The combination of deep tropical moisture, a surface boundary and weak steering winds aloft contributed to the development of cluster of thunderstorms along the Interstate 10 corridor in Jefferson and Orange Counties in southeast Texas.  This cluster remained stationary for nearly 12 hours.   

Moderate to heavy rain fell continuously across much of the Pine Island Bayou watershed in western and northern Jefferson County, and also across portions of extreme western Orange County.  Rainfall totals of 8 to 12 inches were common in these areas.  Based on radar estimates, some isolated amounts of up to 16 inches fell across western Jefferson County.  Much of the rainfall occurred about 5 miles northwest of the Southeast Texas Regional Airport, where the official NWS rainfall is measured.  Still, a daily rainfall record occurred at the airport with 1.98 inches of rain reported for the 29^th.  

From June 16^th through June 20^th, another significant rain event occurred.  This event was the result of an upper level low meandering over southeast Texas.  This low interacted with deep tropical moisture in place to produce several rounds of rain and thunderstorms during the five day period.

The heaviest of these rains fell during the early morning hours of June 19.  These flooding rains resulted from the low becoming nearly stationary near Houston.  With deep moisture over the area, heavy rain fell for several hours across portions of southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. The heaviest rains occurred from Port Arthur to Lake Charles.  Rainfall totals of 3 to 6 inches were common in this area, but localized amounts of up to 12 inches were estimated by radar.