Tropical-like rainfall occurred over portions of west Texas during the last weekend in September. On Sunday the 26th, widespread flash floods resulted from heavy rains that accompanied a complex of warm topped convection that propagated slowly from the mountains of southwest Texas and the Big Bend northeast across the Permian Basin.A sudden onset of dangerous flash flooding conditions at sunrise caught campers by surprise in the Davis Mountains. At least four people were isolated by raging flood waters at two camp sites in rural portions of that county. Campers at one site were stranded for nearly twenty-four hours before a rescue helicopter was used to lift them to safety.The threat of significant flash flooding spread northeast across the Upper Trans Pecos and the west Texas Permian Basin through the afternoon and evening hours. This resulted in dangerous driving conditions across portions of the area. A car was swept off of a highway by flood waters in Gaines County during the early evening hours. Serious injuries or deaths were narrowly avoided when two semi-trucks lost control and hydroplaned off of a rain soaked Interstate 20 in Howard County. One truck barely missed emergency workers who were attending to the initial accident.    The heavy rainfall began to subside across most of the region by late evening on the 26th. Flash flooding continued in some locations as runoff persisted through much of the night. No injuries were reported across the area.

Flash Flood in LOVING, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 11:00:00 to 26-SEP-04 14:15:00 (CST)
Location: MENTONE
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Several public reports indicated flash flooding across western Loving County. At 11:00 CST, at least one foot of water was reported flowing over Farm to Market Road 652 in the northwestern parts of the county. Additional flooding was reported at 11:45 CST along County Road 300 one mile north of Mentone, where flowing water up to one foot deep crossed the road.

Flash Flood in DAWSON, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 19:50:00 to 26-SEP-04 23:00:00 (CST)
Location: LAMESA
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Several locations were inundated by flood waters in Lamesa. Flash flooding caused high water to flow through Forest Park and along North Main Street.

Flash Flood in GAINES, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 19:15:00 to 27-SEP-04 00:30:00 (CST)
Location: SEMINOLE
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Portions of U.S. Highway 62/180 were impassable due to flowing flood waters west of Seminole. Numerous secondary roads also were inundated in the immediate area.

Flash Flood in HOWARD, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 17:55:00 to 26-SEP-04 20:00:00 (CST)
Location: BIG SPRING
Property damage: 20K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

The Big Spring Police Department barricaded several city streets due to flowing flood waters that resulted from flash flooding. The most significant flooding was reported in the city's northwest side. At 18:43 CST a motorist was stranded in flood waters at the 1400th block of Sixth Street. Northwest Second and Benton Streets also were closed.

Flash Flood in BREWSTER, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 08:25:00 to 26-SEP-04 14:00:00 (CST)
Location: ALPINE
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

A trained spotter reported flood waters crossing State Highway 118 twenty miles south of Alpine at 08:25 CST. Flash flooding also inundated numerous rural secondary roadways at Terlingua Ranch near State Highway 118 in southern Brewster County. Before the heavy rainfall ended across Brewster County during the late afternoon, additional flash flooding was reported near Terlingua. Law enforcement officials reported that several low water crossings there flooded and several local highways were impassable.

Flash Flood in GAINES, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 14:55:00 to 27-SEP-04 01:00:00 (CST)
Location: SEAGRAVES
Property damage: 15K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Flash flooding inundated Texas Highway 214 near the Gaines/Yoakam County line. At 14:55 CST a car was washed off of the highway just south of the county line by flowing flood waters. Local emergency officials closed the highway after the driver of the vehicle was brought to safety and it was not re-opened until the water receded after midnight CST.

Flash Flood in WINKLER, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 16:50:00 to 26-SEP-04 21:00:00 (CST)
Location: WINK
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Texas State Route 115 was barricaded and closed to traffic through much of the evening due to flash flooding caused by a low water crossing that flooded and inundated the highway near Wink.

Flash Flood in JEFF DAVIS, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 07:55:00 to 27-SEP-04 05:00:00 (CST)
Location: FT DAVIS
Property damage: 10K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER

Very dangerous flash flooding conditions developed rapidly on the morning of the 26th across Jeff Davis County. At 07:55 CST the Fort Davis Fire Department reported two persons stranded by flood waters in Short Canyon, thirteen miles north-northeast of Fort Davis. The fire department also reported that work was underway to rescue two additional stranded campers in Madera Canyon, ten miles west-southwest of the McDonald Observatory. Rescue crews were able to bring the campers in Madera Canyon to safety shortly before noon CST. Additional flash flooding was reported along Olympia Creek, where water up to six feet in depth inundated Texas Highway 118 for 200 yards between Fort Davis and the Fort Davis State Park. The intersection of Texas Highways 118 and 17 also was submerged by flowing flood watersFlooding along Olympia Creek was reported to have receded by mid afternoon. A second flood wave, however, raged through the creek and inundated the same portion of State Highway 118 north of the Fort Davis around 16:45 CST. The water again receded making the highway passable by 19:35 CST.Dangerous conditions persisted through much of the night in rural Jeff Davis County near Short Canyon. Two people remained isolated at a deserted ranch house near Wild Rose Pass by raging flood waters. The individuals were airlifted to safety via a helicopter rescue just before dawn on the morning of the 27th. No serious injuries or damage was reported.

Heavy Rain in HOWARD, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 17:45:00 to 26-SEP-04 18:20:00 (CST)
Location: BIG SPRING
Property damage: 100K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Heavy rainfall caused ponding of water on many driving surfaces near Big Spring. A semi-truck hydroplaned off of Interstate 20 on the north side of the city. A second semi-truck lost control and jack-knifed when the driver tried to avoid a collision with emergency workers responding to the first incident.

Flash Flood in CULBERSON, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 10:41:00 to 26-SEP-04 17:00:00 (CST)
Location: VAN HORN
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: PARK/FOREST SERVICE

At 10:41 CST National Park Service employees reported flash flooding that resulted in high water over Texas Highway 54 at several locations between Van Horn and Pine Springs. A later report from the National Park Service indicated that the water was flowing up to two feet deep at some locations by 15:15 CST. Heavy rainfall exited Culberson County by late afternoon. The flash flooding quickly receded along Texas Highway 54, but debris was reported covering portions of the highway, where flooding had occurred at 17:30 CST.

Flash Flood in ECTOR, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 16:50:00 to 26-SEP-04 19:30:00 (CST)
Location: ODESSA
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY

Several city streets were inundated by urban flash floods across the south side of Odessa. More than two feet of water flowed through portions of Tom Green and Muskeegum Streets between 8th and 15th Streets. Parts of 11th and 12th Streets were impassable with nearly three feet of water. The intersection of Meadow and Murphy also was flooded with two feet of flowing water.

Flash Flood in WARD, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 17:34:00 to 26-SEP-04 19:45:00 (CST)
Location: MONAHANS
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Multiple reports from Monahans indicated that heavy rainfall produced flash flooding that quickly inundated city streets and threatened several residences. Local law enforcement officials reported that city streets remained barricaded at 19:00 CST. Flood waters in the city receded by late evening. No major damage was reported.

Flash Flood in ANDREWS, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 17:30:00 to 26-SEP-04 20:00:00 (CST)
Location: ANDREWS
Property damage: 0
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Trained storm spotters reported that flood waters intermittently covered Texas Highway 176 in western Andrews County. Half a foot of flowing water crossed the highway at several locations between twenty and twenty-seven miles west-northwest of the city.

Flash Flood in REEVES, TEXAS
From 26-SEP-04 10:30:00 to 26-SEP-04 19:00:00 (CST)
Location: ORLA
Property damage: 25K
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

At 10:30 CST residents in Orla reported high water that inundated yards and threatened homes. Water in the streets of Orla flowed one foot deep. No major damage was reported. A National Weather Service Cooperative Observer west of Red Bluff Dam reported flood waters crossing U.S. Highway 285 in northern Reeves County at 10:40 CST. Five to six feet of water was reported flowing over County Road 447 five miles north of Orla at 15:45 CST. At that time, the Red Bluff Dam Cooperative Observer reported a forty-eight hour rainfall total of five inches.The heavy rainfall ended over most of Reeves County by late afternoon. Runoff continued to result in flash flooding through mid evening. The last report that was received indicated that three feet of water continued to flow over County Road 447 north of Orla at 18:00 CST.