The first half of September brought historic rains to the west Texas South Plains. Beginning late on the 10th, and persisting through the 12th, numerous rain showers impacted the region. The wet weather pattern was exacerbated by copious atmospheric moisture remnant from the eastern Pacific Tropical Storm Lowell, which overspread west Texas on southwesterly winds aloft in advance of a large western U.S. storm system.
Between 06:00 CST on the 11th and 04:00 CST on the 12th, Lubbock received it's highest ever twenty-four hour rainfall total of 7.80 inches. The onset of particularly heavy rain rates began during the afternoon rush hour. Numerous vehicles became disabled in the rising waters on Lubbock city streets - twenty-eight of which were closed due to flooding during the evening hours.
Swollen playa lakes flooded 137 homes and businesses. More than twenty structures suffered complete inundation of the ground level story. Lubbock city officials deployed more than 5,000 sandbags in an attempt to control some of the flooded playas, and fire fighters conducted several high water rescues during the night - including the rescue of a mother and three year old child who became stranded in rising water while attempting to flee their flood-threatened home at Buffalo Springs Lake around 01:00 CST on the 12th.
A State of Emergency was declared by Lubbock Mayor, Tom Martin. Lubbock area schools and government offices were closed on the 12th due to the flooding impact. At least one displaced Lubbock resident accepted sheltering in the United Spirit Arena - which was prepared to accept Gulf Coast evacuees in advance of Hurricane Ike. The city of Lubbock sought up to $4.5 million in assistance from state and federal officials as a result of the flood and associated response.
Heavy rainfall and flooding additionally resulted in closed roads and public impacts in a number of other South Plains counties. Farm to Market Road 1585 was reportedly inundated in southern Hockley County, and a home was threatened by a swollen playa in Levelland. A number of flooded secondary roadways also were reported in Lynn County, where at least two sink-holes developed and threatened a structure in Tahoka after more than 5.00 inches of rain fell there. Roads, farm land, and farm equipment were reportedly inundated by flood waters over portions of Hale and Floyd Counties, including along Texas Highway 54 between Petersburg and Abernathy (Hale County). A number of structures in Floydada (Floyd County) where threatened, but not damaged. However, unofficial rainfall measurements of 12.00 inches were recorded in Dougherty (Floyd County).
During the heavy rainfall, 8.79 inches of rain was measured at White River Lake (Crosby County). The rain and resultant runoff caused the lake level to rise eleven feet. The lake, which was as much as thirty-two feet lower than its full-depth mark through much of the summer, quadrupled its water capacity during the event.
Lubbock's previous twenty-four hour record rain total of 5.82 inches was set in October of 1983 when the area was impacted by the remnants of Pacific Hurricane Tico.

Flood in LUBBOCK, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: WOLFFORTH
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 4.50M
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Flash Flood in GARZA, TEXAS
From 12-SEP-08 09:25:00 to 12-SEP-08 10:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SOUTHLAND
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 80.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

The Garza County Sheriff's Office reported that persistent heavy rainfall resulted in rapidly flowing water over portions of U.S. Highway 84 between Post and Southland. Authorities conducted high water rescues when at least eight vehicles were swept off of the highway. No injuries were reported. In addition, a number of other roadways across Garza County were reportedly flooded.

Flood in HOCKLEY, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CLAUENE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flood in FLOYD, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: FLOYDADA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 25.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flood in HALE, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: ABERNATHY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flood in LYNN, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: SKEEN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 10.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper

Flood in CROSBY, TEXAS
From 11-SEP-08 15:00:00 to 12-SEP-08 12:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: CANYON VLY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Newspaper