A strong negatively tilted upper level trough slowly moved into the Central and Southern Plains during the morning of December 27th.  This trough of low pressure was accompanied by a strong subtropical jet stream which provided abundant lift necessary for the development of widespread showers and thunderstorms.  The trough was able to draw up not only Gulf of Mexico moisture but also Eastern Pacific moisture and with a very slow movement to the activity once it developed, the end result was widespread flooding across a large portion of Northeast Texas, Southeast Oklahoma, Southwest Arkansas and Northwest Louisiana. A very unstable airmass for late December was present across the region with a very strongly wind sheared environment. Discrete storms developed across the region ahead of an eventual line of strong to severe thunderstorms.  Some of these discrete storms produced tornadoes across the region with several storms producing strong and damaging wind gusts as well.  For the month of December, 2015, the city of Tyler, Texas recorded 9.77 inches of rain which was their 3rd wettest December on record.  At the conclusion of December, the city of Tyler, Texas also recorded their all time wettest year on record with a total of 68.05 inches for the year.  For the city of Longview, Texas ,the city recorded their 5th wettest year on record with a total of 68.02 inches.

Flash Flood in RUSK, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 19:45:00 to 27-DEC-15 22:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: TATUM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

County Roads 2217 and 2219 were flooded and closed.

Flash Flood in SMITH, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 19:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: NOONDAY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Broadcast Media

Several county roads were flooded and closed including 419, 420, 436, 434, 433, 168, 411, 494 and 492. Several vehicles were flooded out across these county roads across the Smith County.

Flash Flood in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 19:50:00 to 27-DEC-15 23:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEESBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Numerous county roads were underwater with several culverts washed out as well.

Flash Flood in BOWIE, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 21:55:00 to 28-DEC-15 00:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: HODGSON
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Hwy. 44 west of De Kalb, Texas was flooded and closed.

Flash Flood in SAN AUGUSTINE, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 22:15:00 to 28-DEC-15 01:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: SAN AUGUSTINE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Roads were flooded and closed in downtown San Augustine, Texas.

Flash Flood in GREGG, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 22:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 22:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: KILGORE EAST
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

County Road 1834 was flooded and closed in the Kilgore community.

Flash Flood in ANGELINA, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 22:33:00 to 28-DEC-15 00:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALCO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Tom Holland Road east of Lufkin, Texas was flooded and closed.

Flash Flood in PANOLA, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 22:21:00 to 28-DEC-15 00:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: CARTHAGE
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

FM 10 inside and outside of Carthage, Texas was flooded and closed.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: MINEOLA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Hwy. 80 was flooded and closed in Mineola, Texas.

Tornado in CASS, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 17:09:00 to 27-DEC-15 17:11:00 (CST-6)
Location: KILDARE
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS Storm Survey Team concluded that damage in southeast Cass County was consistent with that of a brief EF-1 tornado touchdown.  This tornado touchdown was mainly across more rural areas of Cass County and uprooted and/or snapped several trees along its short track along FM. 125.

Flash Flood in TITUS, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 11:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: TALCO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Hwy. 71 was flooded and closed across the northern portion of Titus County, Texas as was County Road 1915.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 12:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUITMAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

FM. 779 was flooded and closed north and northeast of Mineola, Texas.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 12:20:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALBA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Flood waters covered County Road 1560 at Dale Creek on Lake Fork.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 10:40:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: QUITMAN
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Low lying crossing were flooded and closed including CR 2100, CR 1560 and CR 1680.

Flash Flood in SMITH, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 12:25:00 to 27-DEC-15 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: THEDFORD
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

A high water rescue was reported 2 miles south of Lindale in the Wood Springs community.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 12:20:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALBA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Fire Department/Rescue

Water covering parts of County Road 1681 south of Alba, Texas.

Flash Flood in TITUS, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 13:46:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: TALCO
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hwy. 71 between Talco and Sugar Hill has water covering the road in several locations.  Other road surfaces were flooded and closed across the northern portion of Titus County, Texas.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 13:37:00 to 27-DEC-15 13:37:00 (CST-6)
Location: LEESBURG
Magnitude: 56.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

A tree was downed blocking the east bound lane of Hwy. 11 at Leesburg, Texas.

Tornado in UPSHUR, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:24:00 to 27-DEC-15 15:27:00 (CST-6)
Location: ENOCH
Tornado F-scale: EF1
Property damage: 45.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey team determined that the damage north of Gilmer, Texas in northern Upshur County was consistent with that of an EF-1 Tornado.  This tornado uprooted and snapped several trees along its path between State Highway 154 and Lavender Road.  Two homes were damaged by fallen trees and a few outbuildings lost some metal roofing panels.

Flash Flood in RED RIVER, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 14:26:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: CHERRY
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Widespread flooding was reported in and around the Clarksville, Texas area.

Flash Flood in FRANKLIN, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 14:26:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: FAIRVIEW
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Law Enforcement

Widespread flooding was reported in Mount Vernon and across the entire county.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 14:45:00 to 27-DEC-15 14:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTSBURG
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Trees and powerlines were downed near FM. 1519 in Camp County.

Flash Flood in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTSBURG
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 30.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Widespread flooding was reported across all of Camp County, Texas with several high water rescues of people in automobiles in Pittsburg, Texas.

Flash Flood in WOOD, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 14:45:00 to 27-DEC-15 19:15:00 (CST-6)
Location: ROCK HILL
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

County Road 1993 was flooded and closed in Wood County.

Tornado in BOWIE, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:06:00 to 27-DEC-15 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: GARLAND
Tornado F-scale: EF0
Property damage: 15.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey team concluded that storm damage west of Dekalb Texas in far western Bowie County was consistent with that of a weak EF-0 tornado.  This tornado snapped and uprooted several trees along its short path.  The tornado lifted the roof off a mobile home along CR 4251 before moving north and lifting near CR 3306.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:00:00 to 27-DEC-15 15:00:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTSBURG
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Trees were downed on County Road 2212.

Thunderstorm Wind in BOWIE, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:09:00 to 27-DEC-15 15:10:00 (CST-6)
Location: DE KALB
Magnitude: 70.00 EG
Property damage: 50.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

A NWS Storm Survey team determined that damage along the west side of Dekalb, Texas was consistent with that of rear flank storm damage.  This rear flank was the remaining remnant of a tornado that touched down earlier west of this location.  The rear flank downdraft caused sporadic damage in the city of Dekalb, Texas.  Several trees were uprooted.  Numerous homes withstood light shingle damage. A light pole at the city park was snapped and the metal roof from one of the downtown buildings was lifted off.

Thunderstorm Wind in CAMP, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 15:12:00 to 27-DEC-15 15:12:00 (CST-6)
Location: PITTSBURG
Magnitude: 54.00 EG
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: State Official

Trees were downed on CR. 2212.

Tornado in HARRISON, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 16:39:00 to 27-DEC-15 16:51:00 (CST-6)
Location: MARSHALL NORTHEAST
Tornado F-scale: EF2
Property damage: 300.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: NWS Storm Survey

An NWS Storm Survey team determined that storm damage north of Marshall near the Woodlawn community was consistent with that of an EF-2 tornado.  This tornado began along Suburban Acres Road and then moved north where it damaged several homes and outbuildings along FM. 1793.  Several more homes and outbuildings were damaged along Blackjack Road and Pope City Road as the tornado continued north.  The tornado lifted along FM 134 just before reaching the Little Cypress Bayou.

Flash Flood in RUSK, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 17:45:00 to 27-DEC-15 22:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: TATUM
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Hwy. 43 was flooded and closed in Tatum, Texas under the railroad underpass.

Flash Flood in RUSK, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 17:48:00 to 27-DEC-15 22:45:00 (CST-6)
Location: REEDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

County Road 136 and 138 were flooded and closed in Rusk County.

Flash Flood in SMITH, TEXAS
From 27-DEC-15 18:30:00 to 27-DEC-15 21:30:00 (CST-6)
Location: RED SPGS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: 911 Call Center

County Road 4130 was flooded and closed in northern Smith County.