Heavy rain produces flooding in Hall and Childress Counties

National Weather Service Lubbock Significant Weather Events

October 4-5, 2017: Heavy Rain causes flooding in Hall and Childress Counties

Photo of high water along the Red River in Childress County

Photograph of high water running under the bridge along highway 83 in Childress County.

Wednesday night into early Thursday morning, a small complex of thunderstorms that moved slowly from eastern Briscoe County, through much of Hall County, and into western Childress County produced heavy rain across much of the watershed of the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River. Radar estimates of rainfall along the path of the storms ranged from about three to six inches (see map below). As all the rain water surged into the tributaries of the Red River, it produced a large water rise that moved downstream and produced flooding along the river banks.

Here is a map of radar estimated rainfall from the thunderstorms (the legend may be difficult to see, red and purple colors indicate about 3 to 7 inches).

Radar estimated rainfall for the far southern Texas Panhandle on Oct 4-5, 2017

Radar estimated rainfall from Oct 4-5, 2017. Please click on the image to enlarge it.

The heavy rain resulted in rapid runoff that generated localized flash flooding including in and around Memphis and Estelline. This prompted the closure of a portion of Highway 287. The flooding also washed out portions of FM 1619 just east of Highway 287. The flash flooding did trap a couple of vehicles near Newlin, though thankfully no injuries were reported.

The flood watersÂ washed out parts of FM 1619 just east of Highway 287 near Newlin. The image is courtesy of Bruce Haynie.

Flood water flowing under Highway 287 between Newlin and Estelline. The image is courtesy of Bruce Haynie.

(Left) The flood waters washed out parts of FM 1619 just east of Highway 287 near Newlin. The significant runoff pushed the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River over flood stage. (Right) Flood water flowing under Highway 287 between Newlin and Estelline. The images are courtesy of Bruce Haynie.

Flooding was reported along the river from near Brice to northwest of Childress. A river gauge along Highway 83 north of Childress measured the water rise moving across Childress County. It is shown in the graph below:

Graph of water rise along the Red River north of Childress

Graph of water rise along the Prairie Dog Town Fork of the Red River north of Childress. Click on the image to enlarge it.

Since the channel for the Red River in this area is so wide, and the slope is shallow, flooding impacts at this location are not severe. At 11.41 feet, minor flooding of farm and ranch land will occur. Cattle in the flood plain are threatened. The water flowing in the river will be over 1/2 mile wide.

The table below shows the historical high water rises at the gauge along highway 83 north of Childress. This event was the 7th highest crest in the database.

Rank	Feet	Date
1	16.90	06/01/1957
2	13.94	05/21/1977
3	13.47	01/01/1978
4	12.10	10/03/1986
5	12.00	06/26/1965
6	11.60	06/04/1995
7	11.41	10/5/2017
8	11.20	08/31/1986
9	11.10	08/29/1968
10	11.06	10/31/1998