April 2016 North American storm complex

"2016 Texas floods" redirects here. For the incident in May 2016, see May 2016 North American storm complex.
April 2016 North American storm complex
The large upper-level low and accompanying cold front draped across the Central United States on April 18
TypeCold-core low
Winter storm
Blizzard
Flood
FormedApril 15, 2016 (2016-04-15)[2]
DissipatedApril 23, 2016 (2016-04-23)[1]
Lowest pressure1006 mb (29.71 inHg)
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		Snow – 51.3 in (130 cm) near Pinecliffe, Colorado[2]
Rainfall – Near 20 in (51 cm) around the Houston, Texas areas[3]
Fatalities8 confirmed[4]
Damage$2.7 billion
Power outages147,000[2]
Areas affectedTexas (especially the city of Houston), Western United States (Rocky Mountains)

The April 2016 North American storm complex was a major storm system that resulted from an upper-level low in the United States stalling and producing record-breaking rain in and around Houston, Texas, resulting in severe flooding, as well as a major snowstorm in the Rocky Mountains.[5] There were more than 17 inches of rain in one day in parts of the city, and up to 4 inches of rain per hour that morning at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. It is described as the wettest April in the city on record.[6]

As the most widespread flood event there since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001, it caused a state of emergency to be declared in nine counties.[7]

  1. ^ "WPC Surface Analysis Archive". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  2. ^ a b c "Winter Storm Vexo, Major April Snowstorm, Pounds the Rockies, High Plains (RECAP)". The Weather Channel. April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  3. ^ "Dangerous Flood Threat Ongoing in Texas; Water Rescues Reported Near Houston (FORECAST)". The Weather Channel. April 17, 2016. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  4. ^ "8 confirmed deaths after flooding across Houston area". click2houston. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. ^ Michael Pearson and Melissa Gray (April 18, 2016). "Houston flooding: At least 5 dead - CNN.com". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Nearly 900 Rescued as Severe Flooding Strikes Houston". KTIC Radio. Archived from the original on April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
  7. ^ ABC News (2016-04-19). "In Houston Nearly 900 Are Rescued as Severe Flooding Sweeps Through City". ABC News. Retrieved April 19, 2016.