June Tropical Storms and Hurricanes Memorable For Flooding

June tropical storms and hurricanes often pack a punch when it comes to heavy rainfall and destructive flooding.

Here are a few memorable examples.

Tropical Storm Allison

Tropical Storm Allison made landfall as a 50-mph tropical storm near Freeport, Texas, on June 5, 2001, and then quickly weakened to a tropical depression. However, the remnants lingered for days and a slow-moving rainband associated with it unleashed very heavy rainfall and catastrophic flooding in the Houston metro area.

More than 40 inches of rain fell in portions of southeastern Texas from Allison. This extreme rainfall led to Allison being one of two tropical storms that have been retired since the mid-1950s.

Allison caused $9 billion in damage, with much of that occurring in the Houston area, making it the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history.

In addition, 41 deaths attributed Allison and 27 of these were due to freshwater flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC).

Tropical Storm Bill

Tropical Storm Bill made landfall on June 16, 2015, on Matagorda Island, Texas. Bill was downgraded to a tropical depression in the early morning hours the next day and spent three days over land as a tropical depression.

Bill and its remnants brought rainfall from Texas and Oklahoma to the Northeast coast. At least one location in eight states – Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas – saw rainfall of 4 inches or more.

The highest rainfall total was 15.11 inches near Ganado, Texas. The heavy rain led to flash flooding, and the National Weather Service issued flash flood emergencies for Ardmore, Oklahoma, Alice, Texas, and Kirbyville/Buna, Texas, on June 17. Two deaths were directly attributed to Bill.

(MORE: Tropical Storm Bill Leaves Behind Flooding)

Record river flooding was also observed in a few locations, including the Washita River at Dickson, Oklahoma, and the Lavaca River near Edna, Texas.

One positive result was that the excessive rain helped to end a nearly-four-year drought.

Tropical Storm Debby

Debby brought flooding rainfall to parts of Florida and Georgia. The highest rainfall total was 28.78 inches near Curtis Mill, Florida. Waist-deep water was reported in downtown Live Oak, Florida, after more than 16 inches of rain swamped the town. 

Flooding also shut down portions of Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 for more than two weeks.

Jacksonville received more than 13 inches of rain, with 12.56 inches falling June 25-26, setting an all-time two-day rainfall record. This resulted in numerous water rescues, and water entered some homes.

(MORE: Tropical Storm Debby Recap)

The combination of heavy rainfall and storm surge resulted in flooding in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro areas on June 24. Cars were floating in the flood water, and water rescues were performed in some areas.

Hurricane Agnes

Hurricane Agnes made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 1 hurricane on June 19, 1972, and quickly weakened into a tropical depression as it moved through Georgia the next day.

A second area of low pressure to its west then helped Agnes regain tropical storm strength over North Carolina on June 21. It then moved off the mid-Atlantic coast before moving back inland near the western tip of Long Island. 

Rainfall totals reached 19 inches in Western Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. However, a large swath of more than 10 inches of rain fell from northern Virginia to the Finger Lakes of New York.

A dike was breached in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and extensive flooding was observed along the Susquehanna River, including in Elmira, New York, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Flooding also occurred on the James River in downtown Richmond, Virginia.

Agnes and its remnants resulted in 122 deaths and $2.1 billion in damage in the U.S., most of which came from flooding.