A record-setting storm hit San Antonio 12 years ago
Twelve years ago, during Memorial Day weekend in May 2013, the city of San Antonio faced one of the most destructive floods in its modern history, a weather event still deeply remembered for its intensity and impact. The culprit was a slow-moving thunderstorm that stalled over the Olmos Basin, releasing extreme amounts of rainfall in a matter of hours.
Olmos Creek overwhelmed by historic rainfall
In the early morning hours of May 25, rainfall rates reached levels rarely seen. A gauge along Olmos Creek recorded an astonishing 6.13 inches (15.6 cm) of rain in just one hour, 9.46 inches (24 cm) in two hours, and a staggering 15.31 inches (38.9 cm) in five hours. By the end of the day, the total had risen to 17 inches (43.2 cm). These numbers would be extreme in any context, but their effect was compounded by the fact that they fell on a region already saturated from previous storms, including a 2-inch (5.1 cm) rainfall the day before.
Highway 281 submerged, homes destroyed
With the Olmos Basin already vulnerable to flooding, the intense precipitation had nowhere to go. The San Antonio River quickly swelled, and Highway 281, one of the city’s key arteries, was completely submerged and remained closed for several days. Residential areas, especially along Espada Road, experienced severe destruction. More than 350 homes were damaged, 15 completely destroyed, and two lives were lost—one near Leon Creek, another on Rhapsody Drive—when raging waters swept away vehicles.
Emergency rescues and dramatic moments
In the midst of the disaster, rescue efforts became the focus. On live television, a family was seen waving from their rooftop, eventually rescued by helicopter as floodwaters continued to rise. A VIA Metropolitan Transit bus became fully submerged, but fortunately, all passengers escaped unharmed. KSAT maintained continuous coverage, broadcasting dramatic images from Sky 12 and reporting directly from the field.
Second-wettest 24 hours on record
At San Antonio International Airport, 9.87 inches (25.1 cm) of rainfall was measured within 24 hours, making it the second-highest total ever recorded for a single day in the city. Meteorologists later classified the event as a 250-year flood, underlining its extraordinary rarity and severity.
This weather disaster remains a vivid reminder of how Memorial Day weekend in Texas can so often bring not celebration, but chaos and crisis driven by extreme weather.
