1960 Texas tropical storm

1960 Texas tropical storm

Tropical storm (SSHWS/NWS)
The unnamed storm approaching Texas
Formed	June 22, 1960
Dissipated	June 29, 1960
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 45 mph (75 km/h)
Lowest pressure	1002 mbar (hPa); 29.59 inHg
Fatalities	18 total
Damage	$3.6 million (1960 USD)
Areas affected	Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois
Part of the 1960 Atlantic hurricane season

The 1960 Texas tropical storm brought severe but localized flooding to southeastern Texas in June 1960. The first tropical cyclone and first tropical storm of the annual season, this system developed from an area of showers and thunderstorms in the Bay of Campeche on June 22. Initially a tropical depression, it strengthened and was estimated to have reached tropical storm status on June 23. Early on the following day, the storm peaked with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). Later that day, it made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, at the same intensity. The storm weakened slowly and moved across the Central United States, before dissipating over Illinois on June 29.

In Texas, the storm dropped up to 29.76 inches (756 mm) of precipitation in Port Lavaca. Thus considerable flooding occurred in some areas of south and eastern Texas. Throughout the state, more than 150 houses sustained flood damage in several counties. In addition, numerous major highways were closed, including portions of U.S. Routes 59, 87, 90, and then-185, and Texas State Highways 35 and 71. In Arkansas, a few buildings in Hot Springs were damaged from high winds. Flooding in that state resulted in three deaths from drowning. Light to moderate rainfall was recorded in at least 11 other states, though damage was minimal. The storm was the rainiest tropical cyclone on record in the state of Kentucky, dropping 11.25 inches (286 mm) in Dunmor. Overall, 18 fatalities were attributed to the storm and $3.6 million (1960 USD) in damage was reported.

In late June 1960, a large mass of deep convection developed in the Gulf of Mexico. A reconnaissance flight into the system on June 22 did not indicate a closed circulation. However, weather stations in Mexico reported a circulation and thus, it is estimated that the first tropical depression of the season developed at 0600 UTC on June 22. Early on June 23, barometric pressures in from Tampico, Tamaulipas to Brownsville, Texas had significantly decreased, which indicated that the tropical cyclone was moving generally northward. Shortly thereafter, another reconnaissance flight into the depression indicated winds of only 20 mph (30 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 1,006 mbar (29.7 inHg). However, the plane may not have flown under the most intense convection.