3 days ago
On This Date: Tropical Storm Allison's Landfall Sets Stage For Houston Flood Disaster
Tropical Storm Allison made landfall in southeast Texas nine hours after it formed nearly 25 years ago on June 5, but that was unremarkable in comparison to its legacy of catastrophic flooding that its remnants caused in Houston over the days that followed.
After making landfall near Freeport, Texas, on the afternoon of June 5, 2001, Allison quickly weakened to a tropical depression. Its remnants then lingered for days, causing a slow-moving band of rain to unleash totals that measured in feet across parts of southeast Texas.
Port of Houston saw over 3 feet of rain and the top storm total came in at over 40 inches in northwest Jefferson County between Houston and Beaumont.
Allison caused an estimated $15.1 billion (CPI-adjusted) in damage. More than 14,000 homes were destroyed or sustained major damage, according to the National Hurricane Center report.
The death toll from the storm and its remnants was 41 across six states, with 23 of those occurring in Texas.
Allison also holds the distinction of being one of just two tropical storms to have their named retired from further use.
Chris Dolce has been a senior digital meteorologist with for nearly 15 years after beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
