2013-8 Remembrances Special Edition1
City of Schertz
Remembrance Special Edition 2013-8
Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee
Schertz Weather History Dotted with Surprises
Weather related disasters have captured the headlines as of late. The reporting reminds Schertz
citizens just how lucky we are to be where we are in terms of weather conditions. Typically,
south Texas’ semi-arid climate offers cool but comfortable winters, mild spring and fall
temperatures, and hot and often humid summers. However, from time to time the area is subject
to weather exceptions in the form of flooding, high winds and even a very occasional snow fall.
Below is a short historical review of weather related events that have delivered occasional
destruction and/or amazement upon the Schertz citizenry.
FLOODING:
Geography plays an important part in the developing our occasional springtime wet weather
patterns. The Balcones Escarpment Divide runs northeasterly from the Rio Grand Valley to
approximately Temple, Texas and varies in height from 100 to 500 feet along its route. The fact
that those areas along the Divide (including Schertz) are situated on the gently slopping Costal
Plains and immediately south of the Balcones Escarpment Divide presents an ideal circumstance
for the warm southerly moisture-laden air from the Gulf of Mexico to be pushed abruptly upward
to higher altitudes as it encounters the Divide. If the Gulf air is nearly saturated at lower
elevations, rainstorms lasting hours or days may occur along the Escarpment areas because of
orographic (having to do with mountainous geography) cooling of the air mass. Intense rain
storms over small watersheds throughout the region have produced numerous flooding events of
a magnitude that have exacted heavy tolls on residents within the areas. The usually dry creek
beds in the adjoining communities and that of Cibolo Creek quickly fill with rushing water as
rains continue falling.
The most memorable area flooding event in recent history was the record
breaking flooding of 1998
. The National Weather Service (NWS) New Braunfels estimated that up
to thirty inches of rain fell in the San Antonio area in a matter of two days
(October 17 &18). Those floods were directly linked to the deaths of 32
people and caused roughly $500 million in property damage.1
Approximately thirteen percent of Guadalupe County areas are designated
as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA).2 Among those areas are
properties along the Cibolo Creek that flows north to south
Flood Zones – Schertz & along the Schertz city western boundary with Bexar County. Surrounding areas
1 San Antonio Express News, “ Rainy, deadly day in the City”, Sunday, May 26, 2013, p. A3
2 Service Assessment, South Texas Floods Oct. 17-22, 1998, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic Admin.,
National Weather Service, Silver Springs, MD.
2
The recorded history of flooding in the area (including Schertz) goes back as far as the 1932.
Besides that year, flooding occurred in the 1935, 1952, 1972, 1973, 1998, 2002, 2004 and most
recently May 25, 2013. Building damage along the Cibolo Creek accompanied several of these
flooding events. Three deaths (two in San Antonio and one in Schertz) were recorded in the May
2013 flood. Aquifer replenishment is the obvious benefactor of area flood level rains.
City of Schertz Flood 1998 –Low Water Crossing
SNOWFALL
Moisture in the form of rain is an expected and hoped for commodity here in Schertz. However,
when that moisture appears in the form of snow it is a great surprise to everyone. Yes, for the
information of newcomers to the area, it does snow in Schertz, Texas. Just ask the residents who
lived her in February of 1985 when the city was hit with a snow blizzard that by some accounts
created snow drifts as high as sixteen inches in particular spots. It may be hard to believe but
just examine the pictures below that document the event.
Snowfall – City Park Area, Schertz, Texas 1985