St. Louis’ historic rain broke record set by tropical system 106 years ago
Remnants of the 1915 Galveston Hurricane set the original wettest-day record
FOX Weather's Stephen Morgan talks about flooding in St. Louis
FOX Weather's Stephen Morgan is very familiar with St. Louis. He talks about Tuesday's historic flooding in the city along the Mississippi River.
Historic rainfall in St. Louis that prompted the city’s first flash flood emergency Tuesday broke another record that was originally set by a tropical system more than a century ago.
According to the National Weather Service, more than 9 inches of rain fell in St. Louis as of early Tuesday afternoon. That trounced the previous 24-hour rainfall record for the city of 6.85 inches set in 1915.
What makes Tuesday’s record-breaking rainfall even more impressive is that the previous record was caused by the remnants of a powerful hurricane that slammed into Texas.
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The Galveston Hurricane of 1915 was a Category 4 storm that plowed through Galveston, Texas, with winds of more than 130 mph on Aug. 17, 1915. It caused significant damage to the city of Houston, as well.
This hurricane was the first real test of the new seawall that had been built after the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 decimated the coastal town, killing 6,000 people. That storm still ranks as the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
The 1915 hurricane killed 275 people and caused an estimated $50 million in damage. That equates to more than $100 billion in damage today.
(FOX Weather)
St. Louis impacts of 1915 storm
On Aug. 20, the remnants of the 1915 hurricane moved into the mid-Mississippi River Valley and dumped tremendous amounts of rain on the region.
St. Louis received 6.85 inches of rain that day, resulting in catastrophic flooding in the area. That set the original record for the most rainfall in a single day in the city’s history.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the River Des Peres swelled out of its banks and inundated streets with 7 feet of water and stranded people on a railroad platform. More than 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and at least 10 people were killed.
![Historical photo of flooding in St. Louis on August 20 1915]()
Image 1 of 4South on Debaliviere Avenue from Wabash Railroad toward the Jefferson Memorial Building. River Des Peres Flood of August 1915. (Missouri Historical Society)
![Historical photo of flooding in St. Louis on August 20 1915]()
Image 2 of 4Degiverville Avenue east from Laurel Avenue. River Des Peres flood of August 1915. (Missouri Historical Society)
![Historical photo of flooding in St. Louis on August 20 1915]()
Image 3 of 4Lindell Boulevard west from Union Boulevard. River Des Peres Flood of August 1915. (Missouri Historical Society)
![Historical photo of flooding in St. Louis on August 20 1915]()
Image 4 of 4Flood of River Des Peres in Forest Park at De Soto Bridge; "The water is at least a foot below the crest." August 1915. (Missouri Historical Society)
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