High Water Sign to be Unveiled in Canyon, Texas
National Weather Service officials will unveil a high water mark sign commemorating an historic flood of record in Canyon, Texas. The unveiling ceremony will mark the May 26, 1978 flood when water from the Palo Duro Creek rose to a level of 13 feet, topping the flood stage by 8.3 feet.
Representatives from the National Weather Service forecast offices in Amarillo and Lubbock, the Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma and the city of Canyon will participate in the ceremony at 11:30 a.m., Oct. 21 in Canyon’s Hunsley Park. The Canyon fire station will serve as an alternative location in case of inclement weather.
“We hope the sign will serve as an educational tool for people who frequent the park,” said Jose Garcia, Meteorologist-In-Charge of the Amarillo forecast office. “If just one person reads this sign and learns how to protect himself or herself from floods – then all of our efforts will be worthwhile.”
Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center Hydroligist-in-Charge Billy Olsen added, “This sign not only documents an historical flood, it reminds the entire community to remain vigilant and be prepared for the possibility of future floods.”
Severe flooding is part of the history of many communities throughout the United States, yet many of the residents are not fully aware of the potential for floods in their area. To help raise that awareness, the National Weather Service began a project to install high water mark signs in communities that have experienced severe flooding. Since the project began in 2006, more than 50 signs have been installed in a dozen states. The Canyon high water sign is the third in Texas.
The forecast office in Amarillo provides official weather services for 23 counties in the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles. The Arkansas-Red Basin River Forecast Center prepares river stage forecasts for major rivers in the nation’s Southern Plains region covering approximately 211,000 square miles.
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