Tropical Storm Bill (2015)

The precursor to Bill and Hurricane Carlos in the eastern Pacific Ocean produced widespread heavy rain in Central America.[15] In Guatemala, flooding affected more than 100 homes while a landslide in the Alta Verapaz Department killed two people.[16] About 516,000 people were affected by the floods in that country. In Honduras, two people died near Tegucigalpa, while two other persons were missing.[15] Heavy rains fell across parts of the Yucatán Peninsula, with accumulations peaking at 13 in (330 mm) in Cancún, the highest daily total seen in the city in nearly two years.[17] Flooding and damage to trees and cars occurred in the Cancún.[15] One person in the city died from electrocution.[17]

In response to the storm, more than 250 flights were canceled in Houston. Caldwell County, Texas banned non-essential travel between 10:30 p.m. CDT June 16 and 7:00 a.m. CDT June 17 in response to "eminent emergency conditions related to flooding and high winds". A voluntary evacuation order was issued by the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management for people living on the Bolivar Peninsula.[18] The United States Coast Guard closed waterways from Matagorda Bay to Galveston Bay as the storm approached, prohibiting the use of small crafts. Ferry services were suspended due to rising tide levels.[19] Boat owners in Port Lavaca secured their boats to their docks.[20] Early on June 17, Sealy's local police department warned locals to stay indoors due in response to heavy rain expected later in the day. A tornado watch was also issued by the Storm Prediction Center; the storm would spawn four tornadoes in the state. As the cyclone made landfall, both Palacios and Port O'Connor recorded peak wind gusts to 53 mph (85 km/h), while the storm tide rose to 3 ft (0.9 m) above normal in Port Lavaca.[21] Heavy rainfall accompanied Bill, with accumulations peaking at 11.77 in (298.96 mm) west of Ganado.[22]

In Matagorda County a number of roads were closed in the Sargent area due to flooding. Water approached, but did not damage homes in the city of Matagorda. In Brazoria County, storm surge caused minor coastal flooding at San Luis Pass Park, Surfside Beach, and Treasure Island. Inland, precipitation led to overflowing of Chocolate and Halls bayous. Similarly, minor coastal flooding and erosion also occurred in Galveston County along the Bolivar Peninsula and on Galveston Island. In the towns on the western side of the island, waves deposited sand and other debris onto the streets. Two parking garages were damaged and two roads were closed due to coastal flooding at Jamaica Beach. In Harris County, minor storm surge and freshwater flooding was reported in Shoreacres, with the Taylor Bayou exceeding its banks. A number of low-lying roads in Chambers County also experienced light storm surge inundation.

On June 16, Highway 87 was closed from Gilchrist to Highway 124 due to debris.[23] Port Lavaca, the water level was reported to be 3 ft (0.91 m) above normal early in the day. In Sealy, power outages occurred and water rescues were necessitated as a result of flooding.[24] Rising water levels near Indianola forced the closure of several roads, preventing residents from returning. Throughout Calhoun County, the local fire department performed several water rescues.[20] A child drowned in Nolanville after being swept into a culvert.[25]

A bridge along Highway 377 over-topped by the flooding Washita River near Tishomingo, Oklahoma

After between 4 and 8 inches (100 and 200 mm) of rain fell in Carter County, the local National Weather Service office issued a flash flood emergency for the area.[26] Interstate 35 was shut down after a rockslide in the Arbuckle Mountains resulted in boulders blocking the roadway near Turner Falls.[27] A two-year-old boy was killed after he was swept down a river in Ardmore. An 80-year-old woman's body was recovered from a car partially-submerged in floodwaters near Macomb, but her official cause of death is as of yet undetermined.[28]

Radar imagery of Tropical Depression Bill near the Red River on June 17

In Indiana, the remnants of Bill contributed to the rainiest June on record in portions of the state, while Fort Wayne observed its wettest month ever.[29] Winds gusting between 50 and 60 mph (80 and 97 km/h) in North Central Indiana downed many trees,[30] which damaged some houses in the state.[31] Precipitation rates of 2 to 3 in (51 to 76 mm) per hour inundated fields and roads throughout the area.[30] Near Troy, the remnants of Bill spawned an EF-0 tornado, which damaged trees in an area of approximately 0.33 mi (0.53 km) in length and about 140 yd (130 m) in width.[32]

Heavy rain from the remnants of Tropical Storm Bill affected Ohio on June 20.[33] Portions of southwestern Ohio, already suffering from the effects of protracted rain over the past several days and damage from an intense storm that caused downed trees, power outages and road closures due to heavy water,[34] remained under a flood warning as rain continued to fall.[33] Over 2 in (51 mm) of precipitation fell in Athens, which inundated streets and caused water damage at a restaurant.[35] Central Ohio also experienced flooding due to nearly 3 in (76 mm) of rain in the Columbus area. Many streets and underpass in the city were inundated, forcing firefighters and police to rescue people from their cars. Several basements, homes, and a swim club building were flooded. On one street, people clung to signs to prevent themselves from being washed away. Organizers of the Columbus Pride festival ended the event nearly seven hours early. The Scioto River, the Big Darby Creek, and the Raccoon Creek overflowed in Licking and Pickaway counties. Additionally, residents of Logan County were evacuated as the Great Miami River and Indian Lake swelled. After the storm, a state of emergency was declared in the county and the Red Cross distributed flood cleanup kits.[36] A tornado spawned in Bartlett knocked down tree limbs, damaged the roof of a home, and carried a boat through the neighborhood.[37]

Rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Bill in the United States

The remnants of Bill dropped 2.86 in (73 mm) of rain in Henderson, Kentucky, where the 25th annual W. C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival was being hosted.[38] In West Virginia, the remnants of Bill brought flash flooding and downed trees, one of which fell on a car in Marion County. A few vehicular accidents also occurred due to slick roads.[39] In Virginia, an EF0 tornado spawned near Bowling Green downed several trees and damaged a mobile home. Winds mainly knocked down power lines, trees, and branches in eastern Virginia, resulting in numerous road closures and damaging a shed in Sussex and several cars in Powhatan and Richmond.[31] In Washington, D.C., the White House recorded 1.95 in (50 mm) of rain from the storm, while Reagan Washington National Airport set a record for June 20, 2.37 in (60 mm) of rain.[40]

The storm dropped nearly 2 in (51 mm) of precipitation in York County, Pennsylvania. A very small mudslide collapsed a few walls of a home in York. The Yellow Breeches Creek near Camp Hill crested at 10.3 ft (3.1 m), which is more than 7 ft (2.1 m) above flood stage.[41] In Maryland, a tornado touched-down in Tuscarora, but caused no damage. Although a weak system, winds from the remnants of Bill toppled utility poles, power lines, trees, and tree limbs throughout the state.[31] About 50,000 people were left without electricity, which included around one-third of customers in Charles County. Rainfall led to flooding in low-lying areas, with 1 ft (0.30 m) of water left on roads in Point of Rocks. Fire crews in Frederick County rescued a few people and cars trapped in the floodwaters.[42] The remnants of Bill produced precipitation in many other portions of the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions. In Rhode Island, the storm dropped 1 to 2 in (25 to 51 mm) of rainfall, inundating intersections and low-lying areas.[43] In the United Kingdom, the remnants of Bill caused flash flooding in North East England.[44]