Rotan got its rain this month, and then some. The West Texas Mesonet station at Rotan recorded 3.25 inches in the 24 hours ending 2:25 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, and rain was still falling. FM 611 west of town closed for high water, and the golf course and Little League fields turned into ponds. For landowners around Rotan and Roby, Lee, Lee & Puckitt, the farm and ranch Broker based in San Angelo, has rounded up what happened and what it means for the land.
What the Chronicle Reported
The Double Mountain Chronicle, Rotan’s local paper, covered the storm with photos from FM 611 and the ballfields. The paper noted that the National Weather Service flood advisory that afternoon covered Fisher, Nolan and parts of Jones counties, and named low water crossings on FM 611 about one mile and seven miles west of Rotan. The paper also asked readers in Rotan, Roby and Aspermont to share their own gauge totals, since amounts varied across the county.
A Good Rain for Pastures and Wheat
After a hot, dry summer across the Big Country, a 3 inch rain in mid October does a lot of good. It can bring on winter wheat and green up native grass before frost, and it puts water in dirt tanks that may have been dry since summer. For stocker and cow calf operations in Fisher County, that can mean more grazing days and less hay to buy this winter.
After the Storm
Heavy rain also leaves work behind. Check these before turning livestock back out:
- Water gaps and fence crossings on creeks and draws.
- Low water crossings on ranch roads and county roads.
- Terraces and field roads on farm ground.
- Stock tank dams and spillways.
AgriLife Extension advises taking dated photos of any damage, which helps with insurance and with assistance programs.
Fisher County Land
Fisher County mixes cropland and grazing country along the Clear Fork and Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos. Buyers here often look for a combination of farm ground, native pasture and good water. A place that handles a big rain well, with sound terraces and full tanks, is easier to sell.
Planning for the Next Big Rain
FM 611 floods often enough that many Rotan area landowners already have a routine: move livestock off creek pastures when a big system is forecast, park trailers and equipment on high ground, and keep a second route to town in mind. Writing that routine down and sharing it with family and ranch help saves time when the next storm comes in fast.
Visit With Lee, Lee & Puckitt
If you own land in Fisher County or are looking to buy in the Rolling Plains, call Lee, Lee & Puckitt at 325.655.6989 or visit llpranchland.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much rain fell in Rotan on Oct. 15? The West Texas Mesonet station at Rotan recorded 3.25 inches in the 24 hours ending 2:25 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2026, with rain still falling.
Which roads flooded? FM 611 west of Rotan closed for high water, with low water crossings about one and seven miles west of town named in the weather service advisory.
Does fall rain help Fisher County ranches? Yes. It can improve winter wheat and native grass and refill stock tanks before winter.
About Lee, Lee & Puckitt
Lee, Lee & Puckitt has been part of West Texas land since 1962. The firm’s partners are ranchers, and the company sells farms and ranches and performs appraisals across Texas and New Mexico.
Sources
- Double Mountain Chronicle, “October Rain in Rotan Leaves Golf Course and Little League Field Underwater,” Oct. 15, 2026
- National Weather Service, West Texas Mesonet rainfall summary and flood advisory, Oct. 15, 2026
- Related: North Texas listings, Newsletter
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fisher_County_Texas_Courthouse_2015.jpg). Cropped.
