Texas, 1981

Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 9, 1981

May 9, 1981 · NWS ATA · 58 events in 42 counties and zones

31 hail, 17 tornado, 10 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
3
Property damage
$3.9 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
58

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

Event by event

31 hail, 17 tornado, 10 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Gregg

When
May 9, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Gregg County
Coordinates
32.380, -94.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When
May 9, 10:10 AM CST
Where
Tarrant County
Measured
54 kt (62 mph)
Coordinates
32.680, -97.450

Tornado, Hill

When
May 9, 11:45 AM CST
Where
Hill County
Rating
F2
Path length
9.6 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
31.970, -97.250

Hail, Hill

When
May 9, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Hill County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.000, -97.130

Tornado, Hill

When
May 9, 12:13 PM CST
Where
Hill County
Rating
F3
Path length
5.2 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$2.5 million
Coordinates
31.970, -97.020

Tornado, Navarro

When
May 9, 12:34 PM CST
Where
Navarro County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
31.920, -96.750

Tornado, Bell

When
May 9, 12:45 PM CST
Where
Bell County
Rating
F1
Path length
1 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
31.120, -97.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Liberty

When
May 9, 12:50 PM CST
Where
Liberty County
Coordinates
30.030, -94.600

Hail, Williamson

When
May 9, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Williamson County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.650, -97.580

Tornado, Henderson

When
May 9, 1:10 PM CST
Where
Henderson County
Rating
F1
Path width
33 yd
Coordinates
32.200, -95.620

Hail, McLennan

When
May 9, 1:10 PM CST
Where
McLennan County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.380, -97.220

Hail, Robertson

When
May 9, 1:20 PM CST
Where
Robertson County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.880, -96.600

Hail, Milam

When
May 9, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Milam County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.800, -96.970

Hail, Travis

When
May 9, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Travis County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.320, -97.770

Hail, Austin

When
May 9, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Austin County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.950, -96.270

Hail, Robertson

When
May 9, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Robertson County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
31.020, -96.530

Hail, Hays

When
May 9, 1:40 PM CST
Where
Hays County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.200, -98.080

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When
May 9, 1:40 PM CST
Where
Hardin County
Coordinates
30.130, -94.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When
May 9, 1:45 PM CST
Where
Bell County
Coordinates
31.100, -97.350

Tornado, Milam

When
May 9, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Milam County
Rating
F2
Path length
12.6 mi
Path width
60 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
30.750, -96.950

Thunderstorm Wind, Rusk

When
May 9, 2:05 PM CST
Where
Rusk County
Coordinates
32.150, -94.800

Tornado, Anderson

When
May 9, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Anderson County
Rating
F3
Path length
9.9 mi
Path width
100 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
31.950, -95.900

Tornado, Burleson

When
May 9, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Burleson County
Rating
F2
Path length
9.7 mi
Path width
33 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
30.580, -96.870

Hail, Brazos

When
May 9, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Brazos County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.800, -96.350

Tornado, Henderson

When
May 9, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Henderson County
Rating
F3
Path length
5.1 mi
Path width
33 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
32.050, -95.780

Hail, Bastrop

When
May 9, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Bastrop County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.080, -97.320

Hail, Bexar

When
May 9, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Bexar County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.530, -98.470

Hail, Caldwell

When
May 9, 2:25 PM CST
Where
Caldwell County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.830, -97.600

Tornado, Anderson

When
May 9, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Anderson County
Rating
F2
Path length
9.9 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
31.870, -95.700

Tornado, Gregg

When
May 9, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Gregg County
Rating
F2
Path length
7.7 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
32.430, -95.000

Hail, Lee

When
May 9, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Lee County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.320, -97.970

Hail, Madison

When
May 9, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Madison County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.980, -95.950

Tornado, Panola

When
May 9, 2:50 PM CST
Where
Panola County
Rating
F1
Path width
33 yd
Coordinates
32.330, -94.130

Tornado, Gregg

When
May 9, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Gregg County
Rating
F1
Path width
33 yd
Coordinates
32.380, -94.750

Hail, Fayette

When
May 9, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Fayette County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.900, -96.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Burleson

When
May 9, 3:13 PM CST
Where
Burleson County
Coordinates
30.600, -96.770

Hail, Washington

When
May 9, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Washington County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.230, -96.430

Tornado, Trinity

When
May 9, 4:00 PM CST
Where
Trinity County
Rating
F1
Path width
33 yd
Coordinates
30.920, -99.400

Hail, Harris

When
May 9, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Harris County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.970, -95.580

Tornado, Montgomery

When
May 9, 4:30 PM CST
Where
Montgomery County
Rating
F2
Path length
5.1 mi
Path width
40 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
30.450, -95.750

Hail, Lavaca

When
May 9, 4:40 PM CST
Where
Lavaca County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.580, -97.150

Hail, Fort Bend

When
May 9, 4:41 PM CST
Where
Fort Bend County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.580, -95.750

Tornado, Fort Bend

When
May 9, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Fort Bend County
Rating
F2
Path length
3.3 mi
Path width
40 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
29.500, -95.820

Hail, Victoria

When
May 9, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Victoria County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.600, -96.780

Hail, Jackson

When
May 9, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Jackson County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.980, -96.650

Hail, Wharton

When
May 9, 5:30 PM CST
Where
Wharton County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.320, -96.100

Hail, Brazoria

When
May 9, 5:40 PM CST
Where
Brazoria County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.300, -95.550

Thunderstorm Wind, Tyler

When
May 9, 5:55 PM CST
Where
Tyler County
Coordinates
30.770, -94.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When
May 9, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Hardin County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
30.130, -94.400

Hail, Fort Bend

When
May 9, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Fort Bend County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.470, -94.980

Hail, Jackson

When
May 9, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Jackson County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.830, -96.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Fort Bend

When
May 9, 6:10 PM CST
Where
Fort Bend County
Coordinates
29.470, -94.980

Tornado, Galveston

When
May 9, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Galveston County
Rating
F2
Path length
1.5 mi
Path width
50 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
29.480, -95.030

Hail, Jefferson

When
May 9, 6:55 PM CST
Where
Jefferson County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.950, -93.920

Hail, Orange

When
May 9, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Orange County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.020, -93.850

Hail, Willacy

When
May 9, 7:33 PM CST
Where
Willacy County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
26.350, -97.800

Hail, Cameron

When
May 9, 7:45 PM CST
Where
Cameron County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
26.170, -97.500

Hail, Bexar

When
May 9, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Bexar County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.420, -98.500

What these are

Thunderstorm Wind
Winds from a thunderstorm of 50 knots (58 mph) or more, or lower winds that caused damage or casualties. Measured gusts are marked MG, estimated EG.
Tornado
A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1981Every state in 1981This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 1981

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 10130307, 10130308, 10130309, 10130310, 10130311, 10130312, 10130313, 10130314, 10130315, 10130316, 10130317, 10130318, 10130319, 10130320, 10130321, 10130322, 10130323, 10130324, 10130325, 10130326, 10130327, 10130328, 10130329, 10130330, 10130331, 10130332, 10130333, 10130334, 10130335, 10130336, 10130337, 10130338, 10130339, 10130340, 10130341, 10130342, 10130343, 10130344, 10130345, 10130346, and more.