Texas, 1989

Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, May 16, 1989

May 16, 1989 · NWS FTW · 115 events in 56 counties and zones

79 hail, 20 thunderstorm wind, 16 tornado, 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
$31 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
115

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

79 hail, 20 thunderstorm wind, 16 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Cooke

When
May 16, 1:40 AM CST
Where
Cooke County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.650, -97.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Montague

When
May 16, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Montague County
Coordinates
33.570, -97.850

Hail, Cooke

When
May 16, 2:51 AM CST
Where
Cooke County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.630, -97.150

Hail, Grayson

When
May 16, 3:20 AM CST
Where
Grayson County
Measured
4.5 in hail
Coordinates
33.630, -96.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Grayson

When
May 16, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Grayson County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
33.500, -96.620

Hail, Fannin

When
May 16, 4:45 AM CST
Where
Fannin County
Measured
4.5 in hail
Coordinates
33.580, -96.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Kaufman

When
May 16, 6:20 AM CST
Where
Kaufman County
Coordinates
32.730, -96.280

Hail, Bowie

When
May 16, 6:42 AM CST
Where
Bowie County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.470, -94.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Gregg

When
May 16, 7:15 AM CST
Where
Gregg County
Coordinates
32.480, -94.730

Hail, Harrison

When
May 16, 7:27 AM CST
Where
Harrison County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.670, -94.570

Hail, Harrison

When
May 16, 7:42 AM CST
Where
Harrison County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.650, -94.200

Thunderstorm Wind, Rusk

When
May 16, 7:49 AM CST
Where
Rusk County
Coordinates
32.150, -94.880

Hail, Harrison

When
May 16, 8:15 AM CST
Where
Harrison County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.670, -94.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Smith

When
May 16, 8:15 AM CST
Where
Smith County
Coordinates
32.350, -95.300

Hail, Panola

When
May 16, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Panola County
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
32.030, -94.500

Hail, Marion

When
May 16, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Marion County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.720, -94.350

Hail, Shelby

When
May 16, 8:30 AM CST
Where
Shelby County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
31.780, -94.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Rusk

When
May 16, 8:35 AM CST
Where
Rusk County
Coordinates
31.920, -94.670

Hail, Shelby

When
May 16, 8:40 AM CST
Where
Shelby County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.930, -94.250

Hail, Panola

When
May 16, 8:45 AM CST
Where
Panola County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.250, -94.420

Hail, Panola

When
May 16, 8:45 AM CST
Where
Panola County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.130, -94.130

Hail, Marion

When
May 16, 8:55 AM CST
Where
Marion County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.730, -94.170

Hail, Shelby

When
May 16, 9:05 AM CST
Where
Shelby County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.750, -94.080

Hail, Gregg

When
May 16, 9:44 AM CST
Where
Gregg County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.380, -94.880

Hail, Hansford

When
May 16, 10:39 AM CST
Where
Hansford County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
36.270, -101.400

Hail, Coke

When
May 16, 11:45 AM CST
Where
Coke County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.980, -100.480

Tornado, Jones

When
May 16, 11:53 AM CST
Where
Jones County
Rating
F1
Path length
1 mi
Path width
100 yd
Coordinates
32.570, -99.870

Hail, Jones

When
May 16, 12:12 PM CST
Where
Jones County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.620, -99.830

Hail, Ochiltree

When
May 16, 12:43 PM CST
Where
Ochiltree County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.400, -100.800

Hail, Jones

When
May 16, 12:50 PM CST
Where
Jones County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.800, -99.630

Hail, Deaf Smith

When
May 16, 12:52 PM CST
Where
Deaf Smith County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.180, -102.520

Tornado, Coleman

When
May 16, 12:54 PM CST
Where
Coleman County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
31.750, -99.720

Hail, Oldham

When
May 16, 1:10 PM CST
Where
Oldham County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.230, -102.470

Hail, Deaf Smith

When
May 16, 1:17 PM CST
Where
Deaf Smith County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.130, -102.680

Hail, Oldham

When
May 16, 1:38 PM CST
Where
Oldham County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.180, -102.500

Tornado, Oldham

When
May 16, 1:55 PM CST
Where
Oldham County
Rating
F1
Path length
3 mi
Path width
80 yd
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
35.200, -102.430

Hail, Stephens

When
May 16, 1:55 PM CST
Where
Stephens County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.820, -99.000

Hail, Callahan

When
May 16, 2:10 PM CST
Where
Callahan County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.230, -99.600

Hail, Childress

When
May 16, 2:21 PM CST
Where
Childress County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.420, -100.200

Hail, Childress

When
May 16, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Childress County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.420, -100.200

Hail, Callahan

When
May 16, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Callahan County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.130, -99.170

Hail, Foard

When
May 16, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Foard County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.980, -99.530

Hail, Cottle

When
May 16, 3:10 PM CST
Where
Cottle County
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
34.020, -100.300

Hail, Dickens

When
May 16, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Dickens County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.620, -100.720

Hail, Collingsworth

When
May 16, 3:15 PM CST
Where
Collingsworth County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.850, -100.220

Hail, Collingsworth

When
May 16, 3:28 PM CST
Where
Collingsworth County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.020, -100.230

Hail, Cottle

When
May 16, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Cottle County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.020, -100.300

Hail, Collingsworth

When
May 16, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Collingsworth County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.850, -100.220

Hail, Potter

When
May 16, 3:30 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.480, -102.170

Hail, Cottle

When
May 16, 3:45 PM CST
Where
Cottle County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.020, -100.100

Hail, Potter

When
May 16, 4:03 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.180, -102.080

Hail, Oldham

When
May 16, 4:05 PM CST
Where
Oldham County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.200, -102.200

Hail, Oldham

When
May 16, 4:08 PM CST
Where
Oldham County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.270, -102.680

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 16, 4:08 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County
Measured
4.5 in hail
Coordinates
35.220, -100.170

Hail, Wise

When
May 16, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Wise County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.000, -97.480

Hail, Dallas

When
May 16, 4:15 PM CST
Where
Dallas County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.900, -97.030

Tornado, Randall

When
May 16, 4:20 PM CST
Where
Randall County
Rating
F0
Path length
1.5 mi
Path width
60 yd
Coordinates
35.150, -102.120

Hail, Tarrant

When
May 16, 4:20 PM CST
Where
Tarrant County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.750, -97.350

Hail, Hill

When
May 16, 4:25 PM CST
Where
Hill County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.000, -97.130

Tornado, Randall

When
May 16, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Randall County
Rating
F2
Path length
10 mi
Path width
300 yd
Coordinates
35.150, -102.070

Hail, Randall

When
May 16, 4:41 PM CST
Where
Randall County
Measured
2.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.130, -102.020

Hail, Wheeler

When
May 16, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Wheeler County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.450, -100.200

Hail, Dallas

When
May 16, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Dallas County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.900, -97.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Potter

When
May 16, 4:45 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Coordinates
35.220, -101.720

Hail, Hardeman

When
May 16, 4:50 PM CST
Where
Hardeman County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.320, -99.750

Hail, Dallas

When
May 16, 4:52 PM CST
Where
Dallas County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.770, -96.780

Tornado, Potter

When
May 16, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Rating
F0
Path length
3 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
35.330, -101.980

Tornado, Randall

When
May 16, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Randall County
Rating
F0
Path length
1 mi
Path width
40 yd
Coordinates
35.130, -101.900

Tornado, Potter

When
May 16, 5:02 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
40 yd
Coordinates
35.200, -101.820

Tornado, Potter

When
May 16, 5:23 PM CST
Where
Potter County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
110 yd
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
35.200, -101.820

Hail, Hood

When
May 16, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Hood County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
32.400, -97.900

Tornado, Hood

When
May 16, 6:00 PM CST
Where
Hood County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
73 yd
Coordinates
32.320, -97.730

Hail, Dallas

When
May 16, 6:05 PM CST
Where
Dallas County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.820, -96.920

Tornado, Hood

When
May 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Hood County
Rating
F1
Path length
0.5 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
32.450, -97.800

Hail, Val Verde

When
May 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
29.820, -101.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When
May 16, 6:15 PM CST
Where
Galveston County
Coordinates
29.400, -94.900

Thunderstorm Wind, Hood

When
May 16, 6:25 PM CST
Where
Hood County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
32.530, -97.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When
May 16, 6:25 PM CST
Where
Johnson County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
32.470, -97.570

Thunderstorm Wind, Culberson

When
May 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Culberson County
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
31.050, -104.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When
May 16, 6:30 PM CST
Where
Parker County
Coordinates
32.770, -97.800

Hail, Callahan

When
May 16, 6:35 PM CST
Where
Callahan County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.230, -99.600

Tornado, Johnson

When
May 16, 6:38 PM CST
Where
Johnson County
Rating
F1
Path length
2.5 mi
Path width
73 yd
Property damage
$25 million
Coordinates
32.350, -97.400

Hail, Carson

When
May 16, 6:50 PM CST
Where
Carson County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.520, -101.470

Hail, Val Verde

When
May 16, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.930, -101.170

Thunderstorm Wind, Johnson

When
May 16, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Johnson County
Measured
74 kt (85 mph)
Coordinates
32.470, -97.380

Hail, Callahan

When
May 16, 7:13 PM CST
Where
Callahan County
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
32.400, -99.500

Hail, Carson

When
May 16, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Carson County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.570, -101.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Ellis

When
May 16, 7:30 PM CST
Where
Ellis County
Coordinates
32.520, -96.800

Hail, Midland

When
May 16, 7:34 PM CST
Where
Midland County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.000, -102.080

Hail, Ochiltree

When
May 16, 8:01 PM CST
Where
Ochiltree County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
36.400, -100.800

Hail, Howard

When
May 16, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Howard County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.120, -101.370

Hail, Rains

When
May 16, 8:25 PM CST
Where
Rains County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.870, -95.750

Thunderstorm Wind, Kaufman

When
May 16, 8:30 PM CST
Where
Kaufman County
Coordinates
32.730, -96.280

Hail, Hopkins

When
May 16, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Hopkins County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.080, -95.570

Hail, Val Verde

When
May 16, 9:05 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.680, -101.170

Tornado, Val Verde

When
May 16, 9:10 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Rating
F1
Path length
8 mi
Path width
200 yd
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$2.5 million
Coordinates
29.480, -101.030

Hail, Carson

When
May 16, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Carson County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
35.570, -101.180

Hail, Val Verde

When
May 16, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Measured
2 in hail
Coordinates
29.530, -101.080

Hail, Van Zandt

When
May 16, 9:30 PM CST
Where
Van Zandt County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.520, -95.650

Hail, Andrews

When
May 16, 9:31 PM CST
Where
Andrews County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.470, -102.630

Thunderstorm Wind, Gregg

When
May 16, 9:35 PM CST
Where
Gregg County
Coordinates
32.450, -94.930

Hail, Smith

When
May 16, 9:53 PM CST
Where
Smith County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.400, -95.300

Thunderstorm Wind, Stonewall

When
May 16, 10:00 PM CST
Where
Stonewall County
Measured
70 kt (81 mph)
Coordinates
33.150, -100.230

Thunderstorm Wind, Fisher

When
May 16, 10:30 PM CST
Where
Fisher County
Coordinates
32.870, -100.470

Hail, Gregg

When
May 16, 10:50 PM CST
Where
Gregg County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.480, -94.730

Hail, Kinney

When
May 16, 10:51 PM CST
Where
Kinney County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
29.320, -100.500

Hail, Rusk

When
May 16, 10:55 PM CST
Where
Rusk County
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.300, -94.520

Hail, Gaines

When
May 16, 11:00 PM CST
Where
Gaines County
Measured
1.5 in hail
Coordinates
32.920, -102.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Cass

When
May 16, 11:05 PM CST
Where
Cass County
Coordinates
33.000, -94.600

Tornado, Kinney

When
May 16, 11:08 PM CST
Where
Kinney County
Rating
F4
Path length
17 mi
Path width
300 yd
Property damage
$2.5 million
Coordinates
29.280, -100.420

Tornado, Gaines

When
May 16, 11:10 PM CST
Where
Gaines County
Rating
F1
Path length
2.5 mi
Path width
60 yd
Coordinates
32.570, -102.570

Hail, Harrison

When
May 16, 11:15 PM CST
Where
Harrison County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.670, -94.570

Hail, Crockett

When
May 16, 11:24 PM CST
Where
Crockett County
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
30.320, -101.300

Tornado, Val Verde

When
May 16, 11:29 PM CST
Where
Val Verde County
Rating
F0
Path length
0.2 mi
Path width
10 yd
Coordinates
29.680, -101.320

Hail, Lynn

When
May 16, 11:38 PM CST
Where
Lynn County
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.270, -101.780

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Texas in 1989Every state in 1989This day in weather historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 1989Warnings in Texas, May 1989

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: 10137502, 10137503, 10137504, 10137505, 10137506, 10137507, 10137508, 10137509, 10137510, 10137511, 10137512, 10137513, 10137514, 10137515, 10137516, 10137517, 10137518, 10137519, 10137520, 10137521, 10137522, 10137523, 10137524, 10137525, 10137526, 10137527, 10137528, 10137529, 10137530, 10137531, 10137532, 10137533, 10137534, 10137535, 10137536, 10137537, 10137538, 10137539, 10137540, 10137541, and more.