Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, December 17, 1995

Name: Tornadoes and Hail in Texas, December 17, 1995
Start: 1995-12-17T02:10
End: 1995-12-17T20:55
Location: Texas

December 17, 1995 · 36 events in 21 counties and zones

18 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 6 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 31 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. 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: $2.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 36

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.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

18 thunderstorm wind, 12 hail, 6 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Burleson

When: December 17, 2:10 AM CST
Where: Burleson County
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.493, -96.621 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Milam

When: December 17, 2:25 AM CST
Where: Milam County, Gause
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Burleson

When: December 17, 3:25 AM CST
Where: Burleson County, Anderson
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.493, -96.621 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, De Witt

When: December 17, 3:27 AM CST
Where: De Witt County, Cuero
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Coordinates: 29.082, -97.357 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado, San Patricio

When: December 17, 3:30 AM CST
Where: San Patricio County, Mathis
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 28.100, -97.830

Sheriff and public reports of a tornado that destroyed a mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: December 17, 4:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Fm 1097 & Hwy 105
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several cars were blown off the road.

Tornado, Refugio

When: December 17, 4:10 AM CST
Where: Refugio County, Refugio
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $40,000
Coordinates: 28.200, -97.280

County sheriff report of a tornado which had overturned two tractor-semitrailer resulting in one injury.

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: December 17, 4:23 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Willis
Property damage: $30,000
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A roof of a barn was blown off and a carport was destroyed.

Hail, San Jacinto

When: December 17, 5:15 AM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Coldspring
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, San Jacinto

When: December 17, 5:15 AM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Coldspring
Property damage: $500,000
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Roof of high school and nearby homes had parts blown off.

Hail, San Jacinto

When: December 17, 5:26 AM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Coldspring
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Brazoria

When: December 17, 5:38 AM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Bay City
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $1,000
Coordinates: 29.168, -95.434 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Polk

When: December 17, 5:53 AM CST
Where: Polk County, Livingston
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.793, -94.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Polk

When: December 17, 6:15 AM CST
Where: Polk County, Point Blank
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.793, -94.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail covering the road from Point Blank to Coldspring causing cars to slide off the road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tyler

When: December 17, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Tyler County, Warren
Coordinates: 30.771, -94.377 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees blown down on Highway 69.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tyler

When: December 17, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Tyler County, Warren
Coordinates: 30.771, -94.377 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several trees blown down on Highway 69.

Tornado, Matagorda

When: December 17, 8:05 AM CST
Where: Matagorda County, Collegeport
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Coordinates: 28.786, -96.004 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Witnesses report seeing a tornado. Numerous trees and light poles blown down especially near the college.

Thunderstorm Wind, Matagorda

When: December 17, 8:10 AM CST
Where: Matagorda County, Bay City
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 28.786, -96.004 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Police report utility poles blown down, windows blown out, and roof damage.

Tornado, Matagorda

When: December 17, 8:10 AM CST
Where: Matagorda County, Blessing
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $150,000
Coordinates: 28.870, -96.220

Many trees were blown down and roofs were torn off.

Tornado, Matagorda

When: December 17, 8:10 AM CST
Where: Matagorda County, Markham
Rating: F0
Path length: 2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $1.0 million
Coordinates: 28.870, -96.220

Five to seven houses with major roof damage, one trailer destroyed, several trees and light poles down.

Hail, Fort Bend

When: December 17, 8:50 AM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, West Columbia
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.528, -95.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When: December 17, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Hardin County, Kountze
Coordinates: 30.332, -94.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree blown down on Highway 326.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hardin

When: December 17, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Hardin County, Kountze
Coordinates: 30.332, -94.390 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree blown down on Highway 326.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: December 17, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Newton County, Burkeville
Coordinates: 30.786, -93.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree blown down on Highway 1415.

Thunderstorm Wind, Newton

When: December 17, 9:30 AM CST
Where: Newton County, Burkeville
Coordinates: 30.786, -93.745 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree blown down on Highway 1415.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: December 17, 9:35 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, Kirbyville
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 30.744, -94.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines blown down. Part of roof to banking center blown off.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jasper

When: December 17, 9:35 AM CST
Where: Jasper County, Kirbyville
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 30.744, -94.025 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous trees and power lines blown down. Part of roof to banking center blown off.

Tornado, Galveston

When: December 17, 9:45 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, Dickinson
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 29.470, -95.050

Spotter observed tornado out of his back window. Storm survey showed snapped trees and a satellite dish blown down in the community just south of NWSO Houston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When: December 17, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Chambers County, Winnie
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Cars blown off the road at Interstate 10 and Winnie. Spotter estimated Windss of 60 mph.

Thunderstorm Wind, Liberty

When: December 17, 10:10 AM CST
Where: Liberty County
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees blown down along FM 1010.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When: December 17, 10:15 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, Dickinson
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Ten inch limbs blown off trees.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: December 17, 10:28 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Trees blown down near U.S. 59 and near Beltway 8 at Interstate 10.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: December 17, 10:40 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tree blown onto a car injuring two people at Interstate 10 and Uvalde.

Hail, Polk

When: December 17, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Legget and Corrigan
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 30.793, -94.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Lee

When: December 17, 8:30 PM CST
Where: Lee County, Giddings
Coordinates: 30.311, -96.966 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Hail, Angelina

When: December 17, 8:55 PM CST
Where: Angelina County, Lufkin
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Coordinates: 31.255, -94.612 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several reports of dime size hail covering the ground.

What these are

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

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1995 Every state in 1995 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 1995 Warnings in Texas, December 1995

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: 10348159, 10353884, 10348160, 10351378, 10353512, 10353971, 10353644, 10353972, 10353438, 10353439, 10353440, 10348348, 10353678, 10353679, 10356019, 10356020, 10354456, 10354457, 10354458, 10354459, 10351895, 10351234, 10351235, 10354178, 10354231, 10350358, 10350359, 10351815, 10347702, 10354605, 10351816, 10350704, 10350705, 10353680, 10354431, 10347992.