Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, April 4, 1997

April 4, 1997 · NWS FWD · 9 events in 1 county or zone

5 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$3,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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.

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Event by event

5 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 2 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
April 4, 8:36 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Bell County, Temple
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water was reported over several city streets and roads.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
April 4, 9:15 AM CST to 12:00 PM CST
Where
Bell County, 5 mi N of Temple
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Very heavy rain on saturated ground flooded portions of I-35.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
April 4, 11:48 AM CST to 2:00 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Belton
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads throughout the county were flooded by heavy rain.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
April 4, 2:58 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Belton
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water continued to flood area roads and at least one helicopter rescue was necessary.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
April 4, 6:30 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Belton
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads continued to be flooded throughout the county.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When
April 4, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Bell County, 4 mi N of Temple
Property damage
$1,000
Coordinates
31.150, -97.350

A road sign was blown down by high winds.

Hail, Bell

When
April 4, 7:05 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Salado
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.930, -97.530

Hail, Bell

When
April 4, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Temple
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.100, -97.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When
April 4, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Belton
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
31.070, -97.470

Strong winds blew down trees and power lines.

What these are

Flash Flood
Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
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.
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 1997Every state in 1997This day in weather historyWarnings in Texas, April 1997

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: 5600445, 5600446, 5600532, 5600533, 5600534, 5600535, 5600536, 5600537, 5600538.