Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Texas, August 16, 1997

Name: Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Texas, August 16, 1997
Start: 1997-08-16T17:15
End: 1997-08-16T18:45
Location: Texas

August 16, 1997 · NWS SJT · 3 events in 2 counties and zones

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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: 1
Property damage: $100,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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 San Angelo radar (KSJT), 116 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:16 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 thunderstorm wind, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Mitchell

When: August 16, 5:15 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where: Mitchell County, 5 mi SW of Colorado City
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 32.350, -100.920

Winds blew down several trees and power lines at Lake Colorado City.

Lightning, Mitchell

When: August 16, 5:20 PM CST
Where: Mitchell County, 5 mi SW of Colorado City
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Coordinates: 32.306, -100.921 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning strikes at Lake Colorado City injured a young girl who suffered burns on her arm.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nolan

When: August 16, 6:30 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Nolan County, Sweetwater
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 32.470, -100.400

Winds blew down several trees and power poles. One pole fell on a house. There was also damage to a barn. Car windows were blown in.Single cell thunderstorms developed over the western Big Country in the mid summer daytime heating. Although deep convection was inhibited by very warm air aloft, the thunderstorms collapsed quickly and produced microburst winds.

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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, August 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: 5614550, 5614551, 5614549.