Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding and Heavy Rain in Texas, August 7 to 9, 1997

August 7 to 9, 1997 · NWS FWD · 5 events in 1 county or zone

4 flash flood, 1 heavy rain, 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
1
Property damage
$4,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
5

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 Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 177 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 08:12 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Anderson

When
August 7, 2:10 AM CST to 4:10 AM CST
Where
Anderson County, Palestine
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain that fell over a several hour period resulted in flooding of several roads throughout the county.

Flash Flood, Anderson

When
August 7, 4:10 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where
Anderson County, Palestine
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads throughout the county were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Anderson

When
August 7, 5:35 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where
Anderson County, 8 mi SW of Montalba
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Farm-to-Market Road 2054 was reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Anderson

When
August 7, 9:15 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Anderson County, Palestine
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads throughout the county continued to be under water. A 24-hour rainfall amount of 6.90 inches was measured in town during this event.

Heavy Rain, Anderson

When
August 9, 9:30 AM CST
Where
Anderson County, Palestine
Injuries
1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$4,000
Coordinates
31.813, -95.653 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rain, in excess of 7 inches, that fell in the area saturated soils and weakened the root system of many trees. One tree collapsed onto a car and injured one of its occupants.

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.
Heavy Rain
Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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, 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: 5612614, 5612615, 5612616, 5612617, 5612682.