Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding in Texas, December 20 to 21, 1997

December 20 to 21, 1997 · NWS FWD · 9 events in 6 counties and zones

9 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 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
$100,000
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 Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 22 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 01:13 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

9 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When
December 20, 7:15 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Crowley
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Streets were closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When
December 20, 7:40 PM CST to 10:00 PM CST
Where
Hunt County, 2 mi NE of Greenville
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A temporary bridge on Highway 224 was washed out.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When
December 20, 8:00 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Hunt County, Greenville
Coordinates
33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads throughout the county were reported flooded and closed due to high water.

Flash Flood, Collin

When
December 20, 8:00 PM CST to 10:30 PM CST
Where
Collin County, Plano
Coordinates
33.188, -96.572 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around town were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Falls

When
December 20, 8:40 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Falls County, Marlin
Coordinates
31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around town were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Falls

When
December 20, 8:40 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Falls County, Marlin
Coordinates
31.253, -96.936 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads throughout the county were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Limestone

When
December 20, 8:55 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where
Limestone County, Mexia
Coordinates
31.546, -96.580 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around town were reported flooded.

Flash Flood, Fannin

When
December 20, 9:04 PM CST to 11:30 PM CST
Where
Fannin County, Ivanhoe
Coordinates
33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 2225 was closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Fannin

When
December 20, 11:00 PM CST to December 21, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Fannin County, Bonham
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads had portions washed away in the southern part of the county.

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.

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, December 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: 5627019, 5627020, 5627021, 5627022, 5627023, 5627024, 5627025, 5627026, 5627027.