Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding in Texas, December 21, 1997

December 21, 1997 · NWS FWD · 11 events in 9 counties and zones

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

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 11 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
$25,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
11

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

11 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Coryell

When
December 21, 12:30 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Coryell County, Gatesville
Coordinates
31.391, -97.799 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads remained closed due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Ellis

When
December 21, 12:30 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where
Ellis County, Waxahachie
Coordinates
32.348, -96.794 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads across the county remained flooded.

Flash Flood, Hill

When
December 21, 12:30 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where
Hill County, Hillsboro
Coordinates
31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads across the county remained flooded.

Flash Flood, Hill

When
December 21, 12:30 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where
Hill County, Mertens
Coordinates
31.991, -97.132 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Five to six feet of water covered Farm-to-Market Road 380 south of town.

Flash Flood, Johnson

When
December 21, 12:30 AM CST to 3:20 AM CST
Where
Johnson County, Cleburne
Coordinates
32.379, -97.366 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads remained flooded in the eastern portion of the county.

Flash Flood, Fannin

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Fannin County, Bonham
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
33.594, -96.107 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A few roads across the county were washed out.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 3:45 AM CST
Where
Hunt County, Greenville
Coordinates
33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads remained flooded across the county

Flash Flood, Rockwall

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Rockwall County, Rockwall
Coordinates
32.898, -96.408 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads remained flooded across the county.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 3:45 AM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Portions of Silver Creek Road were flooded.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where
Bell County, Belton
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Twenty residents had to be rescued from their homes due to threatening flood waters.

Flash Flood, Bell

When
December 21, 1:00 AM CST to 2:45 AM CST
Where
Bell County, Nolanville
Coordinates
31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Seventy people were evacuated due to rising flood waters.

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: 5627035, 5627036, 5627037, 5627038, 5627039, 5624463, 5624464, 5624465, 5624466, 5627040, 5627041.