Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, December 7 to 8, 1997

December 7 to 8, 1997 · NWS HGX · 9 events in 3 counties and zones

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$79,000
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 Houston radar (KHGX), 45 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 02:16 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 2 flash flood, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
December 7, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Harris County, Sheldon
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.870, -95.130

Trees and powerlines blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
December 7, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Harris County, Highlands
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
29.820, -95.050

Numerous trees and powerlines blown down. Structural damage mainly to roofs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When
December 7, 8:55 PM CST
Where
Chambers County, Oak Island
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
29.650, -94.700

Powerlines blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When
December 7, 9:05 PM CST
Where
Chambers County, Anahuac
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
29.770, -94.680

Powerlines blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When
December 7, 9:25 PM CST
Where
Galveston County, Dickinson
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
29.470, -95.050

Powerlines blown down.

Hail, Galveston

When
December 7, 9:25 PM CST
Where
Galveston County, Dickinson
Measured
1.25 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.470, -95.050

Flash Flood, Galveston

When
December 7, 9:30 PM CST to 10:20 PM CST
Where
Galveston County, Dickinson
Property damage
$2,000
Coordinates
29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water along FM 517 & I-45.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When
December 7, 9:40 PM CST
Where
Galveston County, Gilchrist
Property damage
$40,000
Coordinates
29.520, -94.480

30+ powerlines and powerpoles blown down along a 1.5 mile stretch. Meacoms Pier sustained extensive structural damage.

Flash Flood, Galveston

When
December 8, 12:45 AM CST to 1:15 AM CST
Where
Galveston County, Central Portion
Property damage
$3,000
Coordinates
29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water on feeder roads.

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.
Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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: 5620469, 5620554, 5620555, 5620556, 5620557, 5620558, 5620560, 5620559, 5620561.