Texas, 1997

Flash Flood in Texas, February 20, 1997

February 20, 1997 · NWS FWD · 1 event in 1 county or zone

Pecan Creek was out of its banks and all low-lying areas throughout the county remained flooded. Two bridges, one over the Lampasas River and the other over Cowhouse Creek, were washed out.

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.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$2.3 million
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

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.

What happened

The episode as NWS FWD wrote it up.

Pecan Creek was out of its banks and all low-lying areas throughout the county remained flooded. Two bridges, one over the Lampasas River and the other over Cowhouse Creek, were washed out. One home sustained severe damage from flooding and several others received minor damage. Numerous livestock were lost to the flood waters. A cooperative observer measured 9.66 inches of rain in Hamilton since early on the 19th.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Hamilton

When
February 20, 8:35 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where
Hamilton County, Hamilton
Property damage
$2.3 million
Coordinates
31.705, -98.111 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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, February 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: 5587937.