Texas, 1997Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 15, 1997
June 15, 1997 · NWS MAF · 5 events in 1 county or zone
A strong thunderstorm in southern Presidio County moved into southwestern Brewster County and became a supercell. This storm had a continuous track of damaging winds and hail for 33 miles.
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- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 2
- Property damage
- $83,000
- 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.
A strong thunderstorm in southern Presidio County moved into southwestern Brewster County and became a supercell. This storm had a continuous track of damaging winds and hail for 33 miles. This track could have been longer, but in this desolate area, no other reports were available. Although there was F1 scale damage, there were no confirmed tornado sightings. Most of the significant damage was thought to have come from Rear-flank downdrafts, due to the location to the proximity of the large hail. The storm was moving to the ESE at 45-50 mph, so forward-flank downdrafts could have caused some of the damage as well due to the summation of outflow speed and translational speed. Along Highway 118 the fringe-to-fringe damage path was 8 miles wide--also suggesting large-scale outflow was a contributor to the damage.An unobstructed view from the northeast allowed people in the Midland/Odessa area to see the upper half of the storm from about 200 miles away just before sunset. The storm tower showed strong signs of rotation (in the form of large bands) even from this distance.
Thunderstorm Wind, Brewster
- When
- June 15, 6:40 PM CST to 6:55 PM CST
- Where
- Brewster County, Terlingua to 20 mi N of Study Butte
- Property damage
- $70,000
- Coordinates
- 29.600, -103.730
Wind damage occurred to several buildings on a ranch located on Taurus Mesa. Much of the damage was limited to corrugated metal that was strewn across the countryside. Rear-flank downdraft (RFD) winds were thought to have been the mechanism for the high winds. The RFD then hit State Highway 118 where the Longhorn Ranch Motel sustained wind damage. A 12x20 foot sign was blown down as well as damage to doors and the roof.The Red Cross determined that 2 houses were destroyed and 6 houses sustained major damage in the area near the motel.
Hail, Brewster
- When
- June 15, 6:50 PM CST
- Where
- Brewster County, 21 mi N of Study Butte
- Measured
- 4.5 in hail
- Injuries
- 2 direct, 0 indirect
- Property damage
- $10,000
- Coordinates
- 29.620, -103.530
North of where the RFD winds caused damage, hail up to softball size smashed car windshields and pummelled a couple of houses. One gentleman, who was attempting to close a window, was injured when hail broke the window and caused several facial lacerations. He was taken by private vehicle to the Alpine Hospital. A second man suffered minor cuts on his legs.
Hail, Brewster
- When
- June 15, 7:15 PM CST
- Where
- Brewster County, 17 mi NE of Study Butte
- Measured
- 1.75 in hail
- Coordinates
- 29.480, -103.330
Golfball size hail fell on the northern sections of Terlingua Ranch.
Hail, Brewster
- When
- June 15, 7:50 PM CST
- Where
- Brewster County, 13 mi N of Panther Junction
- Measured
- 2.75 in hail
- Property damage
- $3,000
- Coordinates
- 29.480, -103.300
Baseball size hail broke windows in at least one car in the northern portions of Big Bend National Park on the extension of U.S. Highway 385.
Thunderstorm Wind, Brewster
- When
- June 15, 7:50 PM CST
- Where
- Brewster County, 12 mi N of Panther Junction
- Measured
- 70 kt (81 mph)
- Coordinates
- 29.470, -103.300
Gravel from the side of the road was blown onto the park road 11-14 miles north of the Park Headquarters. All of the gravel was 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter. The event was not seen but was concluded by Park officials after noting there was no silt or smaller debris which would have suggested flash flooding. During one short stretch of the road, there was an extensive amount of gravel on the road.
- 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.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- Tornado and Hail in Wisconsin, June 15, 1997$200,000 · F2 · 9 events
- Hail and Damaging Wind in Nebraska, June 15, 1997$3.5 million · 2.75 in hail · 7 events
- Tornado and Hail in Oklahoma, June 15, 19972 injured · $150,000 · F1 · 3 events
- Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 15, 19972 injured · $153,000 · 70 kt wind · 10 events
- Hail in Kansas, June 15, 1997$430,000 · 1 in hail · 1 event
- Flooding and Damaging Winds in Wisconsin, June 15, 19971 injured · $77,000 · 23 events
- Damaging Winds in Texas, June 15, 1997$144,000 · 61 kt wind · 9 events
- Damaging Wind in Texas, June 15, 1997$200,000 · 1 event
- Damaging Wind in Iowa, June 15, 19974 injured · $40,000 · 55 kt wind · 1 event
- Tornado in Iowa, June 15, 1997$55,000 · F1 · 1 event
- Hail in Iowa, June 15, 1997$162,000 · 0.75 in hail · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Iowa, June 15, 1997$80,000 · 1 in hail · 9 events
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: 5611434, 5611435, 5611436, 5611437, 5611503.