Texas, 1997

Hail and Damaging Winds in Texas, June 17, 1997

June 17, 1997 · NWS HGX · 11 events in 1 county or zone

A large HP Supercell developed over NW Harris County between Katy and Cypress around 11 AM and tracked ESE at 35 mph across Harris County. and the Bay Area communities.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it. 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
8
Property damage
$390,000
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.

What happened

The episode as NWS HGX wrote it up.

A large HP Supercell developed over NW Harris County between Katy and Cypress around 11 AM and tracked ESE at 35 mph across Harris County. This storm produced a large swath of straight line wind damage as it crossed through the NW suburbs...the heart of downtown Houston...the ship channel...and the Bay Area communities. When this storm crossed Loop 610 near US 290 on the NW side...radar indicated sufficient rotation for possible tornadoes. This signature continued until the storm was over the downtown area. While numerous reports of funnel clouds or tornado touchdowns were received, post-storm surveys from the air and ground indicated it was hard to distinguish tornado damage from strait line wind damage. Storm spotters and emergency management officials reported widespread damage to windows, billboard and powerlines along the storms' path. Eight minor injuries were reported from flying glass from blown in windows at two downtown office buildings. In addition, HL&P reported up to 192,000 customers without power in the wake of the storm.

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 79 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 16:24 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

10 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 10:25 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Katy
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.800, -95.800

Large tree uprooted on Fry Rd.

Hail, Harris

When
June 17, 10:40 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

3/4" hail at HWY 290 & HWY 6.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 10:50 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Measured
60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

Several buildings lost tin siding and roofing along Washington St.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 10:55 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Injuries
6 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

6 minor injuries due to flying broken glass at One Shell Plaza in downtown Houston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 10:55 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Injuries
2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

2 minor injuries due to flying broken glass at 500 Jefferson St. in downtown Houston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

Trees and fences blown down along Westheimer. 5 car windows also broken from flying debris.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:05 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Measured
65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage
$15,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

Large trees and powerlines blown down in the Galleria area.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:15 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Houston
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
29.730, -95.370

1000's of trees blown down throughout the Houston area, some on cars and houses. Small wall collapsed at the Astrodome.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:30 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Deer Park
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
29.700, -95.120

McDonalds sign blown down.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:30 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Clear Lake City
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
29.550, -95.100

Trees uprooted area-wide from 2900 block of Bay Area Blvd. to Red Bluff. Signs and trees blown down at Clear Lake High School.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When
June 17, 11:35 AM CST
Where
Harris County, Clear Lake City
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
29.550, -95.100

Garage doors and trees blown down at NASA. Several car windows also broken due to flying debris.

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.

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, June 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: 5610953, 5610954, 5610955, 5610956, 5610957, 5610958, 5610959, 5610960, 5610961, 5610962, 5610963.