Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Texas, June 17, 1997

Name: Damaging Winds and Heavy Rain in Texas, June 17, 1997
Start: 1997-06-17T11:25
End: 1997-06-17T12:45
Location: Texas

June 17, 1997 · NWS HGX · 7 events in 3 counties and zones

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain, as filed by the National Weather Service.

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.

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: 2
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $190,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 7

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), 30 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:24 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brazoria

When: June 17, 11:25 AM CST
Where: Brazoria County, 5 mi W of Pearland
Measured: 58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates: 29.570, -95.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When: June 17, 11:30 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, 6 mi S of Kemah
Property damage: $160,000
Coordinates: 29.450, -95.020

Pwerlines down in San Leon and Baycliff. Roof blown off shed 6 miles south of the Kemah bridge. Roof on Spillway Pier blown off with debris damaging 2 cars.

Heavy Rain, Galveston

When: June 17, 12:00 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Dickinson
Deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Car hydroplaned near FM 646 exit and ran into TDT truck on shoulder. 2 killed/2 injured.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brazoria

When: June 17, 12:10 PM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Richwood
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.050, -95.420

Shingles blown off church.

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When: June 17, 12:15 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, Anahuac
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.770, -94.680

Mobile home sustained wind damage.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When: June 17, 12:30 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Galveston
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates: 29.300, -94.820

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When: June 17, 12:45 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, San Luis Pass
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 29.100, -95.100

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Heavy Rain, Galveston	1997-06-17	19	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct
Heavy Rain, Galveston	1997-06-17	36	Male	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

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.
Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings 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: 5610967, 5610965, 5610966, 5610968, 5610964, 5610969, 5610970.