Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding in Texas, June 8 to 9, 1997

June 8 to 9, 1997 · NWS EWX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

As a result of general 3 to 4 inch rainfall in less than 4 hours, and isolated totals near 5 inches, widespread flash flooding developed along the Blanco River across southern Blanco and Southern Hays Counties from Blanco to Wimberly. In all, over 40 homes in Hays County were flooded by the heavy rainfall and over 40 cars were washed away.

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

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The toll

Deaths
2
Injuries
7
Property damage
$2.6 million
Crop damage
$70,000
Events
2

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 EWX wrote it up.

As a result of general 3 to 4 inch rainfall in less than 4 hours, and isolated totals near 5 inches, widespread flash flooding developed along the Blanco River across southern Blanco and Southern Hays Counties from Blanco to Wimberly. In all, over 40 homes in Hays County were flooded by the heavy rainfall and over 40 cars were washed away. More than 25 Hays County roads were flooded out, with the worst flooding taking place along Dry Cypress Creek. Several high water rescues were made during the early morning hours. Two young adults in separate vehicles attempted to cross the Blanco River shortly after midnight, but one vehicle became stalled. The two got into the second vehicle and continued to another location. After a few hours, they both returned (some time near 0200 CST) to try to restart the first vehicle. This time the second vehicle with both occupants was swept into the Blanco River. The two were drowned.

The radar

The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 04:27 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Blanco

When
June 8, 10:30 PM CST to June 9, 12:30 AM CST
Where
Blanco County, Countywide
Property damage
$100,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Coordinates
30.266, -98.400 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Hays

When
June 8, 11:00 PM CST to June 9, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Hays County, Countywide
Deaths
2 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
7 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$2.5 million
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
30.058, -98.031 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

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.

EventDateAgeSexWhereKind
Flash Flood, Hays1997-06-0919FemaleVehicle/Towed TrailerDirect
Flash Flood, Hays1997-06-0922MaleVehicle/Towed TrailerDirect

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, 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: 5607901, 5607902.