Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding in Texas, June 8 to 9, 1997

June 8 to 9, 1997 · NWS EWX · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

Rainfall of generally 2 to 3 inches fell over the four counties, with isolated totals to near 5 inches. Widespread flash flooding was reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 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
1
Injuries
10
Property damage
$205,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

Rainfall of generally 2 to 3 inches fell over the four counties, with isolated totals to near 5 inches. Widespread flash flooding was reported. Some 90 residents of a mobile home park in Austin were evacuated as Walnut Creek flooded the area. Severe flooding took place along Onion Creek and Barton Creek as well. Water was reported over I-35 bridge in Georgetown. Numerous rescues were performed in Comal and Travis Counties. Two young ladies in Austin were trying to cross an old road across Slaughter Creek around noon CST when their vehicle was swept into the creek. One managed to scramble to safety and go for help. She called in an EMS team who tied ropes around themselves to reach the second young lady. Several families were evacuated from their homes in Del Valle in Travis County as waters rose rapidly. A young woman was walking along Williamson Creek near 1st street and William Cannon in the city of Austin shortly after 0630 am CST when she slipped on debris left from the flooding. She fell into the flood waters and was drowned.

The radar

The Austin/San Antonio radar (KEWX), 27 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 05:31 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

4 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Comal

When
June 8, 11:30 PM CST to June 9, 7:00 AM CST
Where
Comal County, Countywide
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
29.808, -98.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Burnet

When
June 8, 11:30 PM CST to June 9, 2:00 AM CST
Where
Burnet County, Countywide
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
30.788, -98.182 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Williamson

When
June 8, 11:30 PM CST to June 9, 11:00 AM CST
Where
Williamson County, Countywide
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
30.648, -97.601 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Travis

When
June 8, 11:30 PM CST to June 9, 12:00 PM CST
Where
Travis County, Countywide
Deaths
1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries
10 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
30.335, -97.782 (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, Travis1997-06-0917FemaleIn WaterDirect

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: 5607903, 5607904, 5607905, 5607906.