Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, May 15, 1997

May 15, 1997 · NWS FWD · 12 events in 7 counties and zones

5 hail, 4 flash flood, 2 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 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
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$125,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
12

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 national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

5 hail, 4 flash flood, 2 lightning, 1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Stephens

When
May 15, 3:39 AM CST
Where
Stephens County, 5 mi SW of Breckenridge
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
32.700, -98.970

Hail, Hopkins

When
May 15, 7:53 AM CST
Where
Hopkins County, 8 mi N of Sulphur Spgs
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.250, -95.600

Lightning, Tarrant

When
May 15, 8:00 AM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Hurst
Property damage
$75,000
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house and started a fire that resulted in extensive damage.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When
May 15, 8:45 AM CST to 9:45 AM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Property damage
$20,000
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A building was flooded by high water on the south side of town.

Lightning, Dallas

When
May 15, 9:15 AM CST
Where
Dallas County, Grand Prairie
Property damage
$30,000
Coordinates
32.767, -96.778 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning struck a house and caused a fire that resulted in considerable damage.

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When
May 15, 9:25 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where
Tarrant County, Haltom City
Coordinates
32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads were reported flooded by high water.

Hail, Comanche

When
May 15, 2:45 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Mercers Gap
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.780, -98.680

Flash Flood, Comanche

When
May 15, 3:57 PM CST to 5:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Comanche
Coordinates
31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and around town were flooded by high water.

Hail, Hamilton

When
May 15, 4:10 PM CST
Where
Hamilton County, 4 mi N of Hamilton
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
31.750, -98.120

Flash Flood, Comanche

When
May 15, 4:30 PM CST to 6:30 PM CST
Where
Comanche County, Newburg
Coordinates
31.948, -98.558 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Over three inches of rain resulted in flooding of roads in and around town.

Hail, Bell

When
May 15, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Temple
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.100, -97.350

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When
May 15, 6:40 PM CST
Where
Bell County, Temple
Coordinates
31.100, -97.350

Large limbs were blown down by strong winds.

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
Lightning
A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.
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.
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.

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, May 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: 5598837, 5598838, 5598839, 5598840, 5598842, 5598841, 5598843, 5598844, 5598846, 5598845, 5598847, 5598848.