Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 21 to 31, 1997

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 21 to 31, 1997
Start: 1997-05-21T17:10
End: 1997-05-31T03:15
Location: Texas

May 21 to 31, 1997 · NWS HGX · 47 events in 14 counties and zones

25 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 5 flash flood, 3 tornado, 1 lightning, 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 2
Property damage: $680,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 47

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), 65 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 23:08 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

25 thunderstorm wind, 13 hail, 5 flash flood, 3 tornado, 1 lightning. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Brazoria

When: May 21, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Jones Creek
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 28.970, -95.430

Trees down at SFA Rd.

Tornado, Colorado

When: May 21, 6:30 PM CST to 6:33 PM CST
Where: Colorado County, Sheridan
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 29.500, -96.680

Tornado blew down powerlines, temporary buildings, and 12" diameter trees

Hail, Colorado

When: May 21, 6:45 PM CST
Where: Colorado County, Sheridan
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.500, -96.680

Thunderstorm Wind, Austin

When: May 21, 7:57 PM CST
Where: Austin County, 3 mi SW of Sealy
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.750, -96.180

Trees down on FM 3013

Flash Flood, Austin

When: May 21, 8:33 PM CST to 10:15 PM CST
Where: Austin County, Sealy
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 29.887, -96.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

3 feet of water at intersection of HWY 36 & HWY 90

Flash Flood, Harris

When: May 21, 8:33 PM CST to 10:15 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in west Houston from 6-8" training rains. An elderly man drove into a flooded underpass (about 8 ft deep) where he drowned.

Lightning, Galveston

When: May 22, 10:30 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, Galveston
Property damage: $50,000
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning induced fire destroyed house

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 23, 1:35 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Cypress
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 29.970, -95.700

Spotter report of 60 mph gusts at HWY 290 & Tookey Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Waller

When: May 24, 2:07 PM CST
Where: Waller County, Hempstead
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.100, -96.080

Trees down on 16th-17th St.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: May 24, 3:35 PM CST to May 25, 5:30 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Severe flooding in Houston. 50-75 homes had flood damage. Creeks and bayous out of banks at many locations. A cab driver and 12 year old boy had to be rescued after flood waters swept them away from White Oak Bayou. Both hung onto trees before being rescued and had many ant bites. Many cars also flooded.

Hail, Madison

When: May 27, 6:54 PM CST
Where: Madison County, North Zulch
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.920, -96.100

Hail, Madison

When: May 27, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Madison County, 3 mi N of Madisonville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.000, -95.880

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 28, 10:00 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.730, -95.370

Trees down at Tidwell & I-45

Hail, Montgomery

When: May 28, 12:20 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, 5 mi S of Conroe
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.250, -95.450

3/4" hail at FM 1488 & I-45

Hail, Waller

When: May 28, 1:50 PM CST
Where: Waller County, Brookshire
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.820, -95.930

Tornado, Polk

When: May 28, 2:59 PM CST to 3:10 PM CST
Where: Polk County, 5 mi N of Livingston
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Coordinates: 30.770, -94.930

DPS amd EM reported tornado during the time period. No injuries or damages reported.

Hail, Jackson

When: May 28, 5:04 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, La Ward
Measured: 1 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 28.830, -96.470

Hail, Jackson

When: May 28, 5:04 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Lolita
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 28.830, -96.550

Hail, Jackson

When: May 28, 5:04 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Vanderbilt
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 28.820, -96.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: May 30, 9:57 AM CST
Where: Polk County, Corrigan
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.000, -94.820

Trees uprooted on FM 942

Thunderstorm Wind, Houston

When: May 30, 9:50 PM CST
Where: Houston County, Ratcliff
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.400, -95.130

Trees blown down

Thunderstorm Wind, Polk

When: May 30, 10:03 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Corrigan
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.000, -94.820

Trees and powerlines blown down

Thunderstorm Wind, Madison

When: May 30, 10:05 PM CST
Where: Madison County, Midway
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.030, -95.770

Trees blown down

Thunderstorm Wind, Trinity

When: May 30, 10:10 PM CST
Where: Trinity County, 9 mi NW of Groveton
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 31.180, -95.250

Powerlines blown down

Tornado, Harris

When: May 30, 10:22 PM CST to 10:24 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 2 mi SSE of Tomball
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.070, -95.600

Trees blown down on Dobbin Huffsmith Rd.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:22 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 2 mi SE of Tomball
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.080, -95.600

Trees blown down on Grant & Mill Rd.

Hail, Harris

When: May 30, 10:22 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Tomball
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.100, -95.620

Hail, Harris

When: May 30, 10:27 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Tomball to 3 mi S of Tomball
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.050, -95.620

Thunderstorm Wind, Grimes

When: May 30, 10:38 PM CST
Where: Grimes County, 5 mi W of Roans Prairie
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.580, -96.030

Trees down on HWY 30

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 7 mi SE of Tomball
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.030, -95.530

8 foot pine tree snapped and several large limbs blown down. Key map 329M

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 5 mi E of Cypress
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.970, -95.620

16 foot oak tree uprooted, pine tree snapped 20 feet up near Jones Rd and HWY 249

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Louetta
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 29.900, -95.580

Numerous trees down and signal lights damaged near HWY 249

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 29.830, -95.450

Tree blown down on house at North Chappel and San Glen. Key map 329R

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:42 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 29.830, -95.450

90 foot tree uprooted and fell on a house at Thornhill and Benwick. Key map 329R

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:56 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 29.730, -95.370

Spotter reported 50 kt gusts in the Willowbrook area

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 30, 10:57 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 9 mi ESE of Cypress
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.920, -95.570

Trees blown down at FM 1960 & HWY 249

Hail, Harris

When: May 30, 11:03 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.730, -95.370

Hail in the Willowbrook area

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 30, 11:11 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Willis
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.420, -95.480

Trees blown down

Thunderstorm Wind, Montgomery

When: May 30, 11:30 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Porter
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 30.100, -95.230

Trees blown down onto a mobile home

Flash Flood, Harris

When: May 30, 11:30 PM CST to May 31, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Nrn County
Property damage: $15,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding due to 3-5 inch rains. Approximately 6 homes sustained water damage

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: May 30, 11:30 PM CST to May 31, 2:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Srn County
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in the Woodlands from 3-5 inch rains. Bridge washed out at Dobbin-Huffsmith Rd. near Magnolia

Hail, Austin

When: May 30, 11:35 PM CST
Where: Austin County, Bellville
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 29.950, -96.270

Thunderstorm Wind, Austin

When: May 30, 11:35 PM CST
Where: Austin County, Bellville
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.950, -96.270

Powerlines blown down

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: May 31, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Baytown
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.720, -95.050

16 foot business sign blown down on Garth Rd. This sign was built to withstand 60 mph winds.

Hail, Harris

When: May 31, 12:06 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.730, -95.370

Hail at Richmond & Loop 610

Thunderstorm Wind, Chambers

When: May 31, 12:20 AM CST
Where: Chambers County, 5 mi W of Hankamer
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.850, -94.720

Trees blown down on FM 563

Thunderstorm Wind, Jackson

When: May 31, 3:15 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Ganado
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 29.050, -96.520

Utility poles and trees blown down

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
Flash Flood, Harris	1997-05-21	70	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.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.
Hail: Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
Lightning: A lightning strike that killed, injured or caused damage.

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 The tornado archive for Texas, 1997 Warnings 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: 5599197, 5599198, 5599199, 5599200, 5599201, 5599202, 5599203, 5599204, 5599205, 5597421, 5597422, 5597423, 5597424, 5597425, 5597426, 5597427, 5597428, 5597429, 5597430, 5597433, 5597431, 5597434, 5597432, 5597435, 5597437, 5597438, 5597439, 5597440, 5597436, 5597441, 5597442, 5597443, 5597444, 5597445, 5597446, 5597447, 5597543, 5597544, 5597547, 5597548, and more.