Texas, 1997

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 3 to 28, 1997

May 3 to 28, 1997 · NWS CRP · 49 events in 14 counties and zones

19 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 5 flash flood, 4 funnel cloud, 2 tornado, 1 waterspout, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 10 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
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
49

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 Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 43 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 15:49 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

19 thunderstorm wind, 18 hail, 5 flash flood, 4 funnel cloud, 2 tornado, 1 waterspout. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Kleberg

When
May 3, 3:00 PM CST
Where
Kleberg County, Ricardo
Coordinates
27.427, -97.668 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

NWS employee and numerous public reports of several roadways and surrounding fields flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Webb

When
May 9, 9:48 AM CST
Where
Webb County, Laredo
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.550, -99.470

Official weather observation of 50 knot wind gust generated from a thunderstorm outflow boundary.

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When
May 9, 11:10 AM CST
Where
Duval County, San Diego
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.770, -98.250

Skywarn spotter report of several large trees uprooted by thunderstorm wind and torrential downpours.

Tornado, Jim Wells

When
May 9, 11:23 AM CST
Where
Jim Wells County, 5 mi NE of Alice
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
27.800, -98.030

Sheriff report of a tornado near highways 359 and 44.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jim Wells

When
May 9, 11:30 AM CST
Where
Jim Wells County, Alice
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.750, -98.080

Sheriff report of several large uprooted trees with numerous power lines downed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jim Wells

When
May 9, 11:35 AM CST
Where
Jim Wells County, Orange Grove
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.970, -97.930

Public report of several large trees downed resulting in damage to homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nueces

When
May 9, 12:10 PM CST
Where
Nueces County, Agua Dulce
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.800, -97.900

Sheriff report of several large trees uprooted and structural damage to homes.

Thunderstorm Wind, Nueces

When
May 9, 12:15 PM CST
Where
Nueces County, Robstown
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.780, -97.670

Sheriff report of several large trees uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Patricio

When
May 9, 1:00 PM CST
Where
San Patricio County, Portland
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.870, -97.330

NWS spotter report of power poles downed with several large trees uprooted.

Thunderstorm Wind, Kleberg

When
May 9, 1:00 PM CST
Where
Kleberg County, Kingsville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.520, -97.870

Emergency manager report of extensive damage to barns and farmhouses with several large trees uprooted.

Hail, Nueces

When
May 9, 1:20 PM CST
Where
Nueces County, Corpus Christi
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
27.780, -97.420

Public report of dime sized hail.

Flash Flood, Victoria

When
May 9, 1:30 PM CST
Where
Victoria County, Victoria
Coordinates
28.796, -96.971 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

NWS spotter report of flooded roadways with 4.9 inches of rain.

Hail, La Salle

When
May 15, 4:45 PM CST
Where
La Salle County, 9 mi N of Cotulla
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.570, -99.230

Hail, McMullen

When
May 15, 6:20 PM CST
Where
McMullen County, Tilden
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.450, -98.550

Hail, McMullen

When
May 15, 6:35 PM CST
Where
McMullen County, Tilden
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.450, -98.550

Spotter report of golfball sized hail resulting in numerous windows being shattered across town.

Thunderstorm Wind, McMullen

When
May 15, 6:35 PM CST
Where
McMullen County, Tilden
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.450, -98.550

Sheriff report of several large trees downed by strong thunderstorm wind gusts.

Funnel Cloud, Live Oak

When
May 15, 7:20 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, 4 mi E of George West
Coordinates
28.351, -98.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

NWS skywarn spotter and sheriff report of a funnel cloud near Interstate highway 37.

Hail, Live Oak

When
May 15, 7:22 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, Three Rivers
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.470, -98.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Live Oak

When
May 15, 7:22 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, Three Rivers
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.470, -98.180

Reports of several large tree limbs downed by strong thunderstorm wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Live Oak

When
May 15, 7:50 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, 10 mi E of George West
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.330, -97.950

Reports of several large tree limbs downed along highway 59.

Thunderstorm Wind, Webb

When
May 15, 7:58 PM CST
Where
Webb County, Laredo
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.550, -99.470

Spotter report of several branches downed across town due to strong thunderstorm wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bee

When
May 15, 8:15 PM CST
Where
Bee County, 2 mi N of Skidmore
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
28.280, -97.680

Sheriff report of debris covering highway 181 resulting from strong thunderstorm wind gusts.

Hail, San Patricio

When
May 15, 8:15 PM CST
Where
San Patricio County, 5 mi E of Mathis
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.100, -97.750

NWS spotter report of dime sized hail.

Waterspout, Nueces

When
May 23, 8:26 AM CST
Where
Nueces County, Corpus Christi
Coordinates
27.735, -97.516 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Police report of a waterspout over Corpus Christi Bay.

Flash Flood, Nueces

When
May 23, 9:30 AM CST to 10:00 AM CST
Where
Nueces County, Corpus Christi
Coordinates
27.735, -97.516 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous reports from various agencies and persons of widespread flooding across the area with several roadways flooded.

Flash Flood, San Patricio

When
May 23, 10:15 AM CST
Where
San Patricio County, Gregory
Coordinates
28.009, -97.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Police report of several roadways flooded.

Flash Flood, Calhoun

When
May 23, 1:15 PM CST
Where
Calhoun County, Port Lavaca
Coordinates
28.439, -96.615 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sheriff report of several roadways flooded.

Funnel Cloud, San Patricio

When
May 23, 2:30 PM CST
Where
San Patricio County, Mathis
Coordinates
28.009, -97.518 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

NWS spotter and public reports of several weak funnel clouds across the area.

Funnel Cloud, Live Oak

When
May 23, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, Lagarto
Coordinates
28.351, -98.125 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sheriff and spotter reports of several weak funnel clouds across the area.

Funnel Cloud, Bee

When
May 23, 2:30 PM CST
Where
Bee County, Skidmore
Coordinates
28.417, -97.741 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Sheriff report of several weak funnel clouds across the area.

Tornado, Live Oak

When
May 23, 2:35 PM CST to 2:50 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, Lagarto
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
30 yd
Coordinates
28.120, -97.970

NWS spotter report of three weak funnel clouds that frequently descended from the cloud base and reached the surface.

Hail, Bee

When
May 24, 7:15 PM CST
Where
Bee County, 7 mi N of Skidmore
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.350, -97.680

Spotter report of dime sized hail.

Hail, La Salle

When
May 27, 7:45 PM CST to 8:10 PM CST
Where
La Salle County, 9 mi N of Cotulla
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.570, -99.230

Sheriff report of golfball sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, McMullen

When
May 27, 8:30 PM CST
Where
McMullen County, Tilden
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.450, -98.550

Spotter report of numerous trees downed with several windows being shattered to local homes.

Hail, Live Oak

When
May 27, 8:40 PM CST
Where
Live Oak County, Three Rivers
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.470, -98.180

Thunderstorm Wind, Bee

When
May 27, 8:45 PM CST
Where
Bee County, Beeville
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.400, -97.750

Sheriff report of numerous trees and power lines downed by strong thunderstorm wind.

Hail, La Salle

When
May 27, 8:50 PM CST
Where
La Salle County, Artesia Wells
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.280, -99.280

Sheriff report of golfball sized hail.

Hail, Goliad

When
May 27, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Goliad County, Weesatche
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
28.850, -97.430

Hail, Webb

When
May 27, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Webb County, 25 mi N of Laredo
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
27.920, -99.470

Border Patrol report of quarter sized hail.

Thunderstorm Wind, Goliad

When
May 27, 9:00 PM CST
Where
Goliad County, Ander
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
28.850, -97.350

Spotter report of numerous large trees downed by thunderstorm wind gusts.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Patricio

When
May 27, 9:20 PM CST
Where
San Patricio County, Mathis
Measured
55 kt (63 mph)
Coordinates
28.100, -97.830

Thunderstorm Wind, Duval

When
May 27, 9:25 PM CST
Where
Duval County, Realitos
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.450, -98.530

Sheriff report of numerous power lines downed by thunderstorm wind.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jim Wells

When
May 27, 9:25 PM CST
Where
Jim Wells County, Alice
Measured
50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates
27.750, -98.080

Spotter report of large tree limbs downed by thunderstorm wind.

Hail, Webb

When
May 27, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Webb County, Oilton
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
27.470, -98.980

Hail, Refugio

When
May 28, 3:40 PM CST
Where
Refugio County, 7 mi N of Bayside
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.200, -97.220

Spotter report of golfball sized hail.

Hail, Victoria

When
May 28, 4:31 PM CST
Where
Victoria County, Inez
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.900, -96.780

Hail, Victoria

When
May 28, 4:35 PM CST
Where
Victoria County, 5 mi NW of Victoria
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
28.850, -97.050

Spotter report of quarter sized hail.

Hail, Goliad

When
May 28, 5:20 PM CST
Where
Goliad County, Schroeder
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
28.820, -97.220

Hail, Goliad

When
May 28, 5:47 PM CST
Where
Goliad County, Goliad
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
28.670, -97.380

Spotter report of quarter sized hail.

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.
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.
Funnel Cloud
A rotating column of cloud extending from a thunderstorm that did not reach the ground.
Waterspout
A tornado over water. One that moves ashore is filed as a tornado from the coastline on.

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 historyThe tornado archive for Texas, 1997Warnings 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: 5599265, 5599161, 5599162, 5599163, 5599164, 5599165, 5599166, 5599167, 5599168, 5599169, 5599170, 5599171, 5599172, 5599173, 5599174, 5599175, 5599176, 5599177, 5599178, 5599179, 5599180, 5599181, 5599182, 5599266, 5599267, 5599268, 5599269, 5599270, 5599271, 5599272, 5599273, 5599274, 5599280, 5599281, 5599282, 5599283, 5599284, 5599285, 5599286, 5599287, and more.