Texas, 1997

Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, May 30, 1997

May 30, 1997 · NWS OUN · 9 events in 3 counties and zones

Summary of events of May 30, 1997:Early morning thunderstorms moved across Clay, Archer, and Wichita Counties, producing hail as large as quarters, damaging thunderstorm winds, and flash flooding. The one-inch hail fell in Scotland in Archer County and in Bellevue in Clay County.

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
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$6,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
9

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 OUN wrote it up.

Summary of events of May 30, 1997:Early morning thunderstorms moved across Clay, Archer, and Wichita Counties, producing hail as large as quarters, damaging thunderstorm winds, and flash flooding. The one-inch hail fell in Scotland in Archer County and in Bellevue in Clay County. Wind damage occurred in Wichita Falls in Wichita County and in Scotland (in Archer County). Isolated flash flooding was reported in Wichita County from Wichita Falls to Burkburnett and west-southwest of Joy in Clay County. See preceding individual Storm Data entries for further details and additional reports.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

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Event by event

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

Hail, Wichita

When
May 30, 2:20 AM CST
Where
Wichita County, 3 mi NW of Burkburnett
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
34.130, -98.600

Hail, Wichita

When
May 30, 2:56 AM CST
Where
Wichita County, Wichita Falls
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.900, -98.500

Thunderstorm Wind, Wichita

When
May 30, 3:00 AM CST
Where
Wichita County, Wichita Falls
Property damage
$500
Coordinates
33.900, -98.500

A small metal shed was blown about 75 feet and limbs were blown down.

Flash Flood, Wichita

When
May 30, 3:20 AM CST
Where
Wichita County, Wichita Falls
Coordinates
33.988, -98.704 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Widespread street flooding was reported from Wichita Falls to Burkburnett.

Hail, Archer

When
May 30, 3:38 AM CST
Where
Archer County, Scotland
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.650, -98.470

Thunderstorm Wind, Archer

When
May 30, 3:40 AM CST
Where
Archer County, Scotland
Property damage
$5,000
Coordinates
33.650, -98.470

A roof was blown off a two-story structure and one large tree was downed.

Hail, Clay

When
May 30, 4:00 AM CST to 4:10 AM CST
Where
Clay County, 10 mi W of Joy
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
33.570, -98.380

Flash Flood, Clay

When
May 30, 4:00 AM CST
Where
Clay County, 9 mi WSW of Joy
Coordinates
33.786, -98.208 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Up to eight inches of water covered some of the roads.

Hail, Clay

When
May 30, 4:39 AM CST
Where
Clay County, Bellevue
Measured
1 in hail
Coordinates
33.630, -98.020

What these are

Hail
Hail three-quarters of an inch or larger, or smaller hail that caused damage, filed with the largest stone measured.
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.
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, 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: 5619328, 5619329, 5619327, 5619332, 5619330, 5619326, 5619324, 5619325, 5619331.