Texas, 1997

Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, May 8 to 31, 1997

May 8 to 31, 1997 · NWS SJT · 46 events in 20 counties and zones

23 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 5 flash flood, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 5 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
$1.4 million
Crop damage
$285,000
Events
46

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.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

23 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 5 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Thunderstorm Wind, Fisher

When
May 8, 5:45 PM CST
Where
Fisher County, 5 mi W of Rotan
Measured
57 kt (66 mph)
Coordinates
32.850, -100.550

Hail, Sterling

When
May 8, 9:45 PM CST
Where
Sterling County, Sterling City
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.830, -101.000

Thunderstorm Wind, Tom Green

When
May 8, 10:15 PM CST
Where
Tom Green County, Water Vly
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
31.670, -100.730

Flash Flood, Fisher

When
May 8, 10:40 PM CST to May 9, 12:40 AM CST
Where
Fisher County, Roby
Coordinates
32.743, -100.402 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flash Flood, Taylor

When
May 8, 11:15 PM CST to May 9, 1:45 AM CST
Where
Taylor County, Trent
Coordinates
32.301, -99.890 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

On May 8-9, a slow moving cold front resulted in widespread 1 to 2 inch rainfall over the Big Country. along a 40 mile wide line from Roby in Fisher County to San Saba. Specific rainfall reports include 1.91 inches in Trent and 1.3 inches in Abilene. Flooding occurred on and around Interstate 20 between Trent and Abilene, in Taylor County. Road closures were reported in Fisher County.

Thunderstorm Wind, Coleman

When
May 9, 1:12 AM CST
Where
Coleman County, Coleman
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
31.830, -99.430

Thunderstorm Wind, Brown

When
May 9, 1:30 AM CST to 1:45 AM CST
Where
Brown County, Brownwood to 12 mi of Early
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Property damage
$150,000
Coordinates
31.880, -99.070

Downburst winds occurred over an area from Lake Brownwood State Park to the towns of Early and north Brownwood. A wind gust to 67 mph was recorded at the Brownwood airport. Most of the damage was concentrated in Early and northeast Brownwood. Numerous trees were blown down and many fell on power lines. A warehouse was blown from its foundation near Lake Brownwood State Park.

Tornado, Brown

When
May 9, 1:30 AM CST
Where
Brown County, 14 mi NW of Brownwood Arpt
Rating
F1
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
31.950, -99.120

An off-duty weather observer witnessed a tornado which touched down on their house at Lake Brownwood. The tornado peeled the roof off and caused other damage to their house. Fortunately there were no injuries.

Hail, Mitchell

When
May 14, 10:22 PM CST
Where
Mitchell County, 10 mi SW of Westbrook
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$40,000
Coordinates
32.250, -101.130

Hail, Mitchell

When
May 14, 10:40 PM CST
Where
Mitchell County, 4 mi S of Colorado City
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$70,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
32.350, -100.850

Hail, Nolan

When
May 14, 11:25 PM CST
Where
Nolan County, 6 mi W of Maryneal
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$25,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Coordinates
32.270, -100.550

Hail, Taylor

When
May 14, 11:27 PM CST to May 15, 12:01 AM CST
Where
Taylor County, Abilene to 5 mi N of Abilene
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$200,000
Crop damage
$100,000
Coordinates
32.380, -99.730

Hail up to golfball-size fell over the city of Abilene and surrounding areas.

Hail, Jones

When
May 15, 12:30 AM CST
Where
Jones County, Anson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.750, -99.880

Flash Flood, Taylor

When
May 15, 1:00 AM CST to 2:30 AM CST
Where
Taylor County, Abilene
Property damage
$250,000
Coordinates
32.301, -99.890 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rainfall occurred overnight May 14-15. This rain resulted from an upper level low pressure system that moved across west central Texas and combined with numerous outflow boundaries from earlier thunderstorms. A large area of one to two inch rainfall occurred from a line from southwest Crockett County through San Angelo to Albany in Shackelford County. A few spots received up to three inches of rain. Flash flood warnings were issued for several counties with street flooding reported in Abilene. Floodwaters entered some homes in Abilene.

Hail, Nolan

When
May 15, 1:00 AM CST
Where
Nolan County, Blackwell
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.080, -100.320

Hail, Jones

When
May 15, 1:22 AM CST
Where
Jones County, Anson
Measured
0.75 in hail
Property damage
$10,000
Coordinates
32.750, -99.880

Flash Flood, Jones

When
May 15, 2:00 AM CST to 3:00 AM CST
Where
Jones County, 5 mi S of Anson
Property damage
$25,000
Coordinates
32.740, -99.879 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

As much as three inches of rain fell south of Anson and flooded county roads.

Hail, Coke

When
May 15, 2:03 AM CST
Where
Coke County, 1 mi S of Bronte
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.870, -100.300

Hail, Runnels

When
May 15, 2:11 AM CST
Where
Runnels County, 3 mi W of Norton
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.870, -100.180

Hail, Brown

When
May 15, 2:20 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 5 mi SE of Brownwood
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
31.670, -98.920

Tornado, Schleicher

When
May 15, 2:55 PM CST
Where
Schleicher County, 5 mi E of Eldorado
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Coordinates
30.850, -100.530

Brief tornado touchdown.

Tornado, Schleicher

When
May 15, 3:34 PM CST
Where
Schleicher County, 18 mi NE of Eldorado
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
25 yd
Coordinates
31.030, -100.400

Brief tornado touchdown.

Hail, Callahan

When
May 19, 1:53 PM CST
Where
Callahan County, Cross Plains
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.130, -99.170

Tornado, Callahan

When
May 19, 2:00 PM CST
Where
Callahan County, 8 mi W of Cross Plains
Rating
F1
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
10 yd
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$5,000
Coordinates
32.130, -99.300

A downpour of rain and hail lasted about 12 minutes, and left a narrow strip of ground completely covered with hail. While hail was destroying the garden of this residence, a tornado touched down for a few seconds. The roof was ripped apart and the fireplace was destroyed. The suction damaged the home's ceiling. Mesquite trees in the yard were also ripped apart.

Hail, Callahan

When
May 19, 2:28 PM CST
Where
Callahan County, Cross Plains
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.130, -99.170

Hail, Concho

When
May 19, 2:32 PM CST
Where
Concho County, 1 mi W of Eola
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.400, -100.100

Hail, Tom Green

When
May 19, 2:32 PM CST
Where
Tom Green County, 5 mi NE of Vancourt
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.400, -100.120

Large hail fell between Vancourt and Eola, along the Concho/Tom Green county line.

Hail, Brown

When
May 19, 3:05 PM CST
Where
Brown County, 9 mi NNW of Brownwood
Measured
1.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.830, -99.050

Golfball-size hail fell over Lake Brownwood.

Tornado, Brown

When
May 19, 3:15 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
Where
Brown County, Owens
Rating
F1
Path length
1 mi
Path width
50 yd
Coordinates
31.850, -98.930

Sightings of this tornado were reported by residents of May and Comanche.

Tornado, Crockett

When
May 19, 3:40 PM CST
Where
Crockett County, 12 mi SSE of Ozona
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
15 yd
Coordinates
30.530, -101.120

Hail, Brown

When
May 19, 3:45 PM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where
Brown County, Brownwood
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$20,000
Coordinates
31.720, -98.980

Hail up to golfball-size fell over most of the city of Brownwood.

Hail, Sutton

When
May 19, 4:55 PM CST
Where
Sutton County, Sonora
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.570, -100.630

Tornado, Crockett

When
May 21, 6:18 PM CST
Where
Crockett County, 10 mi W of Ozona
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
20 yd
Coordinates
30.700, -101.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Mitchell

When
May 24, 6:53 PM CST
Where
Mitchell County, Colorado City
Measured
58 kt (67 mph)
Coordinates
32.400, -100.850

Hail, Mitchell

When
May 24, 7:00 PM CST
Where
Mitchell County, Colorado City
Measured
0.88 in hail
Coordinates
32.400, -100.850

Nickel-size hail fell in Colorado City while 67 mph winds were recorded at the local radio station.

Hail, Fisher

When
May 30, 2:06 AM CST
Where
Fisher County, Roby
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
32.750, -100.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Fisher

When
May 30, 2:12 AM CST
Where
Fisher County, Roby
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
32.750, -100.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Taylor

When
May 30, 2:33 AM CST
Where
Taylor County, Trent
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
32.480, -100.130

Hail, McCulloch

When
May 30, 3:18 PM CST
Where
McCulloch County, Rochelle
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
31.230, -99.220

Flash Flood, San Saba

When
May 30, 4:20 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where
San Saba County, 18 mi W of Cherokee
Coordinates
31.155, -98.818 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Up to two inches of rain fell over southwest San Saba County during the late afternoon of the 30th. The heavy rains caused isolated flash flooding over this sparsely populated area.

Thunderstorm Wind, San Saba

When
May 30, 4:38 PM CST
Where
San Saba County, Cherokee
Measured
52 kt (60 mph)
Coordinates
30.980, -98.700

Hail, Schleicher

When
May 30, 7:29 PM CST
Where
Schleicher County, 15 mi E of Eldorado
Measured
0.75 in hail
Coordinates
30.850, -100.370

Thunderstorm Wind, Concho

When
May 31, 12:40 AM CST
Where
Concho County, 10 mi SW of Eden
Property damage
$100,000
Coordinates
31.120, -99.970

Many large oak trees were uprooted by the winds. There was also damage to pens, barns, and windmills on ranches.

Thunderstorm Wind, Menard

When
May 31, 1:00 AM CST to 1:33 AM CST
Where
Menard County, Ft McKavett to 5 mi of Ft McKavett
Measured
87 kt (100 mph)
Property damage
$300,000
Coordinates
30.900, -100.100

Golfball size hail and 100 mph winds were reported by a cooperative observier near Fort McKavett. The hail broke double-pane windows. The winds damaged three camp buildings along the San Saba River. One building was lifted off of its foundation. The roof of another, a lodge building, was removed and carried more than 100 yards by the winds. The camp was occupied during this storm but there were no injuries.

Hail, Menard

When
May 31, 1:33 AM CST
Where
Menard County, Ft McKavett
Measured
1.75 in hail
Property damage
$50,000
Crop damage
$50,000
Coordinates
30.830, -100.100

Tornado, Kimble

When
May 31, 1:40 AM CST
Where
Kimble County, 2 mi NW of Junction
Rating
F0
Path length
0.1 mi
Path width
15 yd
Coordinates
30.500, -99.780

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.
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.
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.

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: 5608365, 5608366, 5608367, 5608368, 5608124, 5608369, 5608370, 5608691, 5608692, 5608693, 5608694, 5608695, 5608696, 5608125, 5608698, 5608697, 5608127, 5608699, 5608700, 5608701, 5608703, 5608702, 5608706, 5608461, 5608707, 5608704, 5608705, 5608708, 5608128, 5608709, 5608710, 5608711, 5608712, 5608713, 5608714, 5608715, 5608716, 5608717, 5608718, 5608721, and more.