Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, January 6 to 7, 1998

Name: Flash Flooding and Hail in Texas, January 6 to 7, 1998
Start: 1998-01-06T05:10
End: 1998-01-07T04:50
Location: Texas

January 6 to 7, 1998 · NWS HGX · 20 events in 12 counties and zones

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

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 17 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: $108,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 20

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), 42 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:10 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

17 flash flood, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 hail. Local standard time, as filed.

Hail, Chambers

When: January 6, 5:10 AM CST
Where: Chambers County, Oak Island
Measured: 0.88 in hail
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.650, -94.700

Flash Flood, Galveston

When: January 6, 6:35 AM CST to 9:00 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, Galveston
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water on Broadway, 45th-47th St, 53rd St, 61st St. on Galveston Island

Flash Flood, Chambers

When: January 6, 8:05 AM CST to 11:15 AM CST
Where: Chambers County, Northwest Portion
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water on HWY 146 & I-10.

Flash Flood, Liberty

When: January 6, 9:52 AM CST to 1:45 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, Dayton
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

FM 1409 & Champions Rd near Dayton had 2 feet of water on it.

Flash Flood, Brazos

When: January 6, 2:30 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: Brazos County, College Station
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.661, -96.302 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in Bryan/College Station.

Flash Flood, Burleson

When: January 6, 2:30 PM CST to 3:45 PM CST
Where: Burleson County, Countywide
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 30.493, -96.621 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding across the county.

Flash Flood, Houston

When: January 6, 3:00 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Houston County, South Portion
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 31.318, -95.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water on FM 1280.

Flash Flood, Trinity

When: January 6, 3:00 PM CST
Where: Trinity County, Trinity
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 31.089, -95.135 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in Trinity.

Flash Flood, Polk

When: January 6, 3:00 PM CST to 7:30 PM CST
Where: Polk County, Countywide
Property damage: $25,000
Coordinates: 30.793, -94.830 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate flooding across the county. FM 1988 at HWY 146 flooded. Bridge washed out at FM 942 between Corrigan and Camden.

Flash Flood, Liberty

When: January 6, 3:15 PM CST to 10:45 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Moderate street flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: January 6, 4:30 PM CST to 11:00 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Property damage: $20,000
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding throughout the county, especially the Magnolia/Montgomery areas. HWY 1097, and FM 1097 at I-45 closed due to high water. Magnolia Bend Subdivision evacuated at 2250 CST due to rising water.

Flash Flood, Chambers

When: January 6, 4:30 PM CST to 6:45 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, Northwest Portion
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

HWY 146 & I-10 closed due to high water. FM 565 flooded.

Thunderstorm Wind, Galveston

When: January 6, 4:32 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Dickinson
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 29.470, -95.050

60 mph gust at NWSO Houston/Galveston.

Thunderstorm Wind, Harris

When: January 6, 4:40 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Webster
Measured: 60 kt (69 mph)
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 29.530, -95.120

60 mph gusts and large tree limbs down at Bay Area Blvd & FM 528

Flash Flood, Harris

When: January 6, 5:00 PM CST to 7:25 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Bellaire
Property damage: $3,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding.

Flash Flood, San Jacinto

When: January 6, 5:15 PM CST to 10:45 PM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Countywide
Property damage: $5,000
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous roads closed across the county due to high water.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: January 6, 7:45 PM CST to 9:30 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Bellaire
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding

Flash Flood, Brazoria

When: January 6, 9:50 PM CST to 11:15 PM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Pearland
Property damage: $2,000
Coordinates: 29.168, -95.434 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: January 6, 11:45 PM CST to January 7, 4:50 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Runoff from earlier heavy rains continue widespread street flooding.

Flash Flood, San Jacinto

When: January 6, 11:45 PM CST to January 7, 4:50 AM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Countywide
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Runoff from earlier heavy rains continue widespread street flooding.

What these are

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.
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

Every storm in Texas in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Texas, January 1998

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: 5628196, 5628595, 5628596, 5628597, 5628598, 5628599, 5628601, 5628602, 5628603, 5628604, 5628600, 5628605, 5628607, 5628606, 5628608, 5628609, 5628610, 5628611, 5628612, 5628613.