Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, October 18 to 19, 1998

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, October 18 to 19, 1998
Start: 1998-10-18T00:00
End: 1998-10-19T01:00
Location: Texas

October 18 to 19, 1998 · NWS HGX · 38 events in 17 counties and zones

33 flash flood, 5 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 33 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: 1
Property damage: $548,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 38

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), 40 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:02 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

33 flash flood, 5 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Tornado, Harris

When: October 18, 12:00 AM CST to 12:05 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.730, -95.370

Magnolia and Pine Forest subdivisions had some roof damage, trees and powerlines downed.

Tornado, Harris

When: October 18, 3:45 AM CST to 3:47 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Cypress
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 29.970, -95.700

Minor structural damage and trees down.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: October 18, 3:48 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Harris County, North Portion
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding, especially near Hooks Airport.

Tornado, Harris

When: October 18, 4:00 AM CST to 4:02 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Bammel to 8 mi WNW of Bammel
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 30.050, -95.580

Trees blown down and minor damage to homes.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: October 18, 4:00 AM CST to 7:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding beginning to occur countywide.

Tornado, Liberty

When: October 18, 4:30 AM CST to 4:32 AM CST
Where: Liberty County, Plum Grove
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 30.200, -95.070

Tornado touchdown in Plum Grove on FM 1010. Mobile homes damaged and trees/powerlines down.

Flash Flood, Houston

When: October 18, 5:00 AM CST to 8:00 AM CST
Where: Houston County, Crockett
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.318, -95.423 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in Crockett.

Flash Flood, Washington

When: October 18, 5:15 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Washington County, Countywide
Property damage: $35,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.215, -96.403 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooded roads countywide. Bridge washed out at Wonderhill Rd.

Tornado, Waller

When: October 18, 5:25 AM CST to 5:28 AM CST
Where: Waller County, Brookshire
Rating: F2
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: NWS STORM SURVEY
Coordinates: 29.820, -95.930

Tornado destroyed mobile home. One person killed and another injured in the home. Nine other homes damaged and 2 barns destroyed.

Flash Flood, Brazos

When: October 18, 5:45 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Brazos County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.661, -96.302 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

HWY 30 between HWY 6 & FM 158 closed due to flooding. Secondary roads flooded elsewhere.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: October 18, 6:29 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Edna
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 28.954, -96.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in Edna became more widespread through the period.

Flash Flood, Austin

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Austin County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.887, -96.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Colorado

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Colorado County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.621, -96.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Countywide
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Waller

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Waller County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.011, -95.988 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Wharton

When: October 18, 7:06 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.278, -96.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Liberty

When: October 18, 9:01 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, Countywide
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding countywide.

Flash Flood, Madison

When: October 18, 9:01 AM CST
Where: Madison County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.966, -95.928 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

FM 2289 & FM 1428 flooded.

Flash Flood, Fort Bend

When: October 18, 9:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.528, -95.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Training rains caused numerous flooded roads.

Flash Flood, Chambers

When: October 18, 9:45 AM CST to 1:00 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, North Portion
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

I-10 at HWY 565 flooded.

Flash Flood, Brazoria

When: October 18, 10:24 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Brazoria
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.168, -95.434 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor street flooding.

Flash Flood, Galveston

When: October 18, 10:24 AM CST to 12:30 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Friendswood
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Minor street flooding.

Flash Flood, San Jacinto

When: October 18, 10:30 AM CST to 11:00 AM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Countywide
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Training rains caused numerous roads to flood.

Flash Flood, Austin

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Austin County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.887, -96.278 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Colorado

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Colorado County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.621, -96.526 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Fort Bend

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.528, -95.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.300, -95.503 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, San Jacinto

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.580, -95.167 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Waller

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Waller County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.011, -95.988 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Wharton

When: October 18, 11:02 AM CST to 3:00 PM CST
Where: Wharton County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.278, -96.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Major flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Liberty

When: October 18, 1:07 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Chambers

When: October 18, 1:07 PM CST to 4:00 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding continues

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: October 18, 1:19 PM CST to 5:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 28.954, -96.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding continues.

Flash Flood, Brazos

When: October 18, 4:40 PM CST to 7:00 PM CST
Where: Brazos County, College Station
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.661, -96.302 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding in College Station.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: October 18, 5:07 PM CST to 8:00 PM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 28.954, -96.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding continues. Numerous roads closed.

Flash Flood, Jackson

When: October 18, 8:12 PM CST to October 19, 1:00 AM CST
Where: Jackson County, Countywide
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 28.954, -96.578 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding continues.

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
Tornado, Waller	1998-10-18	47	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

What these are

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.
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

Every storm in Texas in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 1998 Warnings in Texas, October 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: 5672033, 5672034, 5672036, 5672035, 5672037, 5672041, 5672039, 5672040, 5672042, 5672038, 5672043, 5672044, 5672045, 5672046, 5672047, 5672048, 5672049, 5672050, 5672051, 5672414, 5672052, 5672398, 5672399, 5672415, 5672400, 5672401, 5672402, 5672403, 5672404, 5672405, 5672406, 5672407, 5672408, 5672409, 5672410, 5672411, 5672412, 5672413.