Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, October 2 to 18, 1998

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, October 2 to 18, 1998
Start: 1998-10-02T11:00
End: 1998-10-18T06:30
Location: Texas

October 2 to 18, 1998 · NWS FWD · 72 events in 27 counties and zones

27 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, 18 flash flood, 7 tornado, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 18 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: 7
Property damage: $1.2 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 72

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 Dallas/Ft Worth radar (KFWS), 72 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 17:29 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

27 thunderstorm wind, 20 hail, 18 flash flood, 7 tornado. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Denton

When: October 2, 11:00 AM CST
Where: Denton County, Denton
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 33.205, -97.117 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Numerous intersections were closed due to high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hunt

When: October 2, 11:31 AM CST
Where: Hunt County, Greenville
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 33.130, -96.120

Several roofs and an outbuilding were damaged by thunderstorm winds.

Tornado, Hunt

When: October 2, 12:04 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Commerce
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.250, -95.900

A narrow tornado briefly touched down on the west side of Commerce. No damage reports were received.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hopkins

When: October 2, 12:33 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 3 mi W of Sulphur Spgs
Measured: 65 kt (75 mph)
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: GOVT OFFICIAL
Coordinates: 33.130, -95.650

Powerlines were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.

Tornado, Hopkins

When: October 2, 12:52 PM CST
Where: Hopkins County, 1 mi N of Cumby
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.170, -95.850

A narrow tornado briefly touched down north of Cumby. Numerous powerlines were downed.

Tornado, Young

When: October 2, 4:16 PM CST to 4:55 PM CST
Where: Young County, Graham to 5 mi SE of Graham
Rating: F1
Path length: 7 mi
Path width: 400 yd
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $700,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.150, -98.670

An intermittent tornado tracked from northwest of Graham to southeast of Graham before ending on the Young-Jack county line just west of Bryson in Jack county. Sixty buildings were damaged, two mobile homes were destroyed and a radio tower was blown down.

Hail, Jack

When: October 2, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Jack County, Bryson
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.170, -98.380

Thunderstorm Wind, Jack

When: October 2, 4:57 PM CST
Where: Jack County, Bryson
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.170, -98.380

Hail, Young

When: October 2, 5:10 PM CST
Where: Young County, 4 mi S of Graham
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 33.050, -98.600

Thunderstorm Wind, Collin

When: October 2, 6:00 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Melissa
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 33.280, -96.580

A barn was unroofed by high winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Jack

When: October 2, 6:11 PM CST
Where: Jack County, Perrin
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.030, -98.070

Thunderstorm winds downed trees and powerlines just east of town.

Hail, Stephens

When: October 2, 6:15 PM CST
Where: Stephens County, 5 mi ENE of Breckenridge
Measured: 1.5 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.780, -98.820

Hail, Parker

When: October 2, 6:17 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Whitt
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.950, -98.020

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 6:19 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Whitt
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.950, -98.020

A roof was damaged and large limbs were blown down.

Hail, Collin

When: October 2, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Blue Ridge
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.300, -96.400

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: October 2, 6:20 PM CST
Where: Wise County, Boonsville
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.070, -97.870

Strong thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Collin

When: October 2, 6:40 PM CST
Where: Collin County, 5 mi S of Princeton
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 33.120, -96.500

A tree was blown down onto a truck.

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 6:46 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 6 mi NW of Springtown
Measured: 61 kt (70 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.030, -97.750

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 6:48 PM CST to 6:53 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 8 mi N of Mineral Wells
Measured: 1.25 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.920, -98.100

Hail fell 10 miles west of Pedenville.

Thunderstorm Wind, Wise

When: October 2, 6:55 PM CST
Where: Wise County, Rhome
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 33.050, -97.480

Thunderstorm winds downed power lines, broke large tree limbs, and blew over a travel trailer.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 7:03 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 8 mi N of Mineral Wells
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.920, -98.100

Hail fell 5 miles east of Pedenville.

Hail, Tarrant

When: October 2, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Azle
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.900, -97.530

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: October 2, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Azle
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.900, -97.530

Thunderstorm winds blew trees down onto an apartment complex.

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 7:10 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Poolville
Property damage: $500
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.980, -97.850

Large tree limbs were blown down from thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Collin

When: October 2, 7:15 PM CST
Where: Collin County, Blue Ridge
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.300, -96.400

Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines.

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: October 2, 7:30 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Measured: 63 kt (72 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.750, -97.350

Hail, Parker

When: October 2, 7:35 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Poolville
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.980, -97.850

Thunderstorm Wind, Tarrant

When: October 2, 7:40 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Saginaw
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.870, -97.370

Light poles were blown down by strong thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 7:50 PM CST to 7:52 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Palo Pinto
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.770, -98.300

Hail, Eastland

When: October 2, 7:51 PM CST
Where: Eastland County, Ranger
Measured: 1.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.470, -98.680

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 8:00 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Mineral Wells
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: AMATEUR RADIO
Coordinates: 32.800, -98.100

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 8:05 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 7 mi W of Palo Pinto
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.770, -98.420

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 8:16 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 8 mi E of Weatherford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.770, -97.670

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: October 2, 8:27 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Rowlett
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: UNKNOWN
Coordinates: 32.900, -96.570

Widespread wind damage. Trees and powerlines were blown down and some roof damage was reported.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 8:28 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Santo
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.600, -98.220

Thunderstorm Wind, Dallas

When: October 2, 8:35 PM CST
Where: Dallas County, Garland
Measured: 55 kt (63 mph)
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.920, -96.630

Trees were blown down from thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Parker

When: October 2, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Weatherford
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.770, -97.800

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: October 2, 8:40 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, North Richland Hills
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

A car was flooded by high water.

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 8:50 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 9 mi E of Weatherford
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 32.770, -97.650

Thunderstorm winds blew part of a roof of a Texaco station down onto a car.

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 8:55 PM CST
Where: Parker County, 8 mi E of Weatherford
Measured: 52 kt (60 mph)
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.770, -97.670

Thunderstorm winds blew over a tractor trailer.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hunt

When: October 2, 9:10 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, 3 mi S of Greenville
Property damage: $500
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.080, -96.120

A tree was blown down onto a road.

Thunderstorm Wind, Hunt

When: October 2, 9:10 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, 2 mi S of Greenville
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.100, -96.120

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees south of Greenville.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 9:21 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, 3 mi E of Strawn
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.550, -98.450

Thunderstorm Wind, Rains

When: October 2, 9:30 PM CST
Where: Rains County, Emory
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.870, -95.750

Several trees were blown down from thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Parker

When: October 2, 9:30 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Springtown
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.970, -97.680

Powerlines and trees were blown down from thunderstorm winds.

Hail, Palo Pinto

When: October 2, 9:40 PM CST
Where: Palo Pinto County, Gordon
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.550, -98.370

Flash Flood, Grayson

When: October 3, 3:40 AM CST
Where: Grayson County, Denison
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.627, -96.678 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Street flooding was reported in the town of Denison.

Hail, Parker

When: October 5, 2:15 PM CST to 2:19 PM CST
Where: Parker County, Weatherford
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 32.770, -97.800

Hail, Montague

When: October 5, 3:40 PM CST
Where: Montague County, Sunset
Measured: 0.75 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.450, -97.770

Hail, Cooke

When: October 5, 4:00 PM CST to 4:15 PM CST
Where: Cooke County, Muenster
Measured: 1 in hail
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.650, -97.380

Flash Flood, Tarrant

When: October 5, 4:25 PM CST
Where: Tarrant County, Ft Worth
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.772, -97.291 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water was reported over curbs in the Edgecliff Village area of south Fort Worth.

Flash Flood, Kaufman

When: October 5, 5:25 PM CST to 5:41 PM CST
Where: Kaufman County, Terrell
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water was reported over curbs.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: October 17, 8:25 AM CST
Where: Bell County, 6 mi SW of Youngsport
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.900, -97.770

Trees were uprooted and a house was destroyed by thunderstorm winds.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: October 17, 9:05 AM CST
Where: Bell County, 10 mi S of Killeen
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 30.980, -97.730

Several homes were destroyed and unroofed by thunderstorm winds.

Tornado, Navarro

When: October 17, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Navarro County, Silver City
Rating: F2
Path length: 3.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 31.970, -96.630

A 33 year old man was killed when a tornado struck his mobile home.

Thunderstorm Wind, Bell

When: October 17, 9:15 AM CST
Where: Bell County, 2 mi E of Killeen
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.130, -97.700

One house and three mobile homes were destroyed by high thunderstorm winds in Harker Heights..

Flash Flood, Bell

When: October 17, 10:10 AM CST
Where: Bell County, Killeen
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy thunderstorm rains flooded low water crossings in and around Killeen.

Tornado, Coryell

When: October 17, 10:17 AM CST
Where: Coryell County, Oglesby
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.420, -97.520

Two brick homes were destroyed and large trees were uprooted when a narrow tornado touched down briefly.

Tornado, Navarro

When: October 17, 10:55 AM CST
Where: Navarro County, 2 mi S of Richland
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.880, -96.430

A narrow, short lived tornado was reported by the Sheriff's Office. No damage was reported.

Flash Flood, McLennan

When: October 17, 11:00 AM CST to 3:10 PM CST
Where: McLennan County, Crawford
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.552, -97.202 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several roads in and near Crawford were flooded and closed due to thunderstorm rains.

Flash Flood, Kaufman

When: October 17, 11:55 AM CST
Where: Kaufman County, Kaufman
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Highway 175, 8 miles southeast of Kaufman, was flooded. Highway 148 and County Road 4061, as well as several surrounding roads, were flooded.

Flash Flood, Van Zandt

When: October 17, 12:14 PM CST
Where: Van Zandt County, Wills Pt
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.564, -95.836 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Thunderstorms produced rains that flooded roads and low lying areas.

Tornado, Hill

When: October 17, 12:25 PM CST
Where: Hill County, Brandon
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 10 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.050, -96.970

A narrow, short lived tornado touched down. No damage was reported.

Flash Flood, Kaufman

When: October 17, 1:25 PM CST
Where: Kaufman County, Elmo
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.599, -96.288 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High water was reported on Highway 80.

Flash Flood, Hunt

When: October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Hunt County, Lake Tawakoni
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER
Coordinates: 33.124, -96.085 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County roads were flooded near the lake.

Flash Flood, Rains

When: October 17, 2:00 PM CST
Where: Rains County, 10 mi W of Emory
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.870, -95.793 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy rains flooded county roads on the east side of Lake Tawakoni.

Flash Flood, Navarro

When: October 17, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Navarro County, 5 mi S of Corsicana
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several county roads were flooded.

Flash Flood, Navarro

When: October 17, 2:05 PM CST
Where: Navarro County, 3 mi E of Roane
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 32.047, -96.472 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

County Road 2050 was flooded.

Flash Flood, Bell

When: October 17, 4:07 PM CST
Where: Bell County, Belton
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.038, -97.478 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Approximately 50 persons were evacuated to a Red Cross shelter due to flooding.

Flash Flood, Robertson

When: October 17, 4:45 PM CST
Where: Robertson County, Calvert
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 31.027, -96.513 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Farm Market Road 1640 was flooded near Calvert and in Franklin.

Flash Flood, Delta

When: October 17, 4:55 PM CST
Where: Delta County, Cooper
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 33.386, -95.672 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Water covered several roads in Cooper.

Flash Flood, Milam

When: October 18, 6:30 AM CST
Where: Milam County, Rockdale
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 30.786, -96.977 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Three persons were rescued from their home that was cut off by high water. Numerous county roads and farmlands were flooded through the morning of the 20th due to over 6 inches of rain that fell on the 17th and 18th..

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, Navarro	1998-10-17	33	Male	Mobile/Trailer Home	Direct

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.

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: 5671722, 5671804, 5671805, 5671807, 5671808, 5671809, 5671810, 5671811, 5671908, 5671642, 5671909, 5671800, 5671645, 5671646, 5671643, 5671812, 5671644, 5671719, 5671910, 5671890, 5671911, 5671891, 5671892, 5671905, 5671801, 5671893, 5671906, 5671894, 5671896, 5671895, 5671897, 5671898, 5671902, 5671641, 5671899, 5671723, 5671720, 5671907, 5671912, 5671903, and more.