YEAR |
DATE(s) |
EVENT |
1998 |
5th |
Severe thunderstorms produced large hail
at several locations throughout the afternoon and evening hours, including 2.00 inch hail in
Hempstead (Waller County) and 4 miles northwest of Louise (Wharton County), 1.75 inch hail 10
miles north of Navasota (Grimes County) and at the intersection of US 290 and FM 2920 4 miles
northeast of Hockley (Harris County) and in El Campo (Wharton County), and 1.50 inch hail in
Waller (Waller County). In addition, wind damage was observed from near Trinity (Trinity
County) to near Huntsville (Walker County) to near Bellville (Austin County) to Weimer
(Colorado County). Strong damaging winds made it to the coast where 85 knot (98 mph)
winds were estimated by the Coast Guard at the ferry landing. These winds blew dredge pipes
(75 feet long and 2000 to 3000 pounds) off shore and into the water. Total damage areawide
was nearly $150,000.
|
1997 |
17th |
A large supercell developed over northwest
Harris County between Katy and Cypress around 11 AM and tracked ESE at 35 mph across the county.
The storm produced a large swath of straight line wind damage as it crossed through the
northwest suburbs...the heart of downtown Houston...the ship channel...and the Bay area
communities. There was widespread damage to windows, billboards and powerlines along the
storm's path. Damage reports included thousands of trees blown down throughout the Houston
area (some on cars and houses), a small wall collapse at the Astrodome, signs blown down
areawide, and trees and fences blown down. The highest estimated wind was 65 mph. Up to
192,000 customers were without power in the wake of the storm. Eight injuries were caused by
flying broken glass in the downtown area. Total damage was estimated around $635,000.
|
1996 |
entire month |
Drought continued across nearly all of
Southeast Texas...especially inland locations. Areas to the west and north of Houston had
rainfall reports about 75% below the normals for the first six months of the year. Damage from
the extended drought began to reach record proportions as many crops were being completely lost
and a large portion of animals were being sold because of a lack of grass in pasture lands.
Property damage from the drought through the first six months of 1996 was $10 million and the
agricultural loss was $100 million.
|
1996 |
20th |
Grapefruit sized (4.50 inch) hail fell
in Egypt (Wharton County) as a severe thunderstorm developed and moved to the southwest through
the county. 30% to 40% of the Egypt homes had significant roof and window damage. Trees were
snapped and many cars were totalled. There was a significant agriculture loss (1000 acres of
sorgham, 200 acres of corn and 1000 acres of soybeans were destroyed). Total damage from
these storms was estimated at $10 million.
|
1995 |
11th |
Early morning severe thunderstorms produced
damaging winds as high as 85 mph across a large portion of Southeast Texas from the Lake
Livingston area (Trinity and Polk Counties) southward to Conroe (Montgomery County) and the
Houston-Alief area (Harris County) and on toward the coast in Galveston (Galveston County).
Damage included numerous trees blown down, extensive property damage to the Guest Motel in
Stafford and throughout Stafford (Fort Bend County), the roof blown off the Houston
Community College (Harris County), and trees and powerlines down in the Alvin and Manvel area
(Brazoria County). Total damage was around $1.75 million...much of which occured in the
Fulshear and Stafford areas of Fort Bend County.
|
1995 |
30th |
Flash Flooding developed across the coastal
counties (Harris, Brazoria, Galveston and Chambers) in the overnight hours when 3 to 7 inches
of rain swamped the area. Widespread street flooding was reported throughout the counties, and
damage was estimated around $40,000.
|
1993 |
19th-22nd |
Flooding and Flash Flooding developed
across most of Southeast Texas from the remnants of Tropical Storm Arlene. Arlene made landfall
45 miles south of Corpus Christi early on the 20th. The effects of the storm began on the 19th
and continued into the 22nd. Storm totals ranged from 6 to 12 inches with isolated totals near
inches. Many FM and County roads were periodically closed and reopened through the period due
to the flooding as a result of the heavy rains and swollen rivers and streams.
|
1992 |
1st |
An F1 Tornado caused the roof of a
northwest Houston area daycare center (Harris County) to collapse, injuring two children inside.
Several powerlines and trees were also downed in the area.
|
1989 |
7th |
An F2 Tornado cut a path of destruction
across the northern portions of Burleson County from Criesman to between Caldwell and Cooks
Point around midday. This tornado already caused damaged in nearby Milam County when it moved
into Criesman where 7 homes were destroyed and another 10 were damaged. Vehicles and
equipment were destroyed. The tornado crossed Texas highway 36 about 7 miles northwest of
Caldwell where hundreds of trees were downed - many were snapped off at their bases. Many
outbuildings were destroyed. At least one mobile home was demolished. About 6 miles north of
Caldwell, the path of this tornado intersected the tornado that moved through the area back on
November 15th, 1987.
|
1989 |
24th-27th |
Tropical Storm Allison produced major
flooding in north and east Harris County and in southern Liberty and northern Chambers counties
where over 10 inches of rain fell in a 24 hour period. Storm totals for four days ending on the
27th were close to 15 inches in eastern Harris County. Major overbank flooding began on rivers
and bayous on the 26th and continued in the area through the first week in July. All rivers and
lowlands in the area were flooded and waters were very slow to recede. Tides up to 7 feet
occured at the upper end of Trinity Bay near Baytown. There were 11 drowning fatalities and a
half billion dollars damage due to Allison.
|
1987 |
11th-12th |
Severe Flooding developed across Chambers,
Fort Bend, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery Counties when 5 to 10 inches of rain fell across the
area. The Highlands and Crosby areas in eastern Harris County were hardest hit as the area
received up to nearly 12 inches of rain. The water rose into around 200 homes in the area. The
water was reported to be knee deep along Main Street in downtown Highlands where several
businesses were flooded. Almost 10 inches of rain fell in the San Jacinto drainage below Lake
Houston (most of it on the afternoon of the 11th). The heavy rains extended northward above
Lake Houston into and along Luce Bayou. There were evacuations near Huffman and along Luce
Bayou. On the 12th, several homes in the area were half submerged in flood waters. On the 12th,
6 inches of rain fell in the Clear Lake area where flooding was reported. 10 inches fell in and
around the Baytown area, and serious flooding was reported. 4 to 5 inches fell in southwest
Harris County from near Bellaire to Alief. Low areas around Brays and Keegan Bayou were flooded
in Richmond and Sugarland. Heavy rains closed roads in Chambers County, especially in the Mont
Belvieu area. Heavy rains also fell northward into southern Montgomery County where flood
waters accumulated and flooded some homes and drove some people out near New Caney. One
fatality (drowning) ocurred on the north side of Houston (Halls Bayou).
|
1986 |
26th |
Hurricane Bonnie became the first June
hurricane to affect the Texas coast since 1957 when she made landfall between High Island and
Sabine Pass early in the morning. The main weather from Bonnie was flooding across portions of
Southeast Texas. Around 1300 persons were forced from their homes from the torrential rains
which were heaviest from the Beaumont area northwest to Lake Livingston. As much as 13 inches
of rain fell at Ace in southern Polk County. This heavy rain produced a runoff that resulted in
a rise on the Mill and Menard Creek that flooded Bear Foot Lake and some homes surrounding the
lake. The lake rose and the flood waters eroded part of the Big Thicket Lake Estate Dam.
Below the dam, about 200 families were evacuated in fear that the structure would give way.
There were no injuries or deaths from this event. In San Jacinto County, flooding occured along
Big Creek which closed US Highway 59 for several hours. There was overbank flooding in Polk
County. Tides were generally 3 to 4 feet on the Bolivar Peninsula. The highest tide at
Galveston was 2.2 feet on the evening of the 25th. The effects of Bonnie on Galveston and
Harris Counties were trifle or nil. |