View source for 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak

{{short description|Tornado outbreak in Texas}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak radar 2048z.png
| caption = [[WSR-88D]] radar imagery of storms across Central Texas at {{nowrap|3:40 pm [[Central Daylight Time|CDT]]}}{{efn|name=Times}} on May 27, 1997
| duration = 7 hours, 2 minutes
| date = May 27, 1997
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Tornado outbreak
| tornadoes = 20&nbsp;confirmed
| fujita-scale = F5
| winds = Tornadic – >{{cvt|261|mph}}<br /><small>([[1997 Jarrell tornado|Jarrell F5&nbsp;tornado]])</small><br>Non-tornadic – {{cvt|122|mph}} <small>([[Kelly Air Force Base]], [[San Antonio, Texas]], straight-line winds)</small>
| largest hail = {{convert|4.50|in|mm|abbr=on}}<br />([[Bell County, Texas|Bell]] and [[Falls County, Texas|Falls]] counties)<ref name="SD" />{{rp|197}}
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| deaths = 28 (+2 indirect)<ref name="CDCReport" />
| injuries = 33
| damage = $126.6&nbsp;million (1997 USD){{efn|name=Damage}}
| affected = [[Central Texas]]
| outages = ≥ 81,000&nbsp;electricity customers
}}
{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[Tornadoes of 1997|tornado outbreaks of 1997]]
}}

A deadly [[tornado outbreak]] occurred in [[Central Texas]] during the afternoon and evening of May 27, 1997, in conjunction with a southwestward-moving cluster of [[supercell]] thunderstorms. These storms produced 20&nbsp;tornadoes, mainly along the [[Interstate 35]] corridor from northeast of [[Waco]] to north of [[San Antonio]]. The strongest tornado was an [[List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes|F5]]&nbsp;tornado that leveled parts of [[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]], killing 27&nbsp;people and injuring 12&nbsp;others. Overall, 30&nbsp;people were killed and 33&nbsp;others were hospitalized by the [[severe weather]].

Although the atmospheric conditions enabling the event were forecast to be conducive for strong winds and large hail, forecasters did not initially anticipate as much of a risk of strong tornadoes due to the lack of substantial [[wind shear]] over the region. Instead, the coalescence of several weather features—including a [[cold front]], a [[dry line]], and a [[gravity wave]]—provided locally favorable conditions for rotating thunderstorms and the [[tornadogenesis|formation of tornadoes]]. This peculiar evolution led to the unusual southwestward motion of the storms and the tornadoes they produced.

A [[tornado watch]] was first issued at 12:54&nbsp;p.m.{{efn|name=Times}} on May&nbsp;27 for portions of [[East Texas]] and western [[Louisiana]]; the first tornado touched down at 1:21&nbsp;p.m. in [[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan County]] while the final tornado lifted at 8:23&nbsp;p.m. later that day in [[Frio County, Texas|Frio County]]. The 20&nbsp;tornadoes collectively inflicted at least $126.6&nbsp;million in damage. The F5&nbsp;Jarrell tornado was the outbreak's most powerful and deadliest tornado. It destroyed most of the 38-home Double Creek Estates subdivision west of Jarrell where the most extreme damage occurred. Residences were completely dismantled, swept away, and reduced to concrete slabs, while trees in the area were completely shredded and debarked. Fields were scoured to a depth of {{cvt|18|in}} and asphalt was torn from roads. Due to the tornado's intensity, the debris was often small in size and beyond recognition. There were four other tornadoes rated F3 or higher. One F3&nbsp;tornado moved across [[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]], damaging parts of the business district and numerous homes in nearby neighborhoods. An F4&nbsp;tornado struck areas near [[Lake Travis]] and caused one fatality. In addition to the tornadoes, the storms also produced large hail and strong straight-line winds; [[Kelly Air Force Base]] in San Antonio recorded a {{cvt|122|mph}} wind gust.

== Meteorological synopsis ==

=== Atmospheric setup ===
[[File:Corfidi surface analysis of Texas 1997-05-27 1900Z.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|left|A [[surface weather analysis]] of Texas at 2:00&nbsp;p.m.{{efn|All times in [[Central Daylight Time]] (UTC-5:00) unless otherwise noted.|name=Times}} on May&nbsp;27 showing the cold front (solid line with pennants), dry line (dashed line with semicircles), gravity wave (solid line), and low-pressure area (L symbol). The alignment of these features produced the local environmental conditions enabling the tornado outbreak.|alt=A weather map of Texas]]
The severity of the 1997 Central Texas tornado outbreak was predicated on an unusual spatial and temporal alignment of weather features at highly localized scales. The broader environment was not particularly anomalous for the late springtime over Central and East Texas.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> Unlike conventional tornado outbreaks in Texas, the 1997&nbsp;outbreak was not associated with a strong [[trough (meteorology)|trough]] of low pressure and strong density gradients in the lower [[troposphere]].{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}} Instead, the most prominent weather system over the central U.S. at the time was a distant [[upper-level low]] centered over [[Nebraska]] imparting little influence on atmospheric conditions over Texas.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />

Consequently, winds in the mid-levels of the troposphere over Texas on May&nbsp;27 were weak and westerly, ranging from {{convert|30|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} over [[North Texas]] to below {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}} over [[Central Texas|Central]] and [[South Texas]].<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> Winds closer to the surface were also quiescent;<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> the average storm-relative winds within the lowest {{cvt|6|km}} of the atmosphere as measured in [[Del Rio, Texas]], prior to the onset of storm development was only {{convert|6|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=4}} Further aloft at the level of the [[jet stream]], there were two nearby wind speed maxima over northern [[Mexico]] and the central [[Mississippi Valley]]; this led to strong [[Troposphere#Divergence and convergence|divergence]] of air over Texas.{{efn|The divergence of air at the upper-levels of the troposphere promotes upward motion and aids thunderstorm development.<ref name="Divergence">{{cite web |title=Divergence |url=https://forecast.weather.gov/glossary.php?word=divergence |website=National Weather Service Glossary |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=April 7, 2021}}</ref>}} [[Wind shear]] was negligible within the lowest {{cvt|6|km}} of the atmosphere contrary to typical tornado outbreaks.{{efn|[[Wind shear]]—a change of wind velocities with height—is necessary to produce rotating thunderstorms, making it a key physical condition for the development of tornadoes.<ref name="NESDISPerfectStorm">{{cite web |title=Mapping May's Tornado Outbreak: Ingredients for the Perfect Storm |url=https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/mapping-may%E2%80%99s-tornado-outbreak-ingredients-perfect-storm |publisher=National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service |access-date=April 6, 2021 |date=June 20, 2019 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410232227/https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/content/mapping-may%E2%80%99s-tornado-outbreak-ingredients-perfect-storm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="NWSFFCTornadoes">{{cite web |title=Tornadoes - Nature's Most Violent Storms |url=https://www.weather.gov/ffc/torntext |website=About Tornadoes |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=April 6, 2021 |location=Peachtree City, Georgia}}</ref>}}<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=3}}

Despite generally meager winds, the atmosphere was nonetheless thermally energetic. The combination of several days of onshore wind flow from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] and the persistence of a [[capping inversion]] aloft led to an accumulation of moist air over the state. [[Dew point]]s soon exceeded {{cvt|70|F}} within the [[planetary boundary layer|boundary layer]],<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> representing ample moisture in the lower levels of the troposphere.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=1}} [[Radiosonde]]s launched from [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] and [[Fort Worth]] on the morning of May&nbsp;27 detected the presence of a robust "elevated mixed layer" of air aloft characterized by steep [[lapse rate]]s—the change of temperature with height—near the [[dry adiabatic lapse rate]]. This contributed to high [[convective available potential energy]] (CAPE) exceeding 5,500 J/kg across most of Central and East Texas,<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> denoting a highly [[atmospheric instability|unstable]] atmosphere.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=1}}{{efn|Environments with thunderstorms often exhibit CAPE exceeding 1,000 J/kg, with extreme cases exhibiting CAPE greater than 5,000 J/kg.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=2}}}} In some cases CAPE was as high as 6,500 J/kg.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=724}} The lack of [[weather front|fronts]] moving across Texas in the 36&nbsp;hours before the tornado outbreak allowed this instability to remain and spread across much of the state.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=702}}

Although these conditions were regionally conducive to the development of thunderstorms capable of producing large hail and strong winds, the potential for [[supercell]] and tornado development was not initially clear given the lack of wind shear.<ref name="Corfidi 1998">{{cite conference|conference=19th Severe Local Storms Conference|last1=Corfidi |first1=Stephen F. |title=Some Thoughts On the Role Mesoscale Features Played in the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornado Outbreak |date=July 1998 |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/publications/corfidi/jarrell.htm |access-date=April 7, 2021 |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota}}</ref><ref name="EWX">{{cite web |title=May 1997 Tornado Outbreak |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/ewx/wxevents/ewx-19970527.pdf |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=April 7, 2021 |location=New Braunfels, Texas |date=May 2017}}</ref>{{rp|4–5}} Other metrics and indices used to diagnose tornado potential, such as the [[Energy Helicity Index]], storm-relative [[helicity (fluid mechanics)|helicity]], supercell composite parameter, and the significant tornado parameter, were also lower than historically observed environments featuring tornadoes.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|pp=704–711}} For instance, the amount of storm-relative helicity within the lowest {{cvt|3|km}} of the atmosphere—a common measure quantifying the amount of wind shear—was measured as 70&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>/s<sup>2</sup> at [[Corpus Christi, Texas|Corpus Christi]] and reached 117&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>/s<sup>2</sup> according to data from the [[Rapid Update Cycle]] computer model; values below 300&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>/s<sup>2</sup> are correlated with weak tornadoes.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=2}} A study published in ''[[Monthly Weather Review]]'' in 2007 described the environment as being "marginally favorable for supercells and unfavorable for significant, supercellular tornadoes."{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=701}}

Instead, the factors that enabled the eventual tornado outbreak may have transpired at a [[mesoscale meteorology|mesoscale]] involving several features becoming juxtaposed over Texas. The [[dry line]] delineating the boundary between the moist maritime [[air mass]] over East Texas and the drier continental air mass farther west remained nearly stationary in the region through the morning of May&nbsp;27. On the preceding evening, a [[mesoscale convective system]] developing along this dry line over eastern [[Oklahoma]] and [[Arkansas]] generated a well-defined [[gravity wave]] that traveled southwest across East Texas on the morning of May&nbsp;27.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> Its progression was evidenced on satellite imagery as an advancing band of mid-level [[cumulus|cumuli]].<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=3}} A weak [[low-pressure area]] also developed along the dry line near [[Dallas]] and tracked southwest along the boundary. In the two days before May&nbsp;27, a [[cold front]] associated with the upper-level low over Nebraska had swept slowly southeast across the central U.S. Prior to dawn on May&nbsp;27, the front progressed across [[West Texas]]; by 7:00&nbsp;a.m. on May&nbsp;27, the front spanned from southeastern [[Oklahoma]] through the northwestern portion of the [[Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex]] southwestwards to near the [[Big Bend (Texas)|Big Bend of Texas]]. This placed the cold front parallel and just to the west of the dry line along a northeast to southwest orientation. A swath of clear skies emerged between the two boundaries, maximizing surface heating during the daytime and contributing to the weak low-pressure area's southwestward movement through Central Texas.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />

=== Development of storms ===
[[File:GOES-8 visible satellite animation of Texas during May 27 1997 tornado outbreak.gif|thumb|upright=1.5|Animation of storms developing over Texas on May&nbsp;27. The animation alternates between progressing forwards and backwards in time.|alt=Looping animation of satellite imagery]]
At around 12:30&nbsp;p.m., the gravity wave, cold front, dry line, and low-pressure area overlapped near [[Waco, Texas]], with the faster cold front overtaking and merging with the nearly stationary dry line.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> The cold front and dry line were brought together in a northeast to southwest fashion resembling a zipper.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=723}} Thunderstorms formed near Waco in tandem with this juxtaposition of features and within a local maximum of surface heating and convergence of moist air.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> While some storms had spawned along the cold front, the gravity wave's passage in the early afternoon coincided with a rapid intensification of the first thunderstorms.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=3}} The arrival of the gravity wave and its perpendicular alignment relative to the orientation of the cold front and dry line may have enhanced wind shear locally despite weak wind shear at a broader, synoptic scale. This allowed the thunderstorms to rotate and become supercells.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />

However, the degree to which the wave contributed to the formation of supercells and eventually tornadoes remains a subject of disagreement among meteorologists.<ref name="ByTheNumbers" /> The development of new discrete supercells followed the advancing intersection of the cold front and dry line and the gravity wave as they continued southwest,<ref name="Corfidi 1998" />{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|pp=724–725}} though each individual storm was nearly stationary.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|p=14}} Due to the westerly winds in the mid-levels of the troposphere, the [[outflow (meteorology)|outflow]] from each developing storm was directed east, allowing each new thunderstorm to develop and rotate without interference from the initial storms.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> The direction of the storms' expansion towards the southwest deviated over 100&nbsp;degrees away from these westerly winds, representing an extreme and highly unusual motion.<ref name="Davies 2002">{{cite conference|conference=21st Conference on Severe Local Storms|last1=Davies |first1=Jonathan M. |title=Significant Tornadoes in Environments with Relatively Weak Shear |url=https://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/46965.pdf |publisher=American Meteorological Society |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=August 16, 2002}}</ref> The southwestward generation of storms brought them towards increasingly unstable air with higher CAPE, allowing the storms to acquire strong inflow and the requisite rotation to produce tornadoes.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|pp=4–5}}

There were at least three families of thunderstorms that developed as part of the initial southwestward-moving complex of storms,{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=715}} composed of at least 16&nbsp;distinct supercells; six of the cells formed along the cold front, five formed along the dry line, and five formed along the [[gust front]] imparted by previous storms.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=713}} The gust fronts pushed outwards by the [[downdraft]]s of the thunderstorms served as foci for [[tornadogenesis]]; boundaries like gust fronts can provide low-level [[vorticity]] and rising air necessary for the formation of tornadoes.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=729}} Some of the day's tornadoes were [[landspout|spun up]] by the gust front itself while others spawned from thunderstorms with preexisting [[mesocyclone]]s aloft enhanced by the gust front underneath.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=730}}

The day's first thunderstorm near Waco in [[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan County]] strengthened quickly in response to the highly unstable atmosphere. A [[severe thunderstorm warning]]—the first of the day—was issued for the county at 12:50&nbsp;p.m. Weather radars showed increasing rotation within the storm, prompting the issuance of a [[tornado warning]] at 1:21&nbsp;p.m. This storm produced the outbreak's first tornado {{cvt|5|mi}} southwest of [[Hewitt, Texas|Hewitt]] near [[Lorena, Texas|Lorena]]. The same storm produced a second brief tornado near [[Bruceville-Eddy, Texas|Bruceville]] followed by a third, intense F3&nbsp;tornado in southwestern McLennan County that lasted for 20&nbsp;minutes.<ref name="FWD" /> A new thunderstorm developed along the [[flanking line (meteorology)|flanking line]] associated with the first storm. This second storm spawned several tornadoes as it expanded towards the southwest, including an F3&nbsp;tornado near [[Lake Belton]] beginning at 2:25&nbsp;p.m. and the F5&nbsp;[[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]] tornado beginning at 3:25&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="FWD" />{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)|p=715}}{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=729}} The [[NEXRAD]] radar in [[Granger, Texas|Granger]] used to monitor this storm suffered a power failure and went out of commission at 3:38&nbsp;p.m.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}}{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=15}} A control switch left in an improper position on a prior maintenance visit prevented its emergency power supply from activating.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=15}} Thunderstorms developing to the southwest later in the afternoon and evening produced additional tornadoes, including the F3&nbsp;tornado that struck [[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]] and the F4&nbsp;tornado that struck [[Lakeway, Texas|Lakeway]].<ref name="EWX" />{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=729}} The Lakeway tornado was the first instance of an F4&nbsp;tornado striking [[Travis County, Texas|Travis County]] on record.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}} The final tornado of the day touched down in [[Frio County, Texas|Frio County]] and lifted at 7:23&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|2}}<ref name="SD">{{cite journal |title=Storm Data |journal=Storm Data |date=May 1997 |volume=39 |issue=5 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-930FA5EE-06E1-4019-B205-04FE223AE82E.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2021 |publisher=National Climatic Data Center |via=National Centers for Environmental Information |location=Asheville, North Carolina |issn=0039-1972 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>{{rp|214}}

Farther south away from the southwestward-moving storm cluster, the cold front and dry line curved west, making them parallel to the advancing gravity wave; this triggered the development of numerous and intense storms between [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] and the Big Bend after 3:00&nbsp;p.m. when the gravity wave intersected the front. The parallel orientations of the wave and the other boundaries precluded these storms' rotation.<ref name="Corfidi 1998" /> They tracked east and eventually merged with the southwestward-propagating complex of tornadic storms along the [[Pedernales River]]. This coalescence produced a south- and southeastward-moving [[squall line]] and ended the strong tornado activity. Nonetheless, strong and damaging winds were produced by the squall line for several hours. [[Kelly Air Force Base]] in [[San Antonio]] documented a wind gust of {{convert|106|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}, marking a record high wind velocity for the site.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|pp=12–13}}

== Warnings and preparedness ==
The [[Storm Prediction Center]] (SPC) forecasted a ''moderate risk'' for severe thunderstorms over parts of East Texas in its severe weather outlook issued at 1:03&nbsp;a.m. on May&nbsp;27. The moderate risk region included [[Waco, Texas|Waco]], the [[Killeen–Temple–Fort Hood metropolitan area]], and extended east towards [[Shreveport, Louisiana]], and [[Fort Polk, Louisiana]]. [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] was located at the boundary between the moderate risk region and the slight risk region that encompassed most of East and South Texas, including the [[Hill Country]]. The SPC predicted that the gravity wave would be a focal point for storms capable of producing large hail and damaging winds given the unstable atmosphere. A subsequent outlook issued by the SPC at 10:16&nbsp;a.m. continued to indicate a moderate risk for severe weather and mentioned the possibility of isolated and brief tornadoes.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=5}}<ref name="SWODY1_270603">{{cite web |title=SPC Day 1 Convective Outlook Issued at 0603Z May 27 1997 |via=Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies |url=https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/jarrell_day1.html |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |access-date=April 7, 2021 |location=Norman, Oklahoma |date=May 27, 1997}}</ref> A [[tornado watch]] was later issued by the SPC at 12:54&nbsp;p.m. for parts of eastern Texas and western [[Louisiana]], citing the unstable airmass in place over the region.<ref name="FWD">{{cite web |title=The Tornadoes of May 27, 1997 |url=https://www.weather.gov/fwd/Jarrell-Tornado-Anniversary |website=Jarrell-Tornado-Anniversary |publisher=National Weather Service Fort Worth/Dallas, TX |access-date=April 7, 2021 |location=Fort Worth, Texas}}</ref> The Dallas/Fort Worth and Austin/San Antonio [[National Weather Service]] forecast offices also issued bulletins on the morning of May&nbsp;27 noting the potential for severe weather. However, these early outlooks focused more on the threat of wind and hail rather than tornadoes due to the low wind shear present over the region.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|pp=5–10}}

The Dallas/Fort Worth National Weather Service forecast office ultimately issued 10&nbsp;tornado warnings and 5&nbsp;severe thunderstorm warnings between 1 and 5&nbsp;p.m. on May&nbsp;27. The Austin/San Antonio office issued 8&nbsp;tornado warnings, 24&nbsp;severe thunderstorm warnings, and 10&nbsp;[[flash flood warning]]s during the afternoon and evening of May&nbsp;27, with 80&nbsp;percent of their issued products occurring after 5&nbsp;p.m. in connection with the widespread storms that developed later in the day separate from the initial tornadic storms. In one case, a media outlet's decision to manually activate the [[Emergency Alert System]] rather than allow weather warnings to automatically trigger it resulted in a 25–30&nbsp;minute delay in the dissemination of a warning.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|pp=5–10}} Interviews conducted by a [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] service assessment team found that many watched the approach of tornadoes prior to taking shelter due to their slow movement and high visibility. In the case of the F5 Jarrell tornado, some fled while others took shelter. Due to the strength of the tornado, some who stayed behind were killed despite taking appropriate safety measures.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|pp=11–12}}

==Confirmed tornadoes==
{{Tornado Chart | Total=20 | F0=6 | F1=6 | F2=3 | F3=3 | F4=1 | F5=1 }}

{| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="width:100%;"
|+ List of confirmed tornadoes – Tuesday, May 27, 1997{{efn|All dates are based on Central Daylight Time (UTC-05:00); however, all times are in [[Coordinated Universal Time]] for consistency.|name=Date/Time}}
|-
! scope="col" width="3%" align="center"|[[Fujita scale|F#]]
! scope="col" width="7%" align="center" class="unsortable"|Location
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center" class="unsortable"|County
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Start Coord.
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Time ([[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]])
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Path length
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Max width
! scope="col" width="6%" align="center"|Damage{{efn|All damage totals are in 1997&nbsp;[[United States dollars|USD]] unless otherwise noted.|name=Damage}}
! scope="col" width="48%" class="unsortable" align="center"|Summary
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|W of [[Lorena, Texas|Lorena]]
|[[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan]]
|{{Coord|31.38|-97.32|name=Lorena (May 27, F2)}}
|18:21&nbsp;– 18:33
|{{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|75|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|00075000|$75,000}}
|Several large trees were uprooted and a mobile home was destroyed.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599218|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|[[Eddy, Texas|Eddy]] area
|[[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan]]
|{{Coord|31.30|-97.25|name=Eddy (May 27, F0)}}
|18:44&nbsp;– 18:47
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Tornado reported by a sheriff deputy caused no damage.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599219|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|E of [[Moody, Texas|Moody]]
|[[McLennan County, Texas|McLennan]], [[Bell County, Texas|Bell]]
|{{Coord|31.27|-97.35|name=Moody (May 27, F3)}}
|18:46&nbsp;– 18:59
|{{convert|3.7|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|150|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|00150000|$150,000}}
|Most of the tornado's path occurred in McLennan County. A home and a barn were destroyed on Dowell Road after the tornado initially touched down in open terrain near Farm to Market Road 107; these structures received F3&nbsp;tornado damage. Another home nearby was also damaged and a pickup truck and car were displaced by several hundred feet. The tornado moved south-southwest, crossing the border between McLennan and Bell counties and traversing open country. There, numerous trees were uprooted. A local news station also captured this tornado and much of its life cycle as it passed within a few miles of their skycam and station.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599220|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5623981|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref><ref name="AerialSurvey">{{cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Brian E. |title=Aerial Damage Survey of the Central Texas Tornadoes of May 27, 1997 |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/jarrell.pdf |publisher=National Weather Service |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=1998}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|WNW of [[Belton, Texas|Belton]]
|[[Bell County, Texas|Bell]]
|{{Coord|31.08|-97.53|name=Belton (May 27, F0)}}
|19:16&nbsp;– 19:27
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Weak tornado remained stationary for much of its existence before dissipating.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597312|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|N of [[Belton, Texas|Belton]]
|[[Bell County, Texas|Bell]]
|{{Coord|31.17|-97.47|name=Belton (May 27, F3)}}
|19:27&nbsp;– 19:45
|{{convert|1.4|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|275|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|00900000|$900,000}}
|The tornado began on the northern shores of [[Lake Belton]] at Morgan's Point Resort. A marina was destroyed on the lake's northern shores, leading to the capsizing of 100&nbsp;boats. Ten homes along the same shore sustained severe damage and trees were destroyed. The tornado then crossed the lake and moved ashore northeast of the community of Woodland, downing many trees and causing heavy damage to at least six structures. The tornado was on the ground for a third of a mile after traversing the lake before lifting.<ref name="FWD"/><ref name="AerialSurvey"/><ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597314|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|SW of [[Belton, Texas|Belton]]
|[[Bell County, Texas|Bell]]
|{{Coord|31.02|-97.53|name=Belton (May 27, F1)}}
|19:50&nbsp;– 19:58
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Brief tornado with unknown damage.<ref name="Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado">{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597315|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|[[Blooming Grove, Texas|Blooming Grove]] area
|[[Navarro County, Texas|Navarro]]
|{{Coord|32.10|-96.72|name=Blooming Grove (May 27, F1)}}
|20:05&nbsp;– 20:10
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Brief tornado uprooted several large trees.<ref name="Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado"/>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NW of [[Prairie Dell, Texas|Prairie Dell]]
|[[Bell County, Texas|Bell]]
|{{Coord|30.90|-97.58|name=Prairie Dell (May 27, F1)}}
|20:07&nbsp;– 20:25
|{{convert|2.4|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|00020000|$20,000}}
|Initially stationary tornado that began to quickly track towards the south-southwest, destroying trees and damaging several structures.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597318|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|N of [[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]]
|[[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson]]
|{{Coord|30.8848|-97.594|name=Jarrell (May 27, F2)}}
|20:25&nbsp;– 20:33
|{{convert|2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|First of two tornadoes that preceded the Jarrell&nbsp;F5 tornado.<ref name="NCDC-N-Jarrell-F2">{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598911|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat2}} | F2
|NW of [[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]]
|[[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson]]
|{{Coord|30.868|-97.603|name=Jarrell (May 27, F2)}}
|20:35&nbsp;– 20:39
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|150|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Second of two tornadoes that preceded the Jarrell&nbsp;F5 tornado; classified as a [[multi-vortex tornado]].<ref name="NCDC-NW-Jarrell-F2">{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F2 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598912|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|S of [[Dawson, Texas|Dawson]]
|[[Navarro County, Texas|Navarro]]
|{{Coord|31.87|-96.72|name=Dawson (May 27, F1)}}
|20:36&nbsp;– 20:40
|{{convert|0.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|50|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Brief tornado uprooted large trees.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597323|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat5}} | F5
|W of [[Jarrell, Texas|Jarrell]]
|[[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson]]
|{{Coord|30.84|-97.618|name=Jarrell (May 27, F5)}}
|20:40&nbsp;– 20:53
|{{convert|5.1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|1320|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|40100000|$40.1&nbsp;million}}
|27 deaths&nbsp;– ''[[1997 Jarrell tornado|See article on this tornado]]'' – 12 others were injured.<ref name="NCDC-Jarrell-F5">{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F5 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598913|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|SW of [[Hubbard, Texas|Hubbard]]
|[[Hill County, Texas|Hill]]
|{{Coord|31.82|-96.83|name=Hubbard (May 27, F0)}}
|20:50&nbsp;– 20:53
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Brief tornado caused no damage.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5597326|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat3}} | F3
|[[Cedar Park, Texas|Cedar Park]]
|[[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson]], [[Travis County, Texas|Travis]]
|{{Coord|30.55|-97.82|name=Cedar Park (May 27, F3)}}
|21:05&nbsp;– 21:15
|{{convert|9.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|70110000|$70.11&nbsp;million}}
|This tornado moved south through Cedar Park before crossing into Travis County and lifting just northeast of [[Mansfield Dam]]. The thunderstorm that spawned the tornado developed along the flanking line of the storm that produced the F5&nbsp;tornado in Jarrell. It initially touched down in an open area, causing minor shingle damage to a house and damaging a few trees. Before moving into Cedar Park, the tornado caused F1 and F2&nbsp;damage. Localized F3&nbsp;damage occurred within Cedar Park's business district. Most of the roofing on an [[Albertsons]] grocery store was torn away; the store's walls and doors were also severely damaged or destroyed. At least seven people were injured in the store and one person was hospitalized, though additional injuries were mitigated by the sheltering of customers in the store's refrigeration units under the direction of the store's manager. Several businesses were damaged along [[US Highway 183|US-183]]; one business lost most of its roof, though damage to most other businesses was minor. A {{convert|65,000|lb|kg|adj=on}} coal tender converted to hold diesel fuel was flipped over and thrown a short distance after a historic train was struck near the highway. The tornado then moved into the Buttercup Creek subdivision in southwestern Cedar Park, inflicting F1–F3&nbsp;damage to 136&nbsp;homes. Some homes sustained significant roof loss and severe structural damage; eleven were destroyed. It then curved towards the southwest into Travis County and downed ten percent of trees in a wooded area before lifting {{convert|1.1|mi|km}} north of [[Lake Travis]]. Fifteen people were injured by the tornado.<ref name="AerialSurvey" /><ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598914|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F3 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598915|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref><ref name="ReadyToRebuild">{{cite news |last1=Dworin |first1=Diana |last2=Easterly |first2=Greg |title=Cedar Park residents ready to rebuild |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75488530/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 30, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A8}}</ref>{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=4}}<ref name="OdditiesEmerge">{{cite news |last1=Dworin |first1=Diana |title=Tornado's oddities emerge in the rubble |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75487138/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|NW of [[Four Points, Texas|Four Points]]
|[[Travis County, Texas|Travis]]
|{{Coord|30.40|-97.85|name=Four Points (May 27, F0)}}
|21:15&nbsp;– 21:15
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|20|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|00005000|$5,000}}
|Brief tornado with minimal damage.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598917|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat4}} | F4
|W of [[Lakeway, Texas|Lakeway]]
|[[Travis County, Texas|Travis]]
|{{Coord|30.37|-98.02|name=Lakeway (May 27, F4)}}
|21:50&nbsp;– ?
|{{convert|5.6|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|440|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|15000000|$15&nbsp;million}}
|1&nbsp;death&nbsp;– The tornado touched down near the shore of [[Lake Travis]], destroying a marina and most of the watercraft at the docks. Trees in the area were contorted and uprooted, though other nearby structure sustained minor damage of F0&nbsp;severity. Numerous structures sustained varying degrees of damage as the tornado moved westward and later southwestward, including a [[Southwestern Bell|Southwest Bell]] telephone building on Bee Creek Road that was destroyed and a home across the road that had several collapsed walls. The destruction of the well-constructed telephone building warranted an F4&nbsp;rating. The tornado then made a turn towards the southwest roughly {{convert|2.2|mi|km}} from Lake Travis, bringing it across a hill where buildings and trees were destroyed. Further southwest, a steel tower carrying high transmission power lines was destroyed. Additional site-built homes, mobile homes, and other buildings were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed in the Hazy Hills subdivision, leaving many uninhabitable. This included well-built homes within the subdivision. One person was killed following the destruction of his mobile home and vehicle, though investigators could not establish whether he was in the home or attempting to evacuate when the tornado struck. The tornado crossed [[Texas State Highway 71]], entering another subdivision near Lick Creek and causing as high as F2&nbsp;tornado damage to structures in the area, including the complete unroofing of one house near Pedernales Drive. Throughout the tornado's path, numerous trees were downed and 25&nbsp;homes were destroyed; five people were injured.<ref name="AerialSurvey" /><ref name="NCDC-W-Lakeway-F4">{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F4 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598918|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref><ref name="TragedySmaller">{{cite news |last1=Jayson |first1=Sharon |title=In Pedernales Valley, tragedy is smaller — but equally felt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75489320/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 31, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A11}}
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75489320/ p. A1]
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75489883/ p. A11]</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|cat1}} | F1
|N of [[Kyle, Texas|Kyle]]
|[[Hays County, Texas|Hays]]
|{{Coord|30.02|-97.87|name=Kyle (May 27, F1)}}
|22:38&nbsp;– 22:45
|{{convert|3.5|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|60|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{sort|0005000|$5,000}}
|Trees and power lines were knocked over.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F1 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599052|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|S of [[Utopia, Texas|Utopia]]
|[[Uvalde County, Texas|Uvalde]]
|{{Coord|29.52|-99.53|name=Utopia (May 27, F0)}}
|00:00&nbsp;– 00:03
|{{convert|0.2|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|20|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Tornado remained over open country.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5598930|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|NW of [[Sisterdale, Texas|Sisterdale]]
|[[Kendall County, Texas|Kendall]]
|{{Coord|29.98|-98.75|name=Sisterdale (May 27, F0)}}
|00:30&nbsp;– 00:32
|{{convert|0.7|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|30|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Tornado remained over open country.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599056|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|bgcolor=#{{storm colour|storm}} | F0
|NE of [[Moore, Texas|Moore]]
|[[Frio County, Texas|Frio]]
|{{Coord|29.07|-99.00|name=Moore (May 27, F0)}}
|01:20&nbsp;– 01:23
|{{convert|1|mi|km|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{convert|40|yd|m|abbr=on|sortable=on}}
|{{N/A}}
|Tornado remained over open country.<ref>{{cite report|title=Texas Event Report: F0 Tornado|url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents/eventdetails.jsp?id=5599062|work=Storm Events Database|access-date=April 7, 2021|publisher=National Centers for Environmental Information}}</ref>
|-
|}

===Jarrell, Texas===
{{main|1997 Jarrell tornado}}
{{Infobox weather event
| name = Jarrell tornado
| image = Jarrell tornado 1997.jpg
| caption = A view of the tornado heading for the Double Creek Estates at F5 intensity.
| formed = May 27, 1997, 3:40&nbsp;pm. CDT (UTC−05:00)
| duration = 13 minutes
| dissipated = May 27, 1997, 3:53&nbsp;pm. CDT (UTC−05:00)
}}{{Infobox weather event/Tornado
| basin = atl
| winds = >{{convert|261|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| fujita-scale = F5
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 1997
| deaths = 27
| injuries = 12
| damages = $40.1&nbsp;million (1997 [[United States dollar|USD]])
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer}}
Parts of Jarrell, Texas, were struck by an extremely powerful<ref>{{Cite web |last=Graves |first=Eric |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=485643226488249&id=107263867659522&set=a.179243070461601 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sauers |first=Camille |date=March 23, 2022 |title=Revisiting the 1997 Jarrell tornado, one of the deadliest in Texas history |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/Texas-tornado-jarrell-deadliest-storm-17020319.php |website=www.mysanantonio.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vertuno |first=Jim |date=May 24, 2002 |title=Five years later, town still coping with deadly '97 tornado |url=https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/Five-years-later-town-still-coping-with-deadly-8961560.php |website=Plainview Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 28, 1997 |title=Sheriff's deputy describing the devastation at a Jarrell, Texas, subdivision leveled by a tornado |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/sheriff-s-deputy-describing-the-devastation-at-3117400.php |website=www.sfgate.com}}</ref> F5&nbsp;tornado on the afternoon of May&nbsp;27.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}}{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}} The tornado destroyed approximately 10&nbsp;percent of the homes in Jarrell;<ref name="WarZone">{{cite news |last1=Harmon |first1=Dave |title='Like a war zone' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38860396/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 28, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A12}}
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38860396/ p. A1]
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/38860509/ p. A12]</ref>{{rp|A1}} at the time, the city had a population of about 450&nbsp;people and had been previously struck by tornadoes in 1987 and 1989.<ref name="JarrellsToll27">{{cite news |last1=Beach |first1=Patrick |title=Jarrell's toll 27; 23 still missing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75484147/ |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A21}}
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75484147/ p. A1]
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75484348/ p. A21]</ref>{{rp|A1}}<ref name="JarrellSlammedAgain" />{{rp|A10}}<ref name="1989FatalForce">{{cite news |last1=Monroe |first1=Nichole |title=1989 tornado punished Jarrell with fatal force |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75342734/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 28, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A10}}</ref> Hardest-hit was the Double Creek Estates subdivision west of downtown Jarrell.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="UpheavalRoars">{{cite news |last1=Kelso |first1=John |title=Upheaval roars after winds leave |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75483706/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |pages=A1, A19}}
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75483706/ p. A1]
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75483950/ p. A19]</ref>{{rp|A19}} The 1997 Jarrell tornado was the first and only known occurrence of an F5&nbsp;tornado in Williamson County.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}} It was also the deadliest tornado in Texas since the [[1987 Saragosa tornado]].<ref name="TornadoesKill30">{{cite news |title=Tornadoes kill 30 in Central Texas |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75341503/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=El Paso Times |agency=Associated Press |date=May 28, 1997 |location=El Paso, Texas |page=1A}}</ref> The thunderstorm that spawned the Jarrell tornado began west of [[Temple, Texas|Temple]] along the flanking line of another thunderstorm earlier in the afternoon of May&nbsp;27. The storm produced several tornadoes in [[Bell County, Texas|Bell County]], including the F3&nbsp;tornado that impacted communities along Lake Belton.<ref name="FWD" /> Weather radar observed a strengthening mesocyclone within the thunderstorm, with the speed of rotation rising above {{convert|40|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}} As the storm moved into [[Williamson County, Texas|Williamson County]], it produced two short-lived F2&nbsp;tornadoes north of Jarrell at 3:25&nbsp;p.m. and 3:35&nbsp;p.m.; the latter of the two was a [[multiple-vortex tornado]] and lifted at 3:39&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="NCDC-N-Jarrell-F2" /><ref name="NCDC-NW-Jarrell-F2" /><ref name="EWX" />{{rp|5}} The Austin/San Antonio National Weather Service forecast office issued a tornado warning for Williamson County at 3:30&nbsp;p.m. in response to the storm's approach; the warning was put into effect for one hour. This was the first tornado warning of the day issued for the office's warning area and warned that "the city of Jarrell is in the path of this storm."{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=A9}} Local warning sirens went off about 10–12&nbsp;minutes before the tornado struck.<ref name="FuryOverwhelmed">{{cite news |last1=Stanley |first1=Dick |title=Storm's fury overwhelmed warnings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75486758/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A18}}</ref>

The precise start of the Jarrell tornado was difficult to pinpoint.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}} The most prominent and destructive part of the tornado's evolution was preceded by the apparition of short-lived, small, and rope-like funnel clouds. These may have been separate tornadoes or simply an earlier part of the Jarrell tornado's evolution.<ref name="AerialSurvey" />{{rp|C3}} An aerial survey conducted by the [[Birmingham, Alabama]], office of the National Weather Service included the damage caused by the earlier F2&nbsp;tornadoes—mostly to trees and roads—as part of the overall Jarrell tornado path.<ref name="AerialSurvey" />{{rp|C3}} Some reports also include the F1&nbsp;tornado near [[Prairie Dell, Texas|Prairie Dell]] as an earlier continuation of the Jarrell tornado.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=729}} The final, unambiguous apparition of the Jarrell tornado began within the Williamson County line {{convert|3|mi|km}} north of Jarrell as a narrow and rope-shaped funnel swathed in large amounts of dust when it touched down at 3:40&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="NCDC-Jarrell-F5" /><ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}} Like the two F3&nbsp;tornadoes earlier in the day, it developed along the gust front produced by its parent thunderstorm.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=729}} This mechanism is typical of tornadogenesis not associated with supercell thunderstorms.{{sfn|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)|p=1}} Traffic along [[Interstate 35]] came to a stop as the tornado descended nearby.<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A1}} The [[Texas Highway Patrol]] also stopped traffic on both sides of the interstate under the expectation that the tornado would cross the highway; it ultimately moved parallel to Interstate&nbsp;35.<ref name="HighwayOverpasses">{{cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Daniel J. |last2=Doswell |first2=Charles A. III |last3=Brooks |first3=Harold E. |last4=Stumpf |first4=Gregory J. |last5=Rasmussen |first5=Erik |title=Highway Overpasses as Tornado Shelters: Fallout From the 3 May 1999 Oklahoma/Kansas Violent Tornado Outbreak |url=https://www.weather.gov/oun/safety-overpass-slide17 |publisher=National Weather Service Norman, OK |access-date=April 10, 2021 |location=Norman, Oklahoma |page=17 |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410232214/https://www.weather.gov/oun/safety-overpass-slide17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Tracking south-southwest,{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}} the tornado quickly intensified and grew to a {{convert|1/2|mile|km}} in width, changing from its initial thin and white appearance to a blue and black color.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A1}} F5&nbsp;tornado damage was identified early in the tornado's path.<ref name="AerialSurvey" />{{rp|C3}} Its intense winds scoured the ground and stripped pavement from roads.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|3}} The tornado tore {{convert|525|ft|m}} of asphalt as it crossed County Roads 308, 305, and 307;<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}} the thickness of the asphalt pavement was roughly {{convert|0.8|in|mm}}.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=8}} A culvert plant at the corner of Country Roads 305 and 307 collapsed. Nearby, a similar plant and a mobile home sustained some damage, with the latter struck by a 2×4 piece of lumber. The occupants of a mobile home {{convert|500|ft|m}} north-northwest of the culvert plant fled to a frame house that the tornado later struck; the evacuees were killed while the mobile home sustained only minor damage.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=9}}<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} Some of the most extreme damage at this location was inflicted to a small metal-framed recycling plant that was obliterated, with little left of the structure besides a few twisted structural beams.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jarrell/ |title=May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado |last=Schuman |first=Shawn |date=November 23, 2023 |website=stormstalker.wordpress.com |publisher=Wordpress |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Jarrell tornado damage.jpg|left|thumb|The Double Creek Estates subdivision was pulverized by the tornado, with many homes swept off their foundations and disintegrated. This photograph shows one remaining foundation with plumbing pulled out of the concrete.|alt=Black and white photo of the remaining foundation of a destroyed home.]]
The tornado then slowly entered the Double Creek Estates subdivision where it exacted its most catastrophic impacts. Concurrently, the tornado expanded further to its maximum width of {{convert|3/4|mi|km}}.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}} Eyewitnesses indicated that the tornado's movement slowed to around {{convert|5|–|10|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} as it entered the neighborhood; this may have contributed to the resulting extreme destruction.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} The tornado destroyed the first home it encountered at the northwestern corner of the subdivision; a clock recovered from the remaining debris was stopped at 3:48&nbsp;p.m., presumably marking the time the tornado entered the community.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|6}} Much of the neighborhood was completely swept away with little debris remaining, with what was left being reduced to small and unrecognizable fragments that were dispersed over a wide area. The lack of large items that were recovered, and the granularity of the debris was indicative of the sheer strength of the tornado.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} Due to the tornado's slow movement, homes near the center of its path experienced tornadic winds for approximately three minutes.<ref name="20YearsOn">{{cite web |last1=Henson |first1=Bob |title=Twenty Years On: A Look Back at the Jarrell Tornado Catastrophe |url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/twenty-years-look-back-jarrell-tornado-catastrophe |website=Weather Underground |publisher=TWC Product and Technology |access-date=April 10, 2021 |date=May 26, 2016}}</ref> The mostly [[Framing (construction)|wooden-framed]] residences, some well-built and anchored, were completely obliterated and swept away, leaving behind concrete slab foundations swept clean of all debris.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=9}}<ref name="SD" />{{rp|6}} In some cases, parts of outbuilding and house foundations themselves in the subdivision were scoured away, and several were found missing all of their [[sill plate]]s that connected the wood-frame homes to the foundations.<ref name="LittleIsLeftInWake">{{cite news |last1=Verhovek |first1=Sam Howe |title=Little Is Left in Wake of Savage Tornado |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/29/us/little-is-left-in-wake-of-savage-tornado.html |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=The New York Times |date=May 29, 1997 |location=New York |page=A1}}</ref>{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=12}} Pieces of debris were found deposited in fields miles away from the subdivision, and extreme ground scouring occurred, reducing grassy fields into wide expanses of mud in the most severely affected areas.<ref name="SD" />{{rp|6}}<ref name="JarrellSlammedAgain">{{cite news |last1=Osborn |first1=Claire |last2=Easterly |first2=Greg |last3=Ward |first3=Pamela |title=Nearly destroyed in '89, Jarrell is slammed again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75341871/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 28, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A10}}
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75341871/ p. A1]
* [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75341959/ p. A10]</ref>{{rp|A10}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jarrell/ |title=May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado |last=Schuman |first=Shawn |date=November 23, 2023 |website=stormstalker.wordpress.com |publisher=Wordpress |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> In some cases the ground was scoured out to a depth of {{convert|18|in|cm}}.<ref name="ByTheNumbers">{{cite news |last1=Toohey |first1=Marty |title=Power and devastation of the Jarrell tornado, by the numbers |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20170526/power-and-devastation-of-the-jarrell-tornado-by-the-numbers |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |publisher=Gannett |date=September 25, 2018 |location=Austin, Texas}}</ref> Vehicles in the neighborhood were tossed and mangled beyond recognition; at least six were found flattened in open areas and coated with mud and grass.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}}<ref name="SD" />{{rp|5}} Some were thrown as far as a {{convert|1/2|mile|km}} away, and others were torn into multiple pieces of unrecognizable metal.<ref name="SPCJarrell">{{cite web |title=The Jarrell, TX Tornado of 27 May 97 |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/coolimg/jarrell/ |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |access-date=April 10, 2021 |location=Norman, Oklahoma |archive-date=April 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410232227/https://www.spc.noaa.gov/coolimg/jarrell/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Trees in the neighborhood were completely denuded and stripped entirely clean of all bark as well, including one that was found with an electrical cord impaled through the trunk.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}}<ref name="SD" />{{rp|5}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jarrell/ |title=May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado |last=Schuman |first=Shawn |date=November 23, 2023 |website=stormstalker.wordpress.com |publisher=Wordpress |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>

All 27&nbsp;fatalities associated with the Jarrell tornado occurred at Double Creek Estates,<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} which at the time consisted of 131&nbsp;residents living in 38&nbsp;single-family homes and several mobile homes.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}}<ref name="RootsHeld">{{cite news |last1=Beach |first1=Patrick |title=Their roots held |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75490976/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=June 1, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A20–A21}}
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75490976/ p. A1]
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75491062/ p. A20]
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75491225/ p. A21]</ref>{{rp|A20}} Entire families were killed at Double Creek, including all five members of the Igo Family, all four members of the Moehring family, and all three members of the Smith family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kvue.com/article/news/special-reports/jarrell-tornado/jarrell-tornado-1997-three-families-buried-georgetown/269-c56e1cc7-5f9f-41f8-acfc-cc265cd50842 |title=Three families killed in the 1997 Jarrell tornado are buried together in Georgetown |last=Rucker |first=Hanna |date=May 25, 2022 |website=kvue.com |publisher=KVUE |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> Bodily remains were later found at 30&nbsp;locations, and the physical trauma inflicted to some of the tornado victims was so extreme, that first responders reportedly had difficulty distinguishing human remains from the remains of animals at the site.<ref name="Hunt">{{cite news |last1=Todd |first1=Mike |title=In hunt for bodies, official finds nature's brutality |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75486527/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://stormstalker.wordpress.com/2012/11/23/jarrell/ |title=May 27, 1997 — The Jarrell, Texas Tornado |last=Schuman |first=Shawn |date=November 23, 2023 |website=stormstalker.wordpress.com |publisher=Wordpress |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> Most of the deaths were attributed in the ''[[Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report]]'' to multiple trauma, though one death was attributed to asphyxia.<ref name="CDCReport">{{cite journal |last1=Paz |first1=Enrique |last2=Kolavic |first2=Shellie |last3=Zane |first3=David |title=Tornado Disaster &ndash; Texas, May 1997 |journal=Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report |date=November 14, 1997 |volume=46 |issue=45 |url=https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00049839.htm |access-date=April 10, 2021 |publisher=Centers for Disease Control}}</ref> The high intensity of the Jarrell tornado left those in its path with little recourse;{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=12}} most homes in Double Creek Estates were built on cement slab foundations and few had a basement or any form of storm shelter;<ref name="SD" />{{rp|6}} nineteen people sought refuge in a single storm cellar.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} Some residents who followed prescribed safety measures nonetheless perished.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=11}} One survivor holed up in a bathtub and was flung several hundred feet from her house onto a road.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} The walls of some homes along the periphery of the tornado path remained intact, protecting some of those who survived the tornado.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=12}} Others chose to evacuate ahead of the approaching tornado.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=11}} Forty structures were obliterated in Double Creek Estates.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} Three businesses adjacent to Double Creek Estates were also destroyed.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}} In total, the tornado dealt $10–20&nbsp;million in damage to the neighborhood.<ref name="RootsHeld" />{{rp|A20}} Around 300&nbsp;cattle grazing in a nearby pasture were killed and some were found {{convert|0.25|mi|km}} away.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}}<ref name="SD" />{{rp|5}} Hundreds of cattle were also dismembered and a few cows were also skinned by the tornado.<ref name="SPCJarrell" /><ref name="UpheavalRoars" />{{rp|A19}}

The tornado turned slightly towards the south-southwest after traversing Double Creek Estates.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} The damage in these outlying areas was somewhat scattershot; in one case, a mobile home suffered only minor damage while an adjacent house lost half of its roof.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=13}} Metal buildings were unroofed along County Road 305 south of Jarrell. The road's guardrail was impaled by wooden planks thrown by the strong winds.<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A12}} The tornado then again crossed County Road 305 and entered a forest of cedar trees.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=NWS Austin/San Antonio, TX |author2=NWS Fort Worth/Dallas, TX |date=2022-05-19 |title=May 27, 1997 Central Texas Tornado Outbreak |url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/05696a8e01bc4e91a0a941290a62e86d |access-date=2022-09-04 |website=ArcGIS StoryMaps |language=en}}</ref> Some of the damage to the trees suggested that the tornado may have been a multiple-vortex tornado, which was documented by Scott Beckwith, receiving a nickname as a “dead man walking”.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The TIME Vault: June 9, 1997 |url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1997-06-09/page/37/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edge |first=The Professor On |date=2020-06-14 |title=(A preview of) Meteorology and Myth Part VII: "The Dead Man Walking" |url=https://mapleforestricepaddy.wordpress.com/2020/06/14/a-preview-of-meteorology-and-myth-part-vii-the-dead-man-walking/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=From Equatorial Icecaps to Polar Deserts |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after entering this forested area, the path of damage left behind by the tornado ended abruptly, with the [[National Centers for Environmental Information]] indicating that it lifted at 3:53&nbsp;p.m. after remaining on the ground for 13&nbsp;minutes and {{convert|5.1|mi|km}}.<ref name="NCDC-Jarrell-F5" /><ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} Other government accounts of the tornado list a total path length of {{convert|7.6|mi|km}} after incorporating the preceding tornadoes north of Jarrell and near Prairie Dell.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}}<ref name="AerialSurvey" />{{rp|C3}} Between May&nbsp;29 and June&nbsp;1, the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research carried out aerial and ground surveys of the tornadic damage in Texas in coordination with the Texas Wing Civil Air Patrol.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=2}} The Jarrell tornado damage was classified as F5&nbsp;severity throughout most of the tornado's path.<ref name="AerialSurvey" />{{rp|C3}} However, a critique of the [[Fujita scale]] published by the [[National Institute of Standards and Technology]] suggested that winds between {{convert|158|–|206|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, corresponding to an F3&nbsp;rating on the scale, were sufficient to explain the damage wrought by the Jarrell tornado.{{efn|These winds would correspond to an EF3–EF5 tornado on the modern [[Enhanced Fujita Scale]].<ref name="EFScale">{{cite web |title=Enhanced F Scale for Tornado Damage |url=https://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html |publisher=Storm Prediction Center |access-date=April 10, 2021 |location=Norman, Oklahoma}}</ref> The critique noted that the winds corresponding to an F3&nbsp;tornado in the Fujita scale would completely destroy most homes.}}{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=16}} The critique noted that some of the homes at Double Creek Estates, although built within the preceding 15&nbsp;years, exhibited structural weaknesses in their design such as the lack of [[anchor bolt]]s and steel straps in their foundations.{{sfn|Phan and Simiu (1998)|p=12}} Approximately $40&nbsp;million in damage was inflicted upon property with another $100,000 inflicted upon crops. Twelve people were injured by the storm in addition to the twenty-seven killed.<ref name="NCDC-Jarrell-F5" />

Due to the unusual southwestward motion of the thunderstorm that caused the tornado, the sequence of weather events experienced by those affected was in the opposite order of typical tornadic events: the tornado arrived first, followed by the hail, wind, and rain of the parent thunderstorm.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|7}} Despite the violence of the tornado and the presence of its associated mesocyclone aloft, the thunderstorm did not exhibit a distinct [[hook echo]] on weather radar typically associated with such tornadoes. This may have also been caused by the unusual southwestward motion of the thunderstorm, resulting in the tornado's placement in an atypical position relative to the thunderstorm's motion.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=3}}

{{clear}}

== Non-tornadic effects ==
In addition to the tornadoes, there were 12&nbsp;reports of large hail in Central Texas received by the National Weather Service during the late afternoon and evening.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}} The largest hail—measuring nearly {{cvt|4|in}} in diameter—was recorded in Cedar Park in conjunction with the F3&nbsp;tornado that hit the city. Damaging hail was also reported in [[Georgetown, Texas|Georgetown]] beginning at 3:55&nbsp;p.m. Severe thunderstorms also generated damaging straight-line winds across the Hill Country and South-Central Texas.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|3}} Much of these winds were associated with the eventual, non-tornadic line of storms that resulted from the coalescence of the day's earlier storms.{{sfn|Morgan et al. (1998)|pp=12–13}} Wind gusts ranging between {{cvt|58|–|71|mph}} were recorded in Austin, with the peak {{cvt|71|mph}} wind gust occurring at [[Robert Mueller Municipal Airport]] at 4:20&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|3}} There were also unofficial reports of winds reaching as high as {{cvt|90|mph}} to the west of Austin near Lake Travis.<ref name="CoolAirHotAirMix">{{cite news |last1=Stanley |first1=Dick |title=Cool air, hot air don't mix quietly |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75393612/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 28, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A13}}</ref> Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio registered a gust of {{cvt|122|mph}} at 8:03&nbsp;p.m. Gusts reached {{cvt|61|mph}} in [[Del Rio, Texas|Del Rio]] and overturned a plane at an airport near [[Seguin, Texas|Seguin]].<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|3}} The storms knocked out power to 60,000&nbsp;electricity customers in Austin and as many as 21,000&nbsp;electricity customers serviced by [[Texas Utilities]].<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A10}} Telephone service for more than 3,000&nbsp;residents in the Pedernales Valley was disrupted.<ref name="TragedySmaller" />{{rp|A11}} The thunderstorms also produced heavy rain that triggered floods in [[Blanco County, Texas|Blanco]], [[Gonzales County, Texas|Gonzales]], [[Karnes County, Texas|Karnes]], and Travis counties.<ref name="EWX" />{{rp|3}} An official rainfall total of {{cvt|1.44|in}} was documented in Austin, though {{cvt|2.5|in}} of rain fell in nearby [[Round Rock, Texas|Round Rock]]. The rains caused [[Brushy Creek (San Gabriel River tributary)|Brushy Creek]] to flood beyond its banks as far east as [[Thorndale, Texas|Thorndale]].<ref name="CoolAirHotAirMix" /> One person drowned in floodwaters along [[Shoal Creek, Austin, Texas|Shoal Creek]] in Austin.{{sfn|Henderson et al. (1998)|p=1}} Another person died in Cedar Park of cardiac arrest likely induced by storm-related stress.<ref name="CDCReport" /> The Southwestern Insurance Information Service estimated that the totality of the storms' effects inflicted $25–40&nbsp;million in insured losses; most insured claims originated from Cedar Park.<ref name="LowerStormEstimate">{{cite news |title=Insurers lower storm estimate by $60 million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75489703/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 31, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A11}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
[[File:Jarrell Memorial to Tornado Victims.jpg|thumb|The memorial at Jarrell Memorial Park naming the victims of the 1989 and 1997&nbsp;Jarrell tornadoes|alt=A granite memorial with victims' names]]
Law enforcement officers from the [[Texas Department of Public Safety]], four municipal police departments, and two county sheriff's offices aided search-and-rescue efforts in the aftermath of the Jarrell tornado.<ref name="JarrellSlammedAgain" />{{rp|A10}} The [[Texas National Guard]] and other volunteers from around Central Texas joined in the search.<ref name="LittleIsLeftInWake" /><ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} The [[Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple|Scott & White Blood Center]] facilitated [[blood donation]]s.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} A temporary shelter was established by the [[American Red Cross]] at Jarrell High School for those displaced by the tornado,<ref name="JarrellSlammedAgain" />{{rp|A10}} providing food and accepting clothes donations.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} The agency's relief operations, covering residents of 211&nbsp;homes, cost an estimated $250,000; community donations covered at least $200,000 of the expenses.<ref name="DonationsCovering">{{cite news |last1=Moscoso |first1=Eunice |title=Donations covering Red Cross costs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75490302/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 31, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A10}}</ref> The Jarrell Volunteer Fire Department organized a temporary morgue;<ref name="JarrellSlammedAgain" />{{rp|A10}} the deceased were later brought to the Travis County Forensic Center for identification.<ref name="Hunt" /> Although a death toll of 30&nbsp;people was initially reported, that figure was later revised to 27; the inflated count was attributed to the dispersion of remains that led some fatalities to be tallied twice.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} Carcasses of livestock were buried at Double Creek Estates.

Texas Governor [[George W. Bush]] declared Williamson County a disaster area; Bush visited Jarrell on May&nbsp;28 and described the tornadic damage as the worst he had ever witnessed.<ref name="JarrellsToll27" />{{rp|A21}} U.S. Senator [[Kay Bailey Hutchison]] also visited Jarrell and Cedar Park.<ref name="ReadyToRebuild" /> Bush later requested federal aid for Williamson and Bell counties with support from Hutchinson.<ref name="FederalAidRequested">{{cite news |last1=Easterly |first1=Greg |title=Federal aid is requested for residents |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75490533/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 31, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A12}}</ref> The [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] elected not to provide federal aid, citing the contributions from private and state sources.<ref name="WontGetFederalRelief" />{{rp|A8}} Instead, the [[Small Business Administration]] and [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]] made available loans for the rebuilding of homes, farms, and ranches.<ref name="WontGetFederalRelief">{{cite news |last1=Rivera |first1=Dylan |title=Jarrell won't get federal relief |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75492515/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=June 7, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A8}}
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75492515/ p. A1]
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75492642/ p. A8]</ref> The U.S. Congress approved a relief bill allocating $5.4&nbsp;billion for 35&nbsp;states affected by natural disasters, including Texas. However, the bill also included other provisions that led President [[Bill Clinton]] to veto the bill.<ref name="LikelyVeto">{{cite news |title=Congress sends disaster bill toward likely veto by Clinton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75492321/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=June 6, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A2}}</ref> A drive-through donation line was established at [[Auditorium Shores]] in Austin.<ref name="TornTown">{{cite news |last1=Hopper |first1=Leigh |title=A torn town finds it has thousands of giving neighbors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75488148/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 30, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |pages=A1, A7}}
*[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75488148/ p. A1]</ref>{{rp|A1}} Local musicians organized and performed at a [[benefit concert]] at [[Austin Music Hall]], attracting an audience of 2,800 and raising about $94,000.<ref name="Benefit94K">{{cite news |last1=Riemenschneider |first1=Chris |title=Benefit raises $94,000 for victims |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75492009/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=June 6, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=B1}}</ref><ref name="TornadoJam">{{cite news |last1=Riemenschneider |first1=Chris |title=Texas bands will play Tornado Jam benefit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75490068/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 31, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A11}}</ref> Businesses also donated to the relief efforts.<ref name="TornTown" />{{rp|A7}}

First responders representing Cedar Park, Austin, [[Leander, Texas|Leander]], [[Round Rock, Texas|Round Rock]], and Williamson and Travis counties arrived in Cedar Park shortly after the city was hit by a tornado. [[Texas A&M University]] supplied equipment for search-and-rescue operations in the aftermath of the Cedar Park tornado.<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A10}} These operations were the first test of the 186-member Texas Urban Search and Rescue Team, which was created following the [[1995 Oklahoma City bombing]].<ref name="SearchAlbertsons">{{cite news |last1=Trower |first1=Tara |last2=Lindell |first2=Chuck |title=Search continues at Albertson's |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75487577/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 29, 1997 |location=Austin, Texas |page=A20}}</ref> Vouchers were distributed by the American Red Cross to storm victims in the Buttercup Creek subdivision for clothing, food, and other supplies.<ref name="ReadyToRebuild" /> [[Texas Highway Patrol|Texas State Troopers]] blocked areas of Buttercup Creek to prevent looting.<ref name="WarZone" />{{rp|A10}}

A memorial was erected in downtown Jarrell bearing the names of the 27&nbsp;people killed by the Jarrell tornado. The Jarrell Memorial Park was established near Double Creek Estates on the land of the former Igo family, who perished in the tornado. The park contains 27&nbsp;trees planted in honor of the victims. In 2019, the memorial was relocated to the park along with the city's [[historical marker]].<ref name="HistoricalMarkerJarrell">{{cite web |title=Historical Marker: Jarrell |url=https://wilcohistory.org/listing/historical-marker-jarrell/ |publisher=Williamson County Historical Commission |access-date=April 10, 2021}}</ref><ref name="JarrellMarks20Years">{{cite news |last1=Windler |first1=Chikage |title=Jarrell marks 20 years since tornado that killed 27 |url=https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/jarrell-marks-20-years-since-tornado-killed-27 |access-date=April 10, 2021 |work=CBS Austin |date=May 26, 2017 |location=Austin, Texas}}</ref> The events and survivor accounts of the tornado were profiled in [[television documentary|television documentaries]] such as the 1999 episode of [[HBO]]'s ''[[America Undercover]]'' series titled "Fatal Twisters: A Season of Fury",<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1999-07-11-9907090382-story.html|title='FATAL TWISTERS' ISN'T ABOUT STORMS, IT'S ABOUT PAIN|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|date=July 11, 1999|access-date=September 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPQSX3hYyrw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/cPQSX3hYyrw| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Fatal Twisters: A Season of Fury|series=America Undercover|network=HBO|date=July 12, 1999|access-date=September 28, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the 1999 [[BBC]] television series titled ''Twister Week'' (also known as ''Tornado Diary'' in the United States) in an episode titled "Tornado Alley",<ref>{{cite episode|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDh-CV_-CWA| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/xDh-CV_-CWA| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Tornado Alley|series=Twister Week|network=[[BBC One]]|year=1999|access-date=September 28, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the seventh episode of the [[Discovery Channel]] program ''Storm Warning'', produced by [[GRB Studios|GRB Entertainment]],<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vqmnzMunLw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/-vqmnzMunLw| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Storm Warning - Episode 7 - Jarrell, Texas Twister/Ice Queen/Brazil Flood|publisher=GRB Entertainment|date=1997|access-date=January 8, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and the 2006 documentary ''[[Ultimate Tornado|Ultimate Disaster]]'' (also known as ''Mega Disaster'') on [[National Geographic (American TV channel)|National Geographic Channel]].<ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmPPsoyEeIk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211114/jmPPsoyEeIk| archive-date=2021-11-14 | url-status=live|title=Mega Disaster: Tornado|publisher=[[NHNZ|Natural History New Zealand]]/National Geographic Channel|year=2006|access-date=January 8, 2021|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Weather}}
* [[List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks]]
* [[1922 Austin twin tornadoes]]&nbsp;– also featured southwestward-tracking tornadoes that struck the Austin, Texas, area
* [[Tornado outbreak of April 6–9, 1998]]&nbsp;– produced the official first F5&nbsp;tornado after the Jarrell tornado
* [[1953 Waco tornado outbreak#Waco, Texas|1953 Waco tornado]]&nbsp;– the deadliest tornado in Texas history

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|2}}
* {{cite report|type=Service Assessment|last1=Henderson |first1=James H. |last2=Hakkarinen |first2=Ida M. |last3=Lerner |first3=William H. |last4=McLaughlin |first4=Melvin R. |last5=Looney |first5=James M. |last6=McIntyre |first6=E. L. |last7=Peters |first7=Brian E. |last8=Trainor |first8=Marilu |last9=Paz |first9=Enrique |last10=Kolavic |first10=Shellie Ann |last11=Zane |first11=David |last12=Phan |first12=Long T. |title=The Central Texas Tornadoes of May 27, 1997 |date=April 1998 |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/publications/assessments/jarrell.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2021 |ref={{sfnRef|Henderson et al. (1998)}} |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |location=Silver Spring, Maryland }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Houston |first1=Adam L. |last2=Wilhelmson |first2=Robert B. |title=Observational Analysis of the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornadic Event. Part I: Prestorm Environment and Storm Maintenance/Propagation |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=March 1, 2007 |volume=135 |issue=3 |pages=701–726 |doi=10.1175/MWR3300.1 |publisher=American Meteorological Society|bibcode=2007MWRv..135..701H |doi-access=free|ref={{sfnRef|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007a)}}}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Houston |first1=Adam L. |last2=Wilhelmson |first2=Robert B. |title=Observational Analysis of the 27 May 1997 Central Texas Tornadic Event. Part II: Tornadoes |journal=Monthly Weather Review |date=March 1, 2007 |volume=135 |issue=3 |pages=727–735 |doi=10.1175/MWR3301.1 |publisher=American Meteorological Society|bibcode=2007MWRv..135..727H |doi-access=free|ref={{sfnRef|Houston and Wilhelmson (2007b)}}}}
* {{cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Carl |last2=Orrock |first2=Jeff |last3=Rydell |first3=Nezette |last4=Ward |first4=Jimmy |title=A Meteorological and Radar Analysis of the Central Texas Tornado Outbreak on May 27, 1997 |url=https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/6395 |publisher=National Weather Service |via=NOAA Institutional Repository |access-date=April 6, 2021 |location=New Braunfels, Texas |format=PDF |date=July 1998|ref={{sfnRef|Morgan et al. (1998)}}}}
* {{cite book |last1=Phan |first1=Long T. |last2=Simiu |first2=Emil |title=The Fujita Tornado Intensity Scale: A Critique Based on Observations of the Jarrell Tornado of May 27, 1997 |date=July 1998 |publisher=National Institute of Standards and Technology |location=Gaithersburg, Maryland |url=https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/Legacy/TN/nbstechnicalnote1426.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2021 |ref={{sfnRef|Phan and Simiu (1998)}} }}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/data/pdfs/ctrltx.pdf Aerial Damage Survey of the Central Texas Tornadoes of May 27, 1997] (PDF) ([[National Weather Service]]), includes discussion and map of the tornado's track
* [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/reports/txtornadoes/texastornadoes.html Texas Tornadoes] ([[National Climatic Data Center]])
* [http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/970527.html Satellite imagery] ([[University of Wisconsin–Madison]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150402141147/https://stormtrack.org/magazine/1997-11-v21-n1.pdf Stormtrack Magazine Nov/Dec 1997: Jarrell, Texas Tornado Expanded Edition] (PDF)
{{F5 and EF5 tornadoes}}{{1997 tornado outbreaks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1997 Central Texas Tornado Outbreak}}
[[Category:F5, EF5 and IF5 tornadoes]]
[[Category:Tornadoes of 1997]]
[[Category:Tornadoes in Texas]]
[[Category:1997 in Texas|Central Texas Tornado Outbreak, 1997]]
[[Category:May 1997 in the United States]]