Archer County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48009 · population 8,555 · 903 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 859 records for Archer County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 485 days; the most frequent are hail reports (477 records). The most damaging was the April 26, 1994 tornado ($995,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1989, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storms” on February 19, 2021.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 859on 485 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 019 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 31strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2021
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Archer County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 477 since 1955. 60% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The rank column places the county among Texas's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 477 | 220 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.4M | 25 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 115 | 79 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 12 | $1.8M | 151 of 254 |
| Drought | 87 | 87 | 2000-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 254 |
| Heat | 55 | 55 | 2006-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 47 of 254 |
| Floods | 33 | 19 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $31K | 192 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 31 | 25 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 5 | $8.5M | 148 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 26 | 26 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 2 | $64K | 136 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 14 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 0 | $128K | 67 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 8 | 8 | 1999-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 37 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 2021-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 125 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2018-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 85 of 254 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2025-2025 | 0 | 0 | $900K | 99 of 254 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Archer County had?
NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Archer County from 1955 to 2026, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 31 tornadoes whose track touched Archer County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 42 people, 0 of them in Archer County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-04-10 17:50, as SPC files it | Wichita FallsCrossed OK, TX | F4 | 46.9 mi | 42 |
| 1986-05-14 18:30, as SPC files it | Windthorst | F3 | 20 mi | 0 |
| 1961-04-08 15:00, as SPC files it | Archer | F3 | 1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Archer County (31)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-25 | Scotland, Archer County | EFU 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | Scotland, Archer County | EFU 1.04 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-06-03 | Archer City, Archer County | EFU 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-25 | Windthorst, Archer County | EF1 1.13 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-05-19 | Windthorst, Archer County | EFU 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-19 | Windthorst, Archer County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-16 | Holliday, Archer County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-06 | Lake Kickapoo Dam, Archer County | EF2 12 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-04 | Dundee, Archer County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-05-27 | Archer City, Archer County | F0 1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2000-05-27 | Archer City, Archer County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-08-17 | Windthorst, Archer County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-08-17 | Windthorst, Archer County | F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-05-29 | Scotland, Archer County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-26 | Archer County | F2 9.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1994-04-26 | Anarrowene, Archer County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-03-08 | Archer County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-03-28 | Archer County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-09-02 | Archer County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-05-14 | Archer County | F3 11 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 1985-04-21 | Archer County | F2 2.2 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-05-12 | Archer County | F1 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-04-02 | Archer County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-04-02 | Archer County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-04-02 | Archer County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-04-10 | Archer County | F4 1.3 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1966-04-10 | Archer County | F1 2 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-04-08 | Archer County | F3 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1959-05-08 | Archer County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1957-04-25 | Archer County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1955-06-08 | Archer County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Archer County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 25, 2026 tornado ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Numerous spotters and chasers observed a tornado east of State Highway 79 and near Coleman Road. The tornado occurred over open pastureland with the only known damage occurring to some cattle feeders near Coleman Road. Much of the tornado path is estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1330694)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-07 | FloodArcher City, Archer County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-28 | HailArcher City, Archer County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-28 | HailScotland, Archer County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-28 | HailLakeside City, Archer County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | TornadoScotland, Archer County | EFU 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | TornadoScotland, Archer County | EFU 1.04 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-04-25 | HailLakeside City, Archer County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | HailLakeside City, Archer County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | HailLakeside City, Archer County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-25 | HailHolliday, Archer County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | Thunderstorm WindMankins, Archer County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormArcher County · forecast zone Archer | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990-04-09 | Thunderstorm WindArcher County | 0 | 12 | – | |
| 1986-05-14 | TornadoArcher County | F3 11 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 2008-01-03 | Winter WeatherArcher County · forecast zone Archer Numerous accidents were reported as a result of icy roads. Monetary damages were estimated. | 0 | 2 | $14K | |
| 1961-04-08 | TornadoArcher County | F3 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-04-26 | TornadoArcher County | F2 9.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2025-04-26 | LightningLakeside City, Archer County | 0 | 0 | $800K | |
| 2004-03-04 | Thunderstorm WindLake Kickapoo, Archer County | 69 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $781K |
| 2000-05-27 | HailHolliday, Archer County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $428K |
| 2025-04-05 | LightningLakeside City, Archer County | 0 | 0 | $100K | |
| 2001-05-19 | HailLake Kickapoo, Archer County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $83K |
| 2018-12-26 | Thunderstorm WindLakeside City, Archer County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 2025-04-29 | Thunderstorm WindHolliday, Archer County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $15K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 14, 1986 (tornado, Archer County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Archer County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 2 | 4 | 9 | 37 | 155 | 179 | 46 | 45 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 31 | 31 | 17 | 17 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 14 | 58 z | 15 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 0 | 54 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 19 | 9 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Drought in the 2010s: 58 records against 14 in the decade before, 58 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Archer County days with a record above.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
60% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 30 · Mar 57 · Apr 182 · May 206 · Jun 149 · Jul 47 · Aug 71 · Sep 34 · Oct 33 · Nov 13 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Archer County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Archer County: 11 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 2 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (6) and severe storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-02-19 | DR-4586 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021-02-14 | EM-3554 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4485 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3458 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-02-25 | DR-4416 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2015-05-29 | DR-4223 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011-04-30 | FM-2905 | Fire | Sisk Road Fire |
| 2008-09-10 | EM-3294 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2008-03-14 | EM-3284 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008-02-28 | FM-2748 | Fire | New Archer Fire |
| 2007-06-29 | DR-1709 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2006-01-11 | DR-1624 | Fire | Extreme Wildfire Threat |
| 2005-09-24 | DR-1606 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005-09-21 | EM-3261 | Hurricane | Hurricane Rita |
| 2005-09-02 | EM-3216 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1999-09-01 | EM-3142 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazards |
| 1998-08-26 | DR-1239 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Charley |
| 1993-09-10 | EM-3113 | Drought | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 1990-05-02 | DR-863 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1989-05-19 | DR-828 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Archer County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Archer County from 1997 to 2026, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Archer County ranks 2020th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $889,000 on 24 claims filed in Archer County; the most in one year was 8 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 1 · 1990: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2007: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2016: 4; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Archer County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Archer County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.9 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $527K | 94 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $635K | once in about 129 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $242K | 8 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $237K | 16 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $41K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $545K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $288K | 2.9 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $334 | once in about 8 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Archer County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in TexasEvery Texas tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Hail in TexasThe state's hail reports, by county, year and month
- The Texas recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Archer CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Archer County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis