Brewster County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48043 · population 9,511 · 6,184 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 860 records for Brewster County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 563 days; the most frequent are hail reports (293 records). The deadliest single record is the May 20, 2004 heat, filed for the forecast zone Big Bend Area, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1998, 12 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Flooding” on July 18, 2026.
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
- 860on 563 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 26 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $46Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 2026
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 Brewster County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 293 since 1959. 73% of its hail reports since 1959 fell in May and June. 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 | 293 | 179 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 3 | $6.7M | 245 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 236 | 200 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $138K | 49 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 104 | 88 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 0 | $730K | 247 of 254 |
| Floods | 82 | 70 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $20M | 234 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 52 | 30 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 236 of 254 |
| Drought | 33 | 17 | 1996-2006 | 0 | 0 | $11M | 254 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 20 | 1954-2021 | 0 | 3 | $903K | 246 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 17 | 17 | 2013-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 98 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 6 | 2005-2011 | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | 192 of 254 |
| Heat | 6 | 4 | 2004-2021 | 1 | 0 | – | 203 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 232 of 254 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2004-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2016-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 175 of 254 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 135 of 254 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 1 | 0 | – | 160 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 Brewster County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Brewster County from 1954 to 2021, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 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 21 tornadoes whose track touched Brewster County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 21, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Brewster County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-05-28 | Marathon, Brewster County | EFU 1.08 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-31 | Haymond, Brewster County | EF0 0.39 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-03 | Haymond, Brewster County | EF0 0.08 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-19 | Alpine Municipal Airport, Brewster County | EF0 0.21 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-22 | Titley, Brewster County | EF0 0.41 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-04-13 | Alpine Municipal Airport, Brewster County | EF0 2.61 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-10 | Marathon, Brewster County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Marathon, Brewster County | F0 0.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-06-05 | Alpine, Brewster County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-09 | Alpine, Brewster County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-09 | Alpine, Brewster County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-31 | Brewster County | F0 1.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-19 | Brewster County | F0 3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-05-07 | Brewster County | F1 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1979-06-04 | Brewster County | F0 6.2 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1976-07-15 | Brewster County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1975-05-10 | Brewster County | F0 2 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-09-21 | Brewster County | F0 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-06-09 | Brewster County | F2 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1958-06-16 | Brewster County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-06-11 | Brewster County | F0 4.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $3K step |
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 Brewster County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 29, 2026 flash flood ($20,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindTitley, Brewster County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-29 | Flash FloodStudy Butte, Brewster County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2026-06-29 | Thunderstorm WindHaymond, Brewster County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-02 | Flash FloodTerlingua Airport, Brewster County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-31 | Thunderstorm WindAlpine, Brewster County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-23 | HailAlpine, Brewster County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-20 | HailHaymond, Brewster County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-20 | HailTitley, Brewster County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-20 | HailAlpine Municipal Airport, Brewster County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-11 | Thunderstorm WindCastolon, Brewster County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindBrewster County and 3 more · forecast zone Davis Mountains Foothills | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-10 | High WindBrewster County and 3 more · forecast zone Davis Mountains Foothills | 57 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-05-20 | HeatBrewster County · forecast zone Big Bend Area A New York man died while hiking in the Big Bend National Park on the afternoon of May 20th. The tourist set out on a hike alone in the north-central portions of the park around 10:00 AM CST. His body was recovered in the Grapevine Hills area, about five miles north of Panther Junction on the 21st. Afternoon ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-02-20 | LightningPanther Junction, Brewster County A thunderstorm which moved across the Chisos Basin of the Texas Big Bend resulted in a lightning fatality. A man who was hiking in the Chisos Mountains died when he was struck by lightning. The man was reported missing by his wife two days later, and National Park rangers located his body within a few hours of the ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1954-06-11 | TornadoBrewster County | F0 4.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $3K step |
| 1997-06-15 | HailStudy Butte, Brewster County North of where the RFD winds caused damage, hail up to softball size smashed car windshields and pummelled a couple of houses. One gentleman, who was attempting to close a window, was injured when hail broke the window and caused several facial lacerations. He was taken by private vehicle to the Alpine Hospital. A ... | 4.50 in hail | 0 | 2 | $18K |
| 2005-05-13 | HailPanther Junction, Brewster County The National Weather Service Cooperative Observer at Heath Canyon, noted in the previous entry, sustained minor injuries when he was struck on the head by a very large hail stone. Baseball size stones were sporadically mixed with smaller hail, but additionally caused damage to a nearby trailer. | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | $8K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09-09 | FloodLajitas, Brewster County | 0 | 0 | $19M | |
| 1996-08-01 | DroughtBrewster County · forecast zone Big Bend Area | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2011-04-09 | WildfireBrewster County and 2 more · forecast zone Davis / Apache Mountains Area | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 1995-10-01 | HailAlpine, Brewster County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.8M |
| 2010-04-11 | HailMarathon, Brewster County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $203K |
| 1998-05-26 | HailMarathon, Brewster County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2004-04-05 | HailPanther Junction, Brewster County | 4.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $78K |
| 2002-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindMarathon, Brewster County | 66 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $74K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 7, 1981 (tornado, Brewster 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 Brewster 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 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 37 | 117 | 89 | 22 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 88 | 92 | 53 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 14 | 21 | 25 | 31 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 10 | 50 | 8 | 14 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 20 | 22 | 8 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
73% of its hail reports since 1959 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 59 · Feb 60 · Mar 58 · Apr 98 · May 206 · Jun 165 · Jul 44 · Aug 37 · Sep 19 · Oct 32 · Nov 20 · Dec 62 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Brewster County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Brewster County: 6 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for fire (5) and hurricane (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-18 | EM-3649 | Flood | Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011-05-08 | FM-2906 | Fire | Gage Holland Fire |
| 2008-03-14 | EM-3284 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 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 |
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 Brewster County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 82 flood or flash flood records for Brewster County from 1996 to 2026, on 70 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Brewster County ranks 2291st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $52,000 on 12 claims filed in Brewster County; the most in one year was 3 in 1999. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1983: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1999: 3 · 2000: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2016: 2; 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 Brewster County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Brewster County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.7 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 | $605K | 116 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $495K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $995K | once in about 140 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $587K | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $60K | once in about 11 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $42K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $128K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Brewster 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 Brewster CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Brewster County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis