Briscoe County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48045 · population 1,430 · 900 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 619 records for Briscoe County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 469 days; the most frequent are hail reports (185 records). The deadliest single record is the May 15, 1957 tornado: 21 deaths and 80 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1970, 14 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
- 619on 469 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 2585 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $260Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 50strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Briscoe County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 185 since 1957. 72% of its hail reports since 1957 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 | 185 | 120 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 0 | $3.7M | 118 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 103 | 83 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $510K | 141 of 254 |
| Drought | 102 | 102 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $252M | 51 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 85 | 82 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 14 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 67 | 67 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 22 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 50 | 34 | 1957-2025 | 25 | 84 | $2.9M | 102 of 254 |
| Floods | 14 | 14 | 1997-2021 | 0 | 0 | $205K | 218 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 2011-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 159 of 254 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 1 | – | 157 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 84 of 254 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2017-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 145 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | – | 185 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 Briscoe County had?
NOAA records 50 tornadoes in Briscoe County from 1957 to 2025, the strongest rated F4, with 25 deaths and 84 injuries recorded in the county. That is 102nd of 254 Texas counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. 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 51 tornadoes whose track touched Briscoe County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 50: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 45 people, 25 of them in Briscoe County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-05-15 22:35, as SPC files it | Silverton | F4 | 17 mi | 21 |
| 1970-04-18 01:00, as SPC files it | Howardwick | F4 | 65 mi | 16 |
| 1970-04-17 22:00, as SPC files it | Plainview | F4 | 96.6 mi | 5 |
| 1975-06-22 20:20, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F1 | 10 mi | 3 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Briscoe County (50)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-24 | Whiteley, Briscoe County | EFU 1.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-02 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EFU 8.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-06-02 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EFU 9.26 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-13 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EFU 0.06 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-08-29 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EFU 0.61 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-05-16 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 0.54 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-29 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | EF0 0.68 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2013-04-01 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF1 1.84 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2009-06-13 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 0.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-06-13 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-06-08 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | EF0 0.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | EF2 12 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $178K |
| 2007-03-28 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 1.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 4.75 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF1 6.75 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2007-03-28 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 2 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-03-28 | Silverton, Briscoe County | EF0 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-04-23 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-06-05 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-29 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | F1 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $33K |
| 2001-05-29 | Silverton, Briscoe County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-08 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-03 | Quitaque, Briscoe County | F0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-04-23 | Briscoe County | F0 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1990-04-23 | Briscoe County | F0 1.3 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-24 | Briscoe County | F0 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-24 | Briscoe County | F1 2 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-05-16 | Briscoe County | F0 10 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-05-16 | Briscoe County | F0 11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-05-13 | Briscoe County | F1 0.5 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-17 | Briscoe County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-16 | Briscoe County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1982-05-16 | Briscoe County | F0 8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-04 | Briscoe County | F1 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1981-05-26 | Briscoe County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1981-05-26 | Briscoe County | F0 0.3 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-03-17 | Briscoe County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-04-04 | Briscoe County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1977-05-20 | Briscoe County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1975-06-22 | Briscoe County | F1 10 mi x 80 yd | 3 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1970-04-17 | Briscoe County | F4 24.2 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1970-04-17 | Briscoe County | F4 12.6 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 4 | – |
| 1965-06-04 | Briscoe County | F0 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-06-07 | Briscoe County | F2 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-06-07 | Briscoe County | F2 1.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1962-06-07 | Briscoe County | F0 1.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-05-03 | Briscoe County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1958-06-13 | Briscoe County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1957-05-15 | Briscoe County | F4 17 mi x 300 yd | 21 | 80 | $250K step |
| 1957-05-14 | Briscoe County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Briscoe County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 31, 2022 hail ($101,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
The fire department in Silverton reported baseball size hail and numerous windshields destroyed.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1018946)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindCaprock Canyons State Park, Briscoe County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-23 | Thunderstorm WindSilverton, Briscoe County | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | Thunderstorm WindSilverton, Briscoe County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-20 | Thunderstorm WindSilverton, Briscoe County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-21 | Thunderstorm WindQuitaque, Briscoe County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-06 | High WindBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | HailSilverton, Briscoe County | 1.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-24 | TornadoWhiteley, Briscoe County | EFU 1.8 mi x 20 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-05-15 | TornadoBriscoe County | F4 17 mi x 300 yd | 21 | 80 | $250K step |
| 1975-06-22 | TornadoBriscoe County | F1 10 mi x 80 yd | 3 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1970-04-17 | TornadoBriscoe County | F4 12.6 mi x 880 yd | 1 | 4 | – |
| 2020-07-09 | Excessive HeatBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe Intense heat fueled severe thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of the ninth. Afternoon temperatures peaked between 105 and 110 degrees which combined with enough moisture to create isolated thunderstorms late in the afternoon. Two storms in particular both produced wind damage as they tracked to the south. The ... | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-07-01 | DroughtBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | $198M | |
| 2006-08-01 | DroughtBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | $38M | |
| 2006-09-01 | DroughtBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | $14M | |
| 2004-06-21 | HailSilverton, Briscoe County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.6M |
| 1999-01-29 | Winter StormBriscoe County · forecast zone Briscoe | 0 | 0 | $886K | |
| 2001-05-29 | HailSilverton, Briscoe County | 3.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $333K |
| 2007-03-28 | TornadoQuitaque, Briscoe County | EF2 12 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $178K |
| 2009-06-13 | HailQuitaque, Briscoe County | 4.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $138K |
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 15, 1957 (tornado, Briscoe County, 21 killed).
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 Briscoe 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 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 58 | 56 | 24 | 13 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 10 | 24 | 56 | 12 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 24 | 26 | 33 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 24 | 27 | 14 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
72% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 35 · Feb 44 · Mar 52 · Apr 81 · May 129 · Jun 124 · Jul 36 · Aug 28 · Sep 20 · Oct 18 · Nov 20 · Dec 32 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Briscoe County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Briscoe County: 10 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (5) and severe ice storm (3).
| 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 |
| 2011-09-09 | DR-4029 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 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 |
| 2001-01-08 | DR-1356 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Ice Storm |
| 1999-09-01 | EM-3142 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazards |
| 1998-08-26 | DR-1239 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Charley |
| 1992-09-09 | DR-960 | Severe Storm | Excessive Rain & Hail |
| 1970-05-13 | DR-286 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Windstorms & 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Briscoe County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Briscoe County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.9 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 High | $4.7M | 88 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $441K | 7.5 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $100K | once in about 150 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $60K | 2.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Very Low | $202K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Very Low | $16K | 7.3 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $96K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $2K | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Briscoe 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 Briscoe CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Briscoe County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis