Castro County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48069 · population 7,365 · 894 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 777 records for Castro County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 547 days; the most frequent are hail reports (240 records). The deadliest single record is the April 12, 1960 tornado: 3 deaths and 32 injuries. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1992, 12 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
- 777on 547 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 446 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $67Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 71strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Castro County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 240 since 1958. 70% of its hail reports since 1958 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 | 240 | 146 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 0 | $23M | 82 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 124 | 102 | 1967-2026 | 0 | 1 | $5.3M | 101 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 115 | 105 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $124K | 4 of 254 |
| Drought | 99 | 99 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 58 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 87 | 85 | 1999-2026 | 1 | 1 | $6.0M | 11 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 71 | 51 | 1951-2025 | 3 | 44 | $27M | 34 of 254 |
| Floods | 29 | 25 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $428K | 165 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 5 | 5 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | 141 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 3 | 3 | 2006-2010 | 0 | 0 | $274K | 127 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2000-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 110 of 254 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 178 of 254 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 128 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 Castro County had?
NOAA records 71 tornadoes in Castro County from 1951 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 3 deaths and 44 injuries recorded in the county. That is 34th 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 88 tornadoes whose track touched Castro County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 71: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960-04-12 20:00, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 5.2 mi | 3 |
| 2017-04-14 17:36, as SPC files it | Dimmitt | EF3 | 3.55 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Castro County (71)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-26 | Sunnyside, Castro County | EFU 6.65 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-09-21 | Nazareth, Castro County | EFU 1.27 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-13 | Nazareth, Castro County | EFU 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-13 | Hart, Castro County | EF0 1.42 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-13 | Nazareth, Castro County | EFU 0.92 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-06-15 | Summerfield, Castro County | EFU 0.01 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-26 | Sunnyside, Castro County | EF0 12.83 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2018-10-07 | Dimmitt Municipal Airport, Castro County | EFU 8.65 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-04-14 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EFU 0.08 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-04-14 | Dimmitt Municipal Airport, Castro County | EFU 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-04-14 | Dimmitt Municipal Airport, Castro County | EF3 3.55 mi x 1,936 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2017-04-14 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 1.95 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 2017-04-14 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.39 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2017-04-14 | Dodd, Castro County | EFU 2.04 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-25 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-25 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-05-25 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-09-07 | Nazareth, Castro County | EF1 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $107K |
| 2007-06-02 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 4 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-06-02 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-04-30 | Dimmitt, Castro County | EF0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-04-21 | Hart, Castro County | EF2 8.25 mi x 1,230 yd | 0 | 0 | $285K |
| 2007-03-25 | Hart, Castro County | EF0 1.25 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-08-12 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-08-12 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-05-05 | Nazareth, Castro County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-12 | Summerfield, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-05-03 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-01 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-01 | Sunnyside, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-10-30 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-04-26 | Hart, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1997-05-06 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-07-09 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 3 | $94K |
| 1995-06-04 | Sunnyside, Castro County | F1 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $97K |
| 1995-06-04 | Sunnyside, Castro County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-04 | Castro County | F1 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $775K |
| 1995-06-02 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-02 | Hart, Castro County | F1 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-26 | Dimmitt, Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-27 | Castro County | F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-18 | Castro County | F0 1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1991-06-23 | Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-06-05 | Castro County | F1 1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-11 | Castro County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-10 | Castro County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-29 | Castro County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-29 | Castro County | F0 2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-25 | Castro County | F0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-08-02 | Castro County | F1 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1981-09-24 | Castro County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-07-27 | Castro County | F2 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $250 step |
| 1980-05-28 | Castro County | F1 7.4 mi x 1,733 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1980-05-28 | Castro County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-03-27 | Castro County | F0 3.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-02-07 | Castro County | F1 15.8 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1977-08-23 | Castro County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1972-06-10 | Castro County | F1 0.3 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Castro County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 10, 2022 thunderstorm wind ($101,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A report was received of a center irrigation pivot overturned near the community of Sunnyside. The same thunderstorm produced a wind gust to 85 mph a few minutes later near Hart.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1016270)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-30 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindDimmitt, Castro County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-23 | HailHart, Castro County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | Strong WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | Thunderstorm WindDimmitt, Castro County | 62 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-09 | High WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 54 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-27 | High WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 40 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-11 | High WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 56 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960-04-12 | TornadoCastro County | F3 5.2 mi x 100 yd | 3 | 32 | $250K step |
| 2009-12-23 | Winter StormCastro County · forecast zone Castro A major winter storm brought blizzard conditions and widespread significant snow accumulations to the South Plains region of west Texas on Christmas Eve. The remnant snow pack resulted in a subsequent and rare White Christmas for much of west Texas. Widespread light rain developed over much of west Texas on the 23rd. ... | 1 | 0 | $28K | |
| 1971-10-17 | TornadoCastro County | F2 6.4 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 4 | $2.5M step |
| 1996-07-09 | TornadoDimmitt, Castro County A weak tornado briefly touched down northwest of Dimmitt. Three people were slightly injured, two trailer homes were heavily damaged, and two poweer poles were downed by the tornado. | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 3 | $94K |
| 1995-06-02 | TornadoDimmitt, Castro County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $775K |
| 2008-03-02 | Winter WeatherCastro County · forecast zone Castro Media reports indicated that winter weather conditions in Castro County contributed to at least one serious automobile accident that resulted in an injury. | 0 | 1 | $21K | |
| 2007-10-10 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County The Texas Tech University West Texas Mesonet site north of Hart recorded a 70 mph thunderstorm wind gust at 18:35 CST. The winds, accompanied by large hail, caused moderate damage and one minor injury. A number of telephone poles were blown down, and several center pivot irrigation systems were destroyed. A tractor ... | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| 1980-07-27 | TornadoCastro County | F2 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $250 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-10-10 | HailDimmitt, Castro County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.4M |
| 2015-12-26 | BlizzardCastro County · forecast zone Castro | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2014-05-21 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| 2017-04-14 | TornadoDimmitt Municipal Airport, Castro County | EF3 3.55 mi x 1,936 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.2M |
| 2007-10-10 | Thunderstorm WindHart, Castro County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $968K |
| 1999-06-02 | HailNazareth, Castro County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $930K |
| 1999-06-02 | HailDimmitt, Castro County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $912K |
| 1999-06-02 | HailDimmitt, Castro County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $886K |
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: October 17, 1971 (tornado, Castro 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 Castro 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 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 97 | 68 | 28 | 13 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 35 | 43 | 27 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 31 | 33 | 49 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 10 | 22 | 47 | 20 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 29 | 33 | 22 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 | 11 | 12 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
70% of its hail reports since 1958 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 36 · Feb 51 · Mar 56 · Apr 96 · May 161 · Jun 163 · Jul 34 · Aug 57 · Sep 28 · Oct 31 · Nov 20 · Dec 44 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Castro County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Castro County: 8 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and severe 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 |
| 2016-02-09 | DR-4255 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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 Castro County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Castro County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $7.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | Relatively High | $2.5M | 6.9 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively High | $1.7M | 99 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Moderate | $114K | 7.9 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $443K | 3.1 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $163K | once in about 258 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $992K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $679K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $27K | once in about 1,923 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Castro 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 Castro CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Castro County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis