Culberson County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48109 · population 2,188 · 3,812 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 1,728 records for Culberson County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 1,003 days; the most frequent are high wind and dust records (1,437 records). 1,584 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the April 10, 2001 high wind, filed for the forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson, which covers the county: 1 death, 3 injuries and $833,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 12 declarations naming the county since 1998, 10 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
- 1,728on 1,003 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $16Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 12latest 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 Culberson County most?
The most frequent records are high wind and dust records: 1,437 since 1996. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | 1,437 | 822 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 5 | $1.9M | 1 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 76 | 44 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 206 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 69 | 59 | 1969-2026 | 0 | 1 | $209K | 244 of 254 |
| Hail | 51 | 45 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 0 | $18K | 252 of 254 |
| Drought | 49 | 17 | 1996-2006 | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | 250 of 254 |
| Floods | 18 | 18 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $50K | 249 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 7 | 4 | 2011-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 222 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 7 | 6 | 2005-2011 | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | 174 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 6 | 1982-2002 | 0 | 0 | $765K | 252 of 254 |
| Heat | 3 | 2 | 2021-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 204 of 254 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | – | 134 of 254 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 2 | 2 | 2004-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | – | 164 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 Culberson County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Culberson County from 1982 to 2002, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 6 tornadoes whose track touched Culberson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Culberson County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002-08-01 | Van Horn, Culberson County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-06-07 | Pine Spgs, Culberson County | F0 0.8 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-10-02 | Pine Springs, Culberson County | F1 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-05-22 | Culberson County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-06-04 | Culberson County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1982-06-12 | Culberson County | F2 15 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Culberson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 flash flood ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | Flash FloodVan Horn Co Airport, Culberson County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2026-06-04 | Flash FloodGuadalupe Pass, Culberson County | 0 | 0 | $10K | |
| 2026-05-26 | Flash FloodGuadalupe Pass, Culberson County | 0 | 0 | $1K | |
| 2026-05-26 | HailVan Horn Co Airport, Culberson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | Thunderstorm WindGuadalupe Pass, Culberson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-26 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-23 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-17 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 63 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-01 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 57 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe And Delaware Mountains | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindBrewster County and 3 more · forecast zone Davis Mountains Foothills | 53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001-04-10 | High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson Strong gradient winds behind a cold front produced blowing dust, and visibilities near zero. This caused numerous accidents on area interstates and state highways during the evening hours of 4/10/01. One fatality and three injuries were reported. A nine vehicle accident occurred at approximately 5:00 pm CST on 4/10/01 ... | 62 kt wind | 1 | 3 | $833K |
| 2002-07-29 | Dust StormCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos An eleven vehicle wreck occurred in zero visibilities, due to blowing dust, along Interstate 10 at mile marker 225...or 17 miles east of Balmorhea. Two minor injuries were reported. Interstate 10 was closed for two hours and traffic in the west bound lane was backed up for a number of miles into western Pecos County. | 0 | 2 | $148K | |
| 1996-07-17 | Thunderstorm WindVan Horn, Culberson County A wet macroburst that lasted 5-6 minutes caused scattered damage in Van Horn. One mobile home was overturned trapping and injuring the woman inside. The winds also downed 12 utility poles resulting in power outages of up to 15 hours. Also around town, several roofs were either blown off or damaged, trees and fences ... | 0 | 1 | $94K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-09 | WildfireBrewster County and 2 more · forecast zone Davis / Apache Mountains Area | 0 | 0 | $6.6M | |
| 1996-08-01 | DroughtCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | |
| 2013-11-22 | Ice StormCulberson County · forecast zone Guadalupe Mountains Of Culberson County | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2001-04-10 | High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson | 62 kt wind | 1 | 3 | $833K |
| 1996-01-17 | High WindCulberson County · forecast zone Van Horn & Hwy 54 Corridor | 0 | 0 | $470K | |
| 2002-07-29 | Dust StormCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos | 0 | 2 | $148K | |
| 2025-04-19 | Dust StormCulberson County · forecast zone Van Horn And Highway 54 Corridor | 0 | 0 | $125K | |
| 1996-07-17 | Thunderstorm WindVan Horn, Culberson County | 0 | 1 | $94K |
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: June 12, 1982 (tornado, Culberson 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 Culberson 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 19 | 248 | 740 | 430 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 31 | 33 | 5 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 25 | 18 |
| Hail | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 44 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Culberson County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 247 · Feb 255 · Mar 257 · Apr 232 · May 146 · Jun 71 · Jul 26 · Aug 19 · Sep 30 · Oct 59 · Nov 140 · Dec 246 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Culberson County
FEMA's register lists 12 declarations that include Culberson County: 6 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and hurricane (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 |
| 2011-07-01 | 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 |
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 Culberson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 18 flood or flash flood records for Culberson County from 1999 to 2026, on 18 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Culberson County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $63,000 on 1 claim filed in Culberson County; the most in one year was 1 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2020: 1; 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 Culberson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Culberson County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.8 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 | $1.9M | 121 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $76K | once in about 462 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $45K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $18K | 5.2 a year (modeled) |
| Avalanche | Very Low | $145 | once in about 100 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $30K | once in about 504 years (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $114 | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $49K | about once 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 Culberson 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
- High wind and dust storms in TexasThe state's high wind and dust records, 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 Culberson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Culberson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)12 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis