Dickens County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48125 · population 1,761 · 902 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 537 records for Dickens County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 390 days; the most frequent are hail reports (200 records). The deadliest single record is the March 27, 2011 dense fog, filed for the forecast zone Dickens, which covers the county: 3 deaths and $39,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1992, 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
- 537on 390 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 52 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $8.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 44strongest F3
- 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 Dickens County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 200 since 1955. 68% 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 | 200 | 131 | 1955-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | 101 of 254 |
| Drought | 100 | 100 | 1996-2022 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 57 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 87 | 75 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 2 | $860K | 158 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 44 | 33 | 1961-2025 | 0 | 0 | $261K | 107 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 44 | 43 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $202K | 67 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 37 | 35 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 0 | $29K | 44 of 254 |
| Floods | 11 | 9 | 1996-2018 | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | 237 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 5 | 5 | 2008-2018 | 0 | 0 | $48K | 83 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2000-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2011-2011 | 5 | 0 | $39K | 108 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2026-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 216 of 254 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 185 of 254 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 95 of 254 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2003-2003 | 0 | 0 | $120K | 130 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 Dickens County had?
NOAA records 44 tornadoes in Dickens County from 1961 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 0 injuries recorded in the county. That is 107th 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 44 tornadoes whose track touched Dickens County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 44, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-06-06 16:50, as SPC files it | Lorenzo | F3 | 30 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Dickens County (44)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-25 | Afton, Dickens County | EFU 0.7 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-06-21 | Dickens County | EFU 0.35 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-06-21 | Afton, Dickens County | EFU 0.06 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-05-04 | Afton, Dickens County | EFU 3.71 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-20 | Dickens County | EFU 3.37 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-05-20 | Mc Adoo, Dickens County | EFU 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-12-26 | Afton, Dickens County | EF0 0.34 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $35K |
| 2017-03-28 | Afton, Dickens County | EFU 1.91 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-03-28 | Dickens County | EF1 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2017-03-28 | Spur Municipal Airport, Dickens County | EFU 1.02 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-16 | Afton, Dickens County | EF0 0.01 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-04-16 | Dickens County | EF0 0.75 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-05-23 | Spur, Dickens County | EF1 1.94 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-04-29 | Dickens County | EF0 1.75 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-04-16 | Spur Municipal Airport, Dickens County | EF0 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-12 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-12 | Mc Adoo, Dickens County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-06-09 | Dickens County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2001-08-14 | Dickens County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-16 | Dickens County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-09 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1997-04-10 | Afton, Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 1997-04-10 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-09-17 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1996-05-25 | Mc Adoo, Dickens County | F1 17 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1995-06-05 | Dickens County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-06-05 | McAdoo, Dickens County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-06 | Dickens County | F3 1 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-05-27 | Dickens County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-27 | Dickens County | F0 0.2 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-25 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-12-07 | Dickens County | F0 4.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1980-05-28 | Dickens County | F0 3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1980-03-27 | Dickens County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-03-27 | Dickens County | F1 12 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1979-06-08 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1978-08-15 | Dickens County | F0 0.4 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-05-18 | Dickens County | F1 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1977-05-18 | Dickens County | F1 2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1977-05-05 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1976-04-17 | Dickens County | F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-04-14 | Dickens County | F1 2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1961-06-05 | Dickens County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1961-05-03 | Dickens County | F1 38.3 mi x 33 yd | 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 Dickens County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2019 thunderstorm wind ($115,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A Texas Tech University West Texas mesonet site near Spur recorded a wind gust to 80 mph. Furthermore, a swath of thunderstorm wind damage was observed near Spur to approximately six miles north of Spur. Fire department personnel in Spur reported 20 utility poles blown over along Farm to Market Road 1868 just northwest of Spur. Also, a roof was blown off of a house near the intersection of Texas Highway 70 and County Road 466.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 823627)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMc Adoo, Dickens County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | High WindDickens County · forecast zone Dickens | 36 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-17 | High WindDickens County · forecast zone Dickens | 51 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-23 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillDickens County · forecast zone Dickens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-23 | Winter StormDickens County · forecast zone Dickens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindMc Adoo, Dickens County | 59 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-08 | HailSpur Municipal Airport, Dickens County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-08 | HailDickens County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | HailMc Adoo, Dickens County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | HailAfton, Dickens County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | TornadoAfton, Dickens County | EFU 0.7 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-25 | HailGlenn, Dickens County | 6.00 in hail | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-03-27 | Dense FogDickens County · forecast zone Dickens A vintage 1946 Stinson 108 airplane took off from a private airfield near County Road 142 and County Road 129 in Dickens County around 04:30 CST on the 27th. The plane, with a pilot and two passengers, encountered low visibility in dense fog shortly after take-off, and attempted to return to the airfield. At about ... | 3 | 0 | $39K | |
| 2011-12-11 | Dense FogDickens County · forecast zone Dickens Dense fog developed during the early morning hours over the Rolling Plains and South Plains. In Dickens county, a fatality vehicle accident occurred at the intersection of Farm to Market Road 264 and U.S. Highway 82 at 805am CST. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign and drove into the path of a ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2006-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindSpur, Dickens County A severe thunderstorm produced extreme winds and resulted in extensive damage in Spur around 19:30 CST on the 11th. Local officials and media reported that "dozens" of homes and businesses were damaged, and that one family was left homeless and treated for injuries.The Texas Spur newspaper reported that a mobile home ... | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $439K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-06-05 | Flash FloodSpur, Dickens County | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2018-06-01 | HailSpur, Dickens County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $588K |
| 2006-07-11 | Thunderstorm WindSpur, Dickens County | 83 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $439K |
| 2004-06-12 | HailSpur, Dickens County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $234K |
| 2016-04-10 | HailDickens County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $184K |
| 2019-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindSpur, Dickens County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $115K |
| 2017-03-28 | TornadoDickens County | EF1 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2011-03-27 | Dense FogDickens County · forecast zone Dickens | 3 | 0 | $39K |
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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 6, 1989 (tornado, Dickens 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 Dickens 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 | 9 | 20 | 57 | 70 | 26 | 14 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 10 | 25 | 54 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 31 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 15 | 19 | 10 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 2 | 10 | 1 | 24 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
68% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 32 · Mar 37 · Apr 84 · May 141 · Jun 98 · Jul 22 · Aug 25 · Sep 25 · Oct 14 · Nov 12 · Dec 20 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Dickens County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Dickens County: 9 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (4) and fire (4).
| 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 |
| 2015-05-29 | DR-4223 | Severe Storm | Severe 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 |
| 1993-09-10 | EM-3113 | Drought | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 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 Dickens County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dickens County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.5 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 | $2.3M | 97 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $182K | once in about 173 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $354K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $167K | 2 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $293 | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $123K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Very Low | $8K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Very Low | $109K | 1.3 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 Dickens 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 Dickens CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Dickens County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis