Henderson County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48213 · population 81,982 · 874 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 685 records for Henderson County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 461 days; the most frequent are hail reports (209 records). The deadliest single record is the February 15, 2021 extreme cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Henderson, which covers the county: 2 deaths and $1.3 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 25 declarations naming the county since 1966, 22 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on May 17, 2024.

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
685on 461 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
438 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$41Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
38strongest F3
FEMA declarations
25latest 2024

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 Henderson County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 209 since 1955. 53% 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.

Henderson County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 209 121 1955-2026 0 0 $656K 108 of 254
Severe thunderstorm wind 209 151 1957-2025 0 10 $16M 53 of 254
Drought 62 62 1996-2026 0 0 $3.1M 148 of 254
Floods 60 42 1997-2026 1 0 $1.9M 103 of 254
Heat 54 52 1998-2026 0 0 – 54 of 254
Tornadoes 38 33 1952-2024 0 26 $16M 103 of 254
Winter storms 25 25 1996-2026 0 0 $293K 138 of 254
Wildfires 8 8 2011-2014 0 0 $639K 45 of 254
Extreme cold 7 7 2019-2026 2 0 $1.3M 94 of 254
Heavy rain 6 6 1997-2013 1 0 – 45 of 254
High wind and dust storms 3 3 2007-2012 0 0 $29K 135 of 254
Lightning 3 3 2007-2011 0 2 $14K 73 of 254
Hurricanes and tropical storms 1 1 2008-2008 0 0 $137K 84 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 Henderson County had?

NOAA records 38 tornadoes in Henderson County from 1952 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 26 injuries recorded in the county. That is 103rd 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 38 tornadoes whose track touched Henderson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 38, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Henderson County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Henderson County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2017-04-29 16:29, as SPC files itEustaceEF421.42 mi2
1981-05-09 14:10, as SPC files itUnnamedF315 mi0
1979-02-23 09:35, as SPC files itCoffeeF310.3 mi0
1959-11-04 01:00, as SPC files itBrownsboroF325.1 mi0
1954-05-02 15:00, as SPC files itUnnamedF30.1 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.

Every tornado record filed for Henderson County (38)
Every tornado recorded in Henderson County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-06-03 Eustace, Henderson County EFU 0.46 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2024-05-23 Fincastle, Henderson County EF1 2.69 mi x 480 yd 0 6 $282K
2022-11-04 Malakoff, Henderson County EF2 15.05 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $3.0M
2020-05-16 Malakoff, Henderson County EF0 1.03 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $57K
2017-04-29 Stockard, Henderson County EF2 8.15 mi x 100 yd 0 5 $409K
2017-04-29 Payne Springs, Henderson County EF2 7.82 mi x 800 yd 0 5 $710K
2016-03-08 Trinidad, Henderson County EF0 5.3 mi x 80 yd 0 0 $246K
2015-12-26 Eustace, Henderson County EF0 0.9 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $12K
2010-01-20 Paynor, Henderson County EF1 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $102K
2010-01-20 Larue, Henderson County EF2 0.9 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $41K
2006-12-29 Poynor, Henderson County F1 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2.9M
2000-03-28 Trinidad, Henderson County F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1999-05-04 Tool, Henderson County F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1996-04-28 Athens, Henderson County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1994-11-04 Athens, Henderson County F1 2 mi x 30 yd 0 1 $100K
1994-05-27 Moore Station, Henderson County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1994-05-27 Frankston, Henderson County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1989-05-17 Henderson County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1981-10-13 Henderson County F1 6.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1981-06-10 Henderson County F1 0 0 $25K step
1981-05-13 Henderson County F1 0 0 –
1981-05-09 Henderson County F3 5.1 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250K step
1981-05-09 Henderson County F1 0 0 –
1979-04-11 Henderson County F2 10 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-02-23 Henderson County F3 3 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1978-05-11 Henderson County 0 0 $25K step
1977-09-26 Henderson County F0 0 0 $25K step
1977-03-03 Henderson County F1 0 0 $25K step
1972-10-22 Henderson County F2 1.3 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $250K step
1972-10-22 Henderson County F2 1.3 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $250 step
1971-04-28 Henderson County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K step
1968-12-27 Henderson County F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $3K step
1966-04-23 Henderson County F2 0 0 $250K step
1959-11-04 Henderson County F3 25.1 mi x 67 yd 0 3 $250K step
1957-04-19 Henderson County 0 0 $3K step
1954-05-02 Henderson County F3 0 4 –
1952-05-23 Henderson County F0 0.5 mi x 33 yd 0 1 $3K step
1952-04-18 Henderson County F1 0.8 mi x 200 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 Henderson County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 flash flood ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Henderson County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-18 HeatHenderson County · forecast zone Henderson 0 0 –
2026-06-14 Flash FloodPickins, Henderson County 0 0 $100K
2026-06-14 Flash FloodAthens, Henderson County 0 0 –
2026-06-01 DroughtHenderson County · forecast zone Henderson 0 0 –
2026-05-24 HailLoper, Henderson County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtHenderson County · forecast zone Henderson 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailLarue, Henderson County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $5K
2026-04-29 HailNew York, Henderson County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailBaxter, Henderson County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailCrescent Hgts, Henderson County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $7K
2026-04-29 HailAthens, Henderson County 2.50 in hail 0 0 $50K
2026-04-29 HailAley, Henderson County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $7K

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

Records with deaths or injuries in Henderson County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillHenderson County · forecast zone Henderson Extreme cold gripped the county for several days. Overnight lows were near or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit almost all week. The period of February 15-16th was the coldest with low temperatures between 10 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature on the 15th was only in the teens. Wind chill values during the ... 2 0 $1.3M
2015-05-11 FloodCross Rds, Henderson County Numerous roads remained flooded after 3-6+ inches of rain fall in the county. Many creeks and streams were also overflowing and flooding surrounding areas. A motorcyclist drowned after driving into a low water crossing on FM 59 between Athens and Cross Roads. FM 317 was washed out approximately three miles east of SH ... 1 0 –
2013-06-06 Heavy RainLoper, Henderson County Heavy rainfall contributed to a collission of a tractor trailer rig and a pickup truck on Loop 7 in Athens. A passenger in the pickup was killed in the accident. 1 0 –
2024-05-23 TornadoFincastle, Henderson County An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 105 mph touched down near an inlet area of Lake Palestine west of Boles Road just southwest of Coffee City. This tornado largely stayed over the water as a waterspout, and it briefly came ashore across the Lake Palestine Resort just west of Highway 155. Numerous trees ... EF1 2.69 mi x 480 yd 0 6 $282K
2017-04-29 TornadoPayne Springs, Henderson County A National Weather Service damage survey crew found the start of tornado number three began in Henderson County, approximately 3 miles due south of Eustace. This tornado eventually moved into Van Zandt County, where the storm produced EF4 damage. In Henderson County, several homes suffered EF2 damage, along with a ... EF2 7.82 mi x 800 yd 0 5 $710K
2017-04-29 TornadoStockard, Henderson County This tornado developed northeast of Log Cabin with the first visible damage associated to snapped trees. As the tornado moved north/northeast, a tall communications tower was snapped in half. Eventually, the tornado crossed paths with several homes which led to complete destruction and many debarked trees. The damage ... EF2 8.15 mi x 100 yd 0 5 $409K
1997-03-02 Thunderstorm WindEustace, Henderson County Four mobile homes were rolled with several injuries occurring to the occupants. 0 5 $368K
1954-05-02 TornadoHenderson County F3 0 4 –
The costliest records in Henderson County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1997-03-02 Thunderstorm WindTool, Henderson County 0 0 $5.5M
1997-03-02 Thunderstorm WindPayne Springs, Henderson County 0 0 $3.1M
2022-11-04 TornadoMalakoff, Henderson County EF2 15.05 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $3.0M
1997-03-02 Thunderstorm WindPayne Springs, Henderson County 0 0 $1.1M
2007-07-06 Flash FloodMalakoff, Henderson County 0 0 $1.1M
1993-02-25 Thunderstorm WindGun Barrel City, Henderson County 0 0 $1.0M
1997-03-02 Thunderstorm WindTool, Henderson County 0 0 $735K
2017-04-29 TornadoPayne Springs, Henderson County EF2 7.82 mi x 800 yd 0 5 $710K

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: November 4, 1959 (tornado, Henderson County); October 22, 1972 (tornado, Henderson County); April 23, 1966 (tornado, Henderson 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 Henderson 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).

Henderson County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail2041959304154
Severe thunderstorm wind12142170533216
Drought––––2142620
Floods––––1624137
Heat––––23742 z
Tornadoes52865264

Heat in the 2020-26: 42 records against 7 in the decade before, 42 of them forecast-zone records. Cells marked z rose mostly through zone records. The local National Weather Service office files these once per forecast zone, so a change in how it draws its zones or splits a storm into records moves this count as much as the weather does; read it beside the Henderson County days with a record above.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

53% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 42 · Feb 49 · Mar 64 · Apr 127 · May 116 · Jun 71 · Jul 46 · Aug 43 · Sep 29 · Oct 47 · Nov 19 · Dec 32 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Henderson County

FEMA's register lists 25 declarations that include Henderson County: 16 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (6) and flood (4).

Declarations including Henderson County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-05-17DR-4781FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2023-04-21DR-4705Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2021-02-19DR-4586Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2021-02-14EM-3554Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2020-03-25DR-4485BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3458BiologicalCovid-19
2016-03-19DR-4266FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2016-02-09DR-4255Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2015-05-29DR-4223Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding
2011-09-09DR-4029FireWildfires
2008-09-10EM-3294HurricaneHurricane Ike
2008-03-14EM-3284FireWildfires
2007-06-29DR-1709Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2006-01-11DR-1624FireExtreme Wildfire Threat
2005-09-24DR-1606HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-21EM-3261HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-02EM-3216HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2003-02-01EM-3171OtherLoss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
1999-09-01EM-3142FireExtreme Fire Hazards
1998-08-26DR-1239Severe StormTropical Storm Charley
1993-09-10EM-3113DroughtExtreme Fire Hazard
1991-12-26DR-930FloodSevere Thunderstorms
1990-05-02DR-863Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1989-05-19DR-828Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1966-05-12DR-218FloodSevere Storms & 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.

How many floods has Henderson County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 60 flood or flash flood records for Henderson County from 1997 to 2026, on 42 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Henderson County ranks 1360th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.4 million on 90 claims filed in Henderson County; the most in one year was 20 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1980: 2 · 1991: 3 · 1995: 1 · 1998: 1 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 6 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 4 · 2012: 7 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 1 · 2015: 20 · 2016: 7 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2026: 6; 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 Henderson County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Henderson County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $37.4 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Henderson County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively High$14Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively High$7.0Mabout once a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively High$1.4M3.6 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively High$607K57 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively High$347K1.1 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$1.7M16 modeled event-days a year
HailRelatively Moderate$839K4.5 a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$84K3.2 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 Henderson County

  1. Smith County 1,252
  2. Ellis County 1,112
  3. Kaufman County 786
  4. Cherokee County 752
  5. Anderson County 737
  6. Navarro County 734
  7. Henderson County 685
  8. Van Zandt County 644
  9. Freestone County 391

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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