Irion County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48235 · population 1,511 · 1,052 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 308 records for Irion County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 237 days; the most frequent are hail reports (109 records). The deadliest single record is the January 13, 2015 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Irion, which covers the county: 2 deaths and 1 injury. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1993, 11 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
308on 237 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
27 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$29Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
15strongest F2
FEMA declarations
13latest 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 Irion County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 109 since 1958. 72% of its hail reports since 1958 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.

Irion County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 109 72 1958-2026 0 3 $3.0M 191 of 254
Drought 57 57 1998-2025 0 0 $5.8M 184 of 254
Severe thunderstorm wind 50 42 1964-2025 0 0 $19M 216 of 254
Winter storms 34 34 1996-2026 2 1 $6K 119 of 254
Floods 25 22 1996-2026 0 1 $1.2M 193 of 254
Tornadoes 15 12 1964-2026 0 1 $2K 218 of 254
Wildfires 7 7 2006-2011 0 1 – 71 of 254
Extreme cold 6 6 2007-2026 0 0 $32K 138 of 254
High wind and dust storms 4 4 2002-2013 0 0 $6K 128 of 254
Hurricanes and tropical storms 1 1 2007-2007 0 0 – 116 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 Irion County had?

NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Irion County from 1964 to 2026, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 1 injury 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 14 tornadoes whose track touched Irion County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.

Every tornado record filed for Irion County (15)
Every tornado recorded in Irion County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-19 Barnhart, Irion County EFU 0.31 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2008-04-09 Sherwood, Irion County EF0 3.67 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2007-05-06 Mertzon, Irion County EF0 0.41 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2000-04-11 Barnhart, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1998-05-25 Mertzon, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1998-05-25 Mertzon, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1997-06-16 Mertzon, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 15 yd 0 0 –
1996-05-29 Mertzon, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1996-05-29 Mertzon, Irion County F1 0.1 mi x 70 yd 0 0 –
1996-05-10 Barnhart, Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1982-05-12 Irion County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $30 step
1981-05-15 Irion County F1 1 mi x 40 yd 0 0 –
1971-06-21 Irion County F2 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1971-06-21 Irion County F2 0.1 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
1964-07-27 Irion County F2 1 mi x 20 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.

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 Irion County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 9, 2025 hail (3 injuries).

An NWS employee measured hail stones of 3.25 inches in diameter. In addition, public reported hail larger than 3.25 inches with at least 25 pickup trucks and larger trucks that had windows broken and significant denting. One truck was dented badly enough to stop the engine. 3 people sustained injuries.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1271913)
The 12 most recent records kept for Irion County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-05-19 TornadoBarnhart, Irion County EFU 0.31 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2026-05-19 HailMertzon, Irion County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-19 HailMertzon, Irion County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-19 HailBarnhart, Irion County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-19 Flash FloodBarnhart, Irion County 0 0 –
2026-01-26 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillIrion County · forecast zone Irion 0 0 –
2026-01-23 Winter WeatherIrion County · forecast zone Irion 0 0 –
2025-08-04 Thunderstorm WindSherwood, Irion County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-08-04 HailSherwood, Irion County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2025-06-09 HailMertzon, Irion County 3.25 in hail 0 3 –
2025-05-26 HailMertzon, Irion County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-04-19 Thunderstorm WindBarnhart, Irion County 61 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Irion County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2015-01-13 Winter WeatherIrion County · forecast zone Irion Two people were killed early in the morning after a two vehicle accident 2 miles west of Barnhart. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, a motorist driving east on US Highway 67 hit an icy spot and lost control. His vehicle entered into a counterclockwise spin before being broadsided by another truck. ... 2 1 –
2025-06-09 HailMertzon, Irion County An NWS employee measured hail stones of 3.25 inches in diameter. In addition, public reported hail larger than 3.25 inches with at least 25 pickup trucks and larger trucks that had windows broken and significant denting. One truck was dented badly enough to stop the engine. 3 people sustained injuries. 3.25 in hail 0 3 –
2006-01-01 WildfireIrion County · forecast zone Irion The Rocker B fire started soon after the Cole fire. This fire started just to the west of the Irion County line and moved quickly to the east with 50 mph wind gusts. One firefighter was injured while fighting this blaze. This fire also consumed about 40 thousand acres of land. 0 1 –
1999-05-24 Flash FloodMertzon, Irion County Four cars attempting to cross a flooded low water crossing in northern Irion County were swept away by the swiftly flowing floodwaters. Heavy rains had swelled the Mid-Concho River, flooding the low water crossing along Farm-to-Market Road 853. All of the occupants were accounted for, although one person was treated ... 0 1 $27K
1964-07-27 TornadoIrion County F2 1 mi x 20 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.

The costliest records in Irion County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-05-29 Thunderstorm WindMertzon, Irion County 0 0 $19M
1998-08-01 DroughtIrion County · forecast zone Irion 0 0 $5.8M
2006-05-04 HailMertzon, Irion County 4.25 in hail 0 0 $2.9M
1996-08-29 Flash FloodMertzon, Irion County 0 0 $941K
1999-05-24 Flash FloodMertzon, Irion County 0 1 $27K

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 $250, in the dollars of the day) holds: July 27, 1964 (tornado, Irion 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 Irion 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).

Irion County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail114623302321
Drought––––2102916
Severe thunderstorm wind0124681613
Winter storms––––111148
Floods––––9745
Tornadoes01226301

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 1958 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 20 · Feb 18 · Mar 17 · Apr 38 · May 97 · Jun 42 · Jul 8 · Aug 26 · Sep 10 · Oct 10 · Nov 9 · Dec 13 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Irion County

FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Irion County: 6 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and hurricane (3).

Declarations including Irion County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
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
2011-07-01DR-1999FireWildfires
2008-03-14EM-3284FireWildfires
2006-01-11DR-1624FireExtreme Wildfire Threat
2005-09-24DR-1606HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-21EM-3261HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-02EM-3216HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
1999-09-01EM-3142FireExtreme Fire Hazards
1998-08-26DR-1239Severe StormTropical Storm Charley
1993-09-10EM-3113DroughtExtreme Fire Hazard

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 Irion County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 25 flood or flash flood records for Irion County from 1996 to 2026, on 22 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Irion County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $13,000 on 2 claims filed in Irion County; the most in one year was 2 in 2021. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2021: 2; 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 Irion County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Irion County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $1.3 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 Irion County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
WildfireRelatively Low$440Konce in about 65 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$206K50 modeled event-days a year
HailVery Low$103K3.2 a year (modeled)
Strong WindVery Low$98K1.2 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveVery Low$24K8.6 modeled event-days a year
Winter WeatherVery Low$6K4.3 a year (modeled)
TornadoVery Low$59Konce in about 3 years (modeled)
HurricaneVery Low$1Konce in about 174 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Irion County

  1. Tom Green County 1,451
  2. Crockett County 338
  3. Irion County 308
  4. Reagan County 268
  5. Schleicher County 259

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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