Limestone County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48293 · population 22,127 · 905 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 585 records for Limestone County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 388 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (150 records). The deadliest single record is the December 29, 2006 tornado: 1 death, 20 injuries and $1.5 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1973, 18 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
585on 388 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
339 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$76Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
31strongest F4
FEMA declarations
21latest 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 Limestone County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 150 since 1955. 50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events 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.

Limestone County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 150 100 1955-2025 0 4 $2.1M 109 of 254
Hail 133 92 1958-2026 0 0 $192K 152 of 254
Floods 101 65 1997-2026 0 0 $2.5M 57 of 254
Drought 77 77 1996-2026 0 0 $3.2M 113 of 254
Heat 49 47 1998-2026 0 0 – 68 of 254
Tornadoes 31 21 1950-2024 1 30 $68M 173 of 254
Winter storms 24 24 1996-2026 0 4 $76K 147 of 254
Heavy rain 8 8 1997-2011 1 1 $34K 25 of 254
Extreme cold 7 7 2019-2026 1 0 $162K 99 of 254
Wildfires 3 2 2011-2022 0 0 $43K 162 of 254
High wind and dust storms 1 1 2025-2025 0 0 $30K 191 of 254
Hurricanes and tropical storms 1 1 2008-2008 0 0 $41K 99 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 Limestone County had?

NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Limestone County from 1950 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 30 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 31 tornadoes whose track touched Limestone County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 7 people, 1 of them in Limestone County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Limestone County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1973-03-10 06:02, as SPC files itMart to HubbardF423.3 mi6
2006-12-29 13:42, as SPC files itGroesbeckF220.4 mi1
1990-04-27 15:40, as SPC files itMexiaF34 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.

Every tornado record filed for Limestone County (31)
Every tornado recorded in Limestone County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-05-23 Harmony, Limestone County EF0 3.41 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2024-05-23 Kosse, Limestone County EF0 2.79 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2024-04-28 La Salle, Limestone County EF0 0.18 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2023-04-02 Old Union, Limestone County EF0 0.7 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
2023-04-02 Davis Prairie, Limestone County EFU 1.2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
2023-04-02 Kosse, Limestone County EF0 0.38 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
2022-03-21 Groesbeck, Limestone County EF0 11.8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $202K
2020-04-12 Mexia Municipal Airport, Limestone County EF0 0.22 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $6K
2017-01-16 Tehuacana, Limestone County EF0 3.13 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $361K
2011-04-26 Thornton, Limestone County EF0 0.74 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2011-04-26 Lost Prairie, Limestone County EF0 0.68 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2011-04-26 Groesbeck, Limestone County EF1 0.92 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $197K
2011-04-25 Coolidge, Limestone County EF0 1.32 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2006-12-29 Mexia, Limestone County F0 3.58 mi x 35 yd 0 0 $15K
2006-12-29 Kosse, Limestone County F2 20.4 mi x 400 yd 1 20 $1.5M
2002-03-30 Personville, Limestone County F0 2.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $5K
2002-03-30 Thornton, Limestone County F2 7 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $410K
1996-04-28 Groesbeck, Limestone County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1996-04-12 Thornton, Limestone County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1990-04-27 Limestone County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1990-04-27 Limestone County F2 16 mi x 880 yd 0 8 $25M step
1990-04-27 Limestone County F3 4 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1990-04-27 Limestone County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1986-04-19 Limestone County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 2 $250K step
1985-05-13 Limestone County F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1976-05-25 Limestone County F2 0.1 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1973-06-03 Limestone County F2 6.8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1973-03-10 Limestone County F4 9.5 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
1963-08-13 Limestone County F0 0.5 mi x 13 yd 0 0 –
1962-06-09 Limestone County F0 0 0 –
1950-02-12 Limestone County F2 3.4 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K 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 Limestone County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 28, 2026 hail ($7,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Limestone County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-20 Flash FloodGroesbeck, Limestone County 0 0 –
2026-06-20 Flash FloodLa Salle, Limestone County 0 0 –
2026-06-18 HeatLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone 0 0 –
2026-04-29 HailPrairie Grove, Limestone County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailShiloh, Limestone County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $7K
2026-04-28 HailShiloh, Limestone County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailGroesbeck, Limestone County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $12K
2026-04-28 HailGroesbeck, Limestone County 1.50 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailDoyle, Limestone County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-28 HailGroesbeck, Limestone County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone 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 Limestone County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2006-12-29 TornadoKosse, Limestone County A damage survey was conducted by a team from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Fort Worth, and they found that a tornado formed near Kosse. The first sign of damage found by the survey team was uprooted trees along CR 662. The tornado took a north-northeast track and several areas of large uprooted trees ... F2 20.4 mi x 400 yd 1 20 $1.5M
2011-04-26 Heavy RainThornton, Limestone County A vehicle driving south on Highway 14 near Thornton hydroplanned and crashed resulting in one fatality and one injury. 1 1 $33K
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone Extreme cold gripped the county for several days. Overnight lows were near or below 20 degrees Fahrenheit almost all week. The period of February 15-16th was the coldest with low temperatures between 5 and -4 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature on the 15th was only in the teens. Wind chill values during the ... 1 0 $162K
1990-04-27 TornadoLimestone County F2 16 mi x 880 yd 0 8 $25M step
2011-02-03 Winter WeatherLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone Approximately 2 of snow fell across the county. Two vehicle accidents involving injuries were reported. The first occurred the night of the 3rd on SH 171. A car slid into oncoming traffic while trying to avoid another car and crashed into the back of an 18-wheeler. The driver and passenger of the car were transported ... 0 4 $39K
2008-12-27 Thunderstorm WindMexia, Limestone County A fireworks stand was blown over with two people inside. 50 kt wind 0 2 $3K
1994-05-26 Thunderstorm WindMexia, Limestone County Thunderstorm winds estimated at 80 mph damaged the roofs on at least ten buildings, overturned a mobile home, and downed power lines. Two injuries were reported in a restaurant. 0 2 $100K
1986-04-19 TornadoLimestone County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 2 $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.

The costliest records in Limestone County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2006-12-29 TornadoKosse, Limestone County F2 20.4 mi x 400 yd 1 20 $1.5M
2009-04-28 Flash FloodKosse, Limestone County 0 0 $1.4M
2002-03-30 TornadoThornton, Limestone County F2 7 mi x 440 yd 0 0 $410K
2017-01-16 TornadoTehuacana, Limestone County EF0 3.13 mi x 250 yd 0 0 $361K
1996-11-07 Thunderstorm WindThornton, Limestone County 0 0 $320K
2022-03-21 TornadoGroesbeck, Limestone County EF0 11.8 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $202K
2011-04-26 TornadoGroesbeck, Limestone County EF1 0.92 mi x 75 yd 0 0 $197K
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillLimestone County · forecast zone Limestone 1 0 $162K

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 27, 1990 (tornado, Limestone 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 Limestone 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).

Limestone County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind4411032342540
Hail1041530203231
Floods––––14283722
Drought––––2223518
Heat––––23737 z
Tornadoes12326458

Heat in the 2020-26: 37 records against 7 in the decade before, 37 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 Limestone 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?

50% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 30 · Feb 35 · Mar 50 · Apr 126 · May 105 · Jun 63 · Jul 41 · Aug 41 · Sep 23 · Oct 30 · Nov 15 · Dec 26 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Limestone County

FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Limestone County: 13 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (4) and severe storm (4).

Declarations including Limestone 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
2011-09-09DR-4029FireWildfires
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
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
1973-03-12DR-365Severe StormHigh Winds, Tornadoes and 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 Limestone County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 101 flood or flash flood records for Limestone County from 1997 to 2026, on 65 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Limestone County ranks 759th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.8 million on 291 claims filed in Limestone County; the most in one year was 35 in 1991. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 2 · 1981: 2 · 1983: 1 · 1985: 4 · 1986: 28 · 1989: 32 · 1990: 3 · 1991: 35 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1997: 5 · 1998: 2 · 2001: 23 · 2003: 2 · 2004: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 4 · 2009: 33 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 23 · 2015: 32 · 2016: 31 · 2017: 10 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 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 Limestone County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Limestone County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $13.1 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 Limestone County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively High$5.0Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$764K40 modeled event-days a year
LightningRelatively Moderate$248K54 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$88Kabout once a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$140Konce in about 651 years (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Low$489Konce in about 24 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$289K3.8 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$1.3Monce in about 2 years (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Limestone County

  1. McLennan County 1,302
  2. Hill County 787
  3. Navarro County 734
  4. Limestone County 585
  5. Leon County 458
  6. Falls County 429
  7. Freestone County 391
  8. Robertson County 374

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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