Marion County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48315 · population 9,713 · 381 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 464 records for Marion County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 366 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (155 records). The deadliest single record is the March 10, 2018 thunderstorm wind: 1 death, 7 injuries and $353,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1966, 20 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Beryl” on July 9, 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
464on 366 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
112 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$18Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
23strongest EF2
FEMA declarations
22latest 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 Marion County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 155 since 1964. 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.

Marion County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 155 119 1964-2026 1 7 $886K 12 of 254
Hail 101 79 1968-2026 0 0 $102K 41 of 254
Heat 85 83 2011-2025 0 0 – 7 of 254
Drought 51 51 1996-2026 0 0 – 29 of 254
Winter storms 31 31 1997-2026 0 0 – 17 of 254
Tornadoes 23 18 1961-2026 0 5 $15M 62 of 254
Floods 9 7 1997-2024 0 0 $1.2M 203 of 254
Extreme cold 6 6 2010-2026 0 0 $68K 45 of 254
Hurricanes and tropical storms 1 1 2008-2008 0 0 $1.0M 54 of 254
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 1 1 1996-1996 0 0 – 101 of 254
Wildfires 1 1 2011-2011 0 0 $262K 147 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 Marion County had?

NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Marion County from 1961 to 2026, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 5 injuries recorded in the county. That is 62nd 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Marion County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23: 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 Marion County (23)
Every tornado recorded in Marion County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-07 Berea, Marion County EF2 3.02 mi x 233 yd 0 2 $500K
2023-03-02 Kelleyville, Marion County EF1 3.25 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $24K
2022-03-21 Orrs, Marion County EF2 2.9 mi x 350 yd 0 1 $353K
2017-01-21 Smithland, Marion County EF2 8.75 mi x 800 yd 0 1 $963K
2017-01-21 Kelleyville, Marion County EF1 0.81 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $301K
2015-05-10 Lodi, Marion County EF0 1.27 mi x 345 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-10 Stalls, Marion County EF0 0.28 mi x 172 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-07 Smithland, Marion County F0 10.9 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2003-05-07 Lassater, Marion County F1 8.3 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1998-02-09 Jefferson, Marion County F1 12.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1990-05-30 Marion County F2 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1990-05-30 Marion County F2 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1990-05-30 Marion County F2 2 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1989-06-07 Marion County F1 3 mi x 447 yd 0 0 –
1988-11-19 Marion County F1 0.2 mi x 10 yd 0 0 –
1988-04-01 Marion County F1 10 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1981-02-21 Marion County F1 0 0 –
1979-04-01 Marion County F2 7.1 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $2.5M step
1970-03-03 Marion County F2 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250 step
1968-12-27 Marion County F1 0.1 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $3K step
1966-04-25 Marion County F1 0 0 –
1964-04-25 Marion County F0 1 mi x 13 yd 0 0 $3K step
1961-04-27 Marion County F2 2 mi x 33 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 Marion County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 7, 2026 tornado (2 injuries and $500,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

Early on the morning of March 7th, a severe thunderstorm produced an EF2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 115 mph near the community of Prospect in Northern Marion County, Texas. The tornado initially touched down just west of U.S. Highway 59 where multiple snapped trunks of hardwood trees were noted. As the tornado continued east, it heavily damaged several structures. A residential home west of the highway was damaged by a fallen tree. Next to the home, a barn was completely destroyed, with only the wooden frame remaining. Debris from the barn along with the barn's contents were strewn across the front yard and into the highway median and onto the northbound side of the highway. Just to the east of U.S. Highway 59, another residential home experienced significant damage after being shifted feet away from its foundation. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1326487)
The 12 most recent records kept for Marion County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-23 Thunderstorm WindJefferson Cypress Ar, Marion County 52 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-01 DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-05-08 HailOrrs, Marion County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-03-07 TornadoBerea, Marion County EF2 3.02 mi x 233 yd 0 2 $500K
2026-03-01 DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-02-19 DroughtMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Cold/Wind ChillMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2025-08-19 HeatMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 –
2025-08-19 Excessive HeatMarion County · forecast zone Marion 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 Marion County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2018-03-10 Thunderstorm WindOrrs, Marion County A NWS Storm Survey concluded that a swath of straight line downburst winds estimated between 80-90 mph produced widespread damage across the south side of Lake of the Pines, especially within the Brushy Creek Campground. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, with several trees landing on campers, tents, and ... 78 kt wind 1 7 $353K
2026-03-07 TornadoBerea, Marion County Early on the morning of March 7th, a severe thunderstorm produced an EF2 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 115 mph near the community of Prospect in Northern Marion County, Texas. The tornado initially touched down just west of U.S. Highway 59 where multiple snapped trunks of hardwood trees were noted. As the ... EF2 3.02 mi x 233 yd 0 2 $500K
2022-03-21 TornadoOrrs, Marion County This is a continuation of the Upshur County EF-2 tornado. This tornado, which had weakened to an EF-1 with estimated maximum winds near 110 mph as it entered far Western Marion County, continued to track northeast across Jordan Drive and FM 729. The tornado damaged the roof of a home on Jordan Drive, with a metal ... EF2 2.9 mi x 350 yd 0 1 $353K
2017-01-21 TornadoSmithland, Marion County An EF-2 tornado with maximum winds estimated near 130 mph touched down near Highway 49 just west of the Smithland community, snapping and uprooting numerous trees and downing power lines as it tracked northeast across Highway 43 just north of its intersection of Highway 49. As it crossed Highway 43, the tornado moved ... EF2 8.75 mi x 800 yd 0 1 $963K
1979-04-01 TornadoMarion County F2 7.1 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $2.5M 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 Marion County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-09-13 Tropical StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 $1.0M
2017-01-21 TornadoSmithland, Marion County EF2 8.75 mi x 800 yd 0 1 $963K
2001-02-17 FloodMarion County · forecast zone Marion 0 0 $500K
2026-03-07 TornadoBerea, Marion County EF2 3.02 mi x 233 yd 0 2 $500K
2022-03-21 TornadoOrrs, Marion County EF2 2.9 mi x 350 yd 0 1 $353K
2018-03-10 Thunderstorm WindOrrs, Marion County 78 kt wind 1 7 $353K
2009-09-14 Flash FloodNorth Jefferson, Marion County 0 0 $344K
2017-01-21 TornadoKelleyville, Marion County EF1 0.81 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $301K

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 $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 1, 1979 (tornado, Marion 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 Marion 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).

Marion County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0131363203718
Hail013314210104
Heat––––002560
Drought––––323115
Winter storms––––26149
Tornadoes04244243

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 Marion County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 33 · Feb 34 · Mar 32 · Apr 59 · May 66 · Jun 52 · Jul 57 · Aug 47 · Sep 24 · Oct 19 · Nov 16 · Dec 25 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Marion County

FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Marion County: 14 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for hurricane (6) and fire (6).

Declarations including Marion County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-07-09DR-4798HurricaneHurricane Beryl
2021-02-19DR-4586Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2021-02-14EM-3554Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2020-08-24EM-3540HurricaneTropical Storms Marco and Laura
2020-03-25DR-4485BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3458BiologicalCovid-19
2016-03-19DR-4266FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2011-09-09DR-4029FireWildfires
2011-09-06FM-2965FireBear Creek Fire
2011-07-01DR-1999FireWildfires
2008-09-13DR-1791HurricaneHurricane Ike
2006-01-11DR-1624FireExtreme Wildfire Threat
2005-09-24DR-1606HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-21EM-3261HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-02EM-3216HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2001-01-08DR-1356Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Ice Storm
1999-09-01EM-3142FireExtreme Fire Hazards
1998-08-26DR-1239Severe StormTropical Storm Charley
1996-02-23EM-3117FireExtreme Fire Hazard
1989-05-19DR-828Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1989-04-23DR-823FloodSevere Storms & 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 Marion County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 9 flood or flash flood records for Marion County from 1997 to 2024, on 7 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marion County ranks 1694th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Marion County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Ike2008-09-1310

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $690,000 on 46 claims filed in Marion County; the most in one year was 10 in 2001. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1990: 3 · 1991: 3 · 1997: 3 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 10 · 2004: 1 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 4 · 2016: 9 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2021: 1 · 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 Marion County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.6 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 Marion County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively High$498K1.1 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively High$1.0M6.3 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$356K27 modeled event-days a year
HailRelatively Low$308K5.7 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$378K20 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Low$836Konce in about 3 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Low$230Kabout once a year (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Low$14K3.2 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 Marion County

  1. Caddo Parish, LA 2,132
  2. Harrison County 1,103
  3. Cass County 840
  4. Upshur County 612
  5. Marion County 464
  6. Morris County 412

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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