Martin County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48317 · population 5,229 · 915 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 359 records for Martin County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 231 days; the most frequent are hail reports (160 records). The most damaging was the August 1, 1996 drought ($44.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 15 declarations naming the county since 1992, 13 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
- 359on 231 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 02 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $49Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 37strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 15latest 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 Martin County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 160 since 1957. 64% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in May and June. 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 | 160 | 103 | 1957-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 144 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 78 | 62 | 1978-2025 | 0 | 0 | $986K | 179 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 37 | 25 | 1957-2014 | 0 | 2 | $1.7M | 151 of 254 |
| Floods | 32 | 28 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $112K | 156 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 18 | 18 | 1996-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 171 of 254 |
| Drought | 16 | 16 | 1996-2006 | 0 | 0 | $44M | 226 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 14 | 13 | 1997-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2009-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 114 of 254 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 191 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2014-2014 | 0 | 0 | – | 142 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 Martin County had?
NOAA records 37 tornadoes in Martin County from 1957 to 2014, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 2 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 37 tornadoes whose track touched Martin County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 37, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957-05-24 14:45, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 1.5 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Martin County (37)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-05-26 | Lenorah, Martin County | EF0 0.6 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-04-16 | Lenorah, Martin County | EF1 7.42 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2009-04-16 | Tarzan, Martin County | EF1 7.59 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2006-05-05 | Flower Grove, Martin County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-05-05 | Tarzan, Martin County | F2 6.1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-05-05 | Tarzan, Martin County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-09-08 | Tarzan, Martin County | F0 0.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-05-01 | Tarzan, Martin County | F0 0.1 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-05-05 | Martin County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 1994-05-25 | Lenorah, Martin County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1992-06-13 | Martin County | F0 0.4 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-11 | Martin County | F0 0.4 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1992-06-11 | Martin County | F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-06-11 | Martin County | F0 0.5 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-10-27 | Martin County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-10-27 | Martin County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-10-27 | Martin County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-07 | Martin County | F2 3.5 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1989-06-04 | Martin County | F0 3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-04 | Martin County | F1 4 mi x 140 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1989-06-04 | Martin County | F1 8.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-06-18 | Martin County | F0 4 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-06-18 | Martin County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-06-18 | Martin County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-05-19 | Martin County | F0 0.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-12 | Martin County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1981-09-04 | Martin County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1979-08-20 | Martin County | F1 | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1979-05-20 | Martin County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1977-05-05 | Martin County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-05-04 | Martin County | F1 3.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1972-06-17 | Martin County | F1 29.3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1970-05-31 | Martin County | F2 18.6 mi x 67 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1969-05-05 | Martin County | F0 0.5 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1968-06-16 | Martin County | F0 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1957-05-24 | Martin County | F2 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1957-05-24 | Martin County | F3 1.5 mi x 83 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Martin County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 20, 2026 flash flood ($15,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-23 | HailStanton, Martin County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-23 | HailStanton Rdrunner Arp, Martin County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-21 | HailStanton, Martin County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-20 | Flash FloodTarzan, Martin County | 0 | 0 | $15K | |
| 2025-11-20 | Thunderstorm WindTarzan, Martin County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-23 | Thunderstorm WindTarzan, Martin County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-09-13 | Flash FloodTarzan, Martin County | 0 | 0 | $60K | |
| 2025-09-13 | Flash FloodThree Leagues, Martin County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-09 | Strong WindMartin County · forecast zone Martin | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-09 | HailStanton, Martin County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-09 | HailStanton Rdrunner Arp, Martin County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-09 | HailLenorah, Martin County | 2.50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974-05-04 | TornadoMartin County | F1 3.8 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1957-05-24 | TornadoMartin County | F3 1.5 mi x 83 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-08-01 | DroughtMartin County · forecast zone Martin | 0 | 0 | $44M | |
| 1994-10-24 | HailStanton, Martin County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2004-07-05 | HailFlower Grove, Martin County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $703K |
| 2003-09-08 | Thunderstorm WindTarzan, Martin County | 78 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $193K |
| 1994-11-19 | Thunderstorm WindAckerly, Martin County | 0 | 0 | $100K | |
| 2025-09-13 | Flash FloodTarzan, Martin County | 0 | 0 | $60K | |
| 2009-04-16 | TornadoTarzan, Martin County | EF1 7.59 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 1995-05-05 | TornadoMartin County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
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: August 20, 1979 (tornado, Martin County); May 7, 1991 (tornado, Martin 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 Martin 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 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 46 | 54 | 21 | 23 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 16 | 12 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 6 | 13 | 7 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 4 | 9 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
64% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 4 · Feb 9 · Mar 23 · Apr 37 · May 101 · Jun 100 · Jul 12 · Aug 15 · Sep 25 · Oct 13 · Nov 11 · Dec 9 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Martin County
FEMA's register lists 15 declarations that include Martin County: 7 major disasters, 7 emergencies and one fire management assistance declaration. Most were for fire (5) and hurricane (3).
| 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 |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008-05-01 | FM-2764 | Fire | Price Fire |
| 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.
How many floods has Martin County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 32 flood or flash flood records for Martin County from 1996 to 2026, on 28 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Martin County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $390 on 1 claim filed in Martin County; the most in one year was 1 in 1980. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 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 Martin County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Martin County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.5 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 | $1.7M | 91 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Moderate | $570K | 4.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $131K | once in about 353 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $162K | 1.7 a year (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $2.5M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Very Low | $248K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $5K | once in about 117 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $44K | 5 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Martin 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 Martin CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Martin County's FEMA declarations (CSV)15 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis