Mason County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48319 · population 3,946 · 929 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 373 records for Mason County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 248 days; the most frequent are hail reports (161 records). The deadliest single record is the May 11, 1999 tornado: 1 death, 6 injuries and $1.8 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1989, 19 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding” on September 1, 2026.
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
- 373on 248 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 28 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $30Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 2026
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 Mason County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 161 since 1960. 75% of its hail reports since 1960 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 161 | 81 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 0 | $312K | 167 of 254 |
| Drought | 89 | 89 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $362K | 83 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 40 | 35 | 1976-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.0M | 219 of 254 |
| Floods | 36 | 29 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $16M | 151 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 18 | 18 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 172 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 11 | 1965-2016 | 1 | 7 | $12M | 215 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 6 | 6 | 2007-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 130 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 6 | 6 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 74 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 144 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 194 of 254 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 1 | 1 | 2007-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 109 of 254 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 1998-1998 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 141 of 254 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2013-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 156 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 Mason County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Mason County from 1965 to 2016, the strongest rated F4, with 1 death and 7 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 11 tornadoes whose track touched Mason County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-05-11 17:05, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F4 | 7 mi | 1 |
| 1979-03-02 19:40, as SPC files it | Mason | F3 | 7.1 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Mason County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-03-08 | Katemcy, Mason County | EF1 1.12 mi x 185 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-06-12 | Hedwigs Hill, Mason County | EF1 0.93 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2006-05-04 | Loyal Vly, Mason County | F1 3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2006-05-04 | Mason County | F0 4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2004-05-13 | Mason County | F0 0.4 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-04-13 | Katemcy, Mason County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $13K |
| 1999-05-11 | Loyal Vly, Mason County | F4 7 mi x 1,400 yd | 1 | 6 | $1.8M |
| 1979-03-02 | Mason County | F3 7.1 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1976-05-23 | Mason County | F1 5.4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-09-28 | Mason County | F0 0.3 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1967-09-20 | Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1965-06-06 | Mason County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Mason County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the October 17, 2018 flood ($10.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Prolonged heavy rainfall flooded roads across Mason County and this flooding resulted in damage to 257 miles of road.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 788712)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-04 | HailKoockville, Mason County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-04 | HailMason County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-04 | HailMason County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-26 | HailFredonia, Mason County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-06 | HailArt, Mason County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-06 | HailHedwigs Hill, Mason County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-06 | HailStreeter, Mason County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-24 | Winter WeatherMason County · forecast zone Mason | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-13 | Flash FloodKoockville, Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-04 | Flash FloodMason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-04 | Flash FloodGrit, Mason County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-04 | Flash FloodAir, Mason County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-05-11 | TornadoLoyal Vly, Mason County A large multiple-vortex tornado ripped through eastern Mason County during the late afternoon hours. The slow moving tornado first touched down near the Llano River 9 miles northwest of Loyal Valley and then travelled a 7-mile long path, finally dissipating 5 miles north of Loyal Valley. This tornado, whose width ... | F4 7 mi x 1,400 yd | 1 | 6 | $1.8M |
| 2000-11-03 | Flash FloodCountywide, Mason County A series of thunderstorms produced 6 to 8 inches of rain across much of the county, causing most creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. Most roadways across the county became flooded and impassable. Tragically, one man was killed during the evening of the 3rd when his truck was washed away at a low water ... | 1 | 0 | $26K | |
| 2010-05-15 | Thunderstorm WindMason County A NWS survey team reported several trees down, a trading auction's facility roof was severely damage, and an old barn was also damaged. The team found no damage to nearby structures. Law Enforcement Officials reported many power lines down across the town of Mason. | 61 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1979-03-02 | TornadoMason County | F3 7.1 mi x 150 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-10-17 | FloodGrit, Mason County | 0 | 0 | $10.0M | |
| 1997-06-22 | Flash FloodMason County | 0 | 0 | $5.5M | |
| 1999-05-11 | TornadoLoyal Vly, Mason County | F4 7 mi x 1,400 yd | 1 | 6 | $1.8M |
| 1997-03-09 | FloodMason County · forecast zone Mason | 0 | 0 | $368K | |
| 2006-05-04 | TornadoMason County | F0 4 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2009-06-12 | TornadoHedwigs Hill, Mason County | EF1 0.93 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 2006-05-04 | TornadoLoyal Vly, Mason County | F1 3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $110K |
| 1995-01-12 | HailMason County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $58K |
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: March 2, 1979 (tornado, Mason 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 Mason 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 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 40 | 59 | 37 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 2 | 17 | 37 | 33 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 9 | 14 | 6 | 7 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 4 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
75% of its hail reports since 1960 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 23 · Mar 35 · Apr 73 · May 97 · Jun 43 · Jul 16 · Aug 15 · Sep 12 · Oct 15 · Nov 13 · Dec 11 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Mason County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Mason County: 13 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for flood (6) and fire (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | DR-4935 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2026-07-18 | EM-3649 | Flood | Flooding |
| 2025-07-06 | DR-4879 | Flood | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 2019-02-25 | DR-4416 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2008-03-14 | EM-3284 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007-06-29 | DR-1709 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 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 |
| 1997-07-07 | DR-1179 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-09-10 | EM-3113 | Drought | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 1991-12-26 | DR-930 | Flood | Severe Thunderstorms |
| 1989-05-19 | DR-828 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & 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 Mason County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 36 flood or flash flood records for Mason County from 1996 to 2025, on 29 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Mason County ranks 2590th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $119,000 on 5 claims filed in Mason County; the most in one year was 2 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1997: 1 · 2000: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2018: 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 Mason County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Mason County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.3 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $578K | 79 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $115K | once in about 476 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $149K | 46 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $156K | 3 a year (modeled) |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $20K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $22K | once in about 84 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $2.0M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $56K | 6.8 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 Mason 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 Mason CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Mason County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis