Reeves County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48389 · population 14,701 · 2,635 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 498 records for Reeves County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 331 days; the most frequent are hail reports (206 records). The deadliest single record is the May 22, 1987 tornado: 30 deaths and 121 injuries. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1998, 11 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding” on July 6, 2025.

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
498on 331 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
31148 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$27Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
48strongest F4
FEMA declarations
13latest 2025

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 Reeves County most?

The most frequent records are hail reports: 206 since 1957. 53% 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.

Reeves County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Hail 206 139 1957-2025 0 0 $219K 219 of 254
Severe thunderstorm wind 96 84 1958-2026 0 3 $1.6M 228 of 254
Floods 56 42 1996-2026 0 0 $6.9M 215 of 254
High wind and dust storms 51 42 1996-2026 1 5 $1.1M 64 of 254
Tornadoes 48 36 1954-2023 30 140 $12M 210 of 254
Winter storms 20 17 1998-2026 0 0 $78K 231 of 254
Drought 16 16 1996-2006 0 0 $5.1M 249 of 254
Heavy rain 2 2 2004-2013 0 0 $47K 159 of 254
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 2012-2019 0 0 – 170 of 254
Heat 1 1 2021-2021 0 0 – 206 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 Reeves County had?

NOAA records 48 tornadoes in Reeves County from 1954 to 2023, the strongest rated F4, with 30 deaths and 140 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 48 tornadoes whose track touched Reeves County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 48, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 30 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Reeves County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1987-05-22 19:16, as SPC files itBalmorheaF43 mi30

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.

Every tornado record filed for Reeves County (48)
Every tornado recorded in Reeves County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2023-05-09 Saragosa, Reeves County EFU 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2020-03-13 Balmorhea, Reeves County EFU 4.48 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-18 Toyah Lake, Reeves County EF0 3.57 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2015-05-18 Toyah Lake, Reeves County EF0 1.39 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2010-05-23 Verhalen, Reeves County EF2 3.96 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $32K
2004-10-05 Pecos, Reeves County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-06-05 Pecos, Reeves County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
2004-06-05 Pecos, Reeves County F0 0.7 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2004-04-03 Pecos, Reeves County F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-04-03 Balmorhea, Reeves County F0 1 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2004-04-03 Verhalen, Reeves County F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2002-09-13 Balmorhea, Reeves County F0 2 mi x 75 yd 0 0 –
1999-04-30 Orla, Reeves County F2 1 mi x 170 yd 0 0 –
1998-10-30 Pecos, Reeves County F0 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
1998-10-27 Orla, Reeves County F1 1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
1995-05-26 Reeves County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1994-05-10 Toyah, Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1992-06-08 Reeves County F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1992-05-22 Reeves County F0 0.3 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1992-05-22 Reeves County F2 5 mi x 400 yd 0 0 –
1992-05-22 Reeves County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1991-06-10 Reeves County F0 0.6 mi x 40 yd 0 0 –
1991-06-06 Reeves County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
1991-05-23 Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1991-05-22 Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1987-05-22 Reeves County F4 3 mi x 1,000 yd 30 121 $2.5M step
1987-05-22 Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 60 yd 0 0 –
1978-05-26 Reeves County 0 0 –
1978-05-26 Reeves County 0 0 $250K step
1978-04-07 Reeves County F0 4.7 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $30 step
1977-04-14 Reeves County F0 0 0 –
1976-06-13 Reeves County F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 1 –
1976-04-22 Reeves County F0 0 0 –
1974-04-26 Reeves County F2 0.5 mi x 110 yd 0 12 $250K step
1972-05-20 Reeves County F1 2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $25K step
1972-05-20 Reeves County F1 2 mi x 20 yd 0 1 $25K step
1964-07-07 Reeves County 0 0 $3K step
1963-10-23 Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1962-06-14 Reeves County F1 1.5 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1962-05-17 Reeves County F2 2 mi x 67 yd 0 3 $250K step
1962-05-17 Reeves County F0 0.5 mi x 17 yd 0 0 –
1961-05-18 Reeves County F0 0 0 –
1961-05-18 Reeves County F0 0 0 –
1961-05-16 Reeves County F0 1 mi x 280 yd 0 0 –
1959-05-07 Reeves County F1 8 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1959-05-07 Reeves County F0 1 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1955-05-05 Reeves County F2 0 1 –
1954-06-13 Reeves County F2 25 mi x 133 yd 0 1 –

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 Reeves County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($55,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Reeves County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-25 Thunderstorm WindSaragosa, Reeves County 56 kt wind 0 0 $55K
2026-06-25 Thunderstorm WindSaragosa, Reeves County 56 kt wind 0 0 $48K
2026-06-25 Thunderstorm WindRiverton, Reeves County 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-19 Flash FloodHoban, Reeves County 0 0 $8K
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindPecos, Reeves County 61 kt wind 0 0 $23K
2026-06-11 Flash FloodPecos, Reeves County 0 0 $50K
2026-06-11 Thunderstorm WindPecos, Reeves County 61 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-06-10 Thunderstorm WindHermosa, Reeves County 56 kt wind 0 0 $24K
2026-05-21 Thunderstorm WindSan Martine, Reeves County 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-15 High WindBrewster County and 3 more · forecast zone Davis Mountains Foothills 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-10 High WindBrewster County and 3 more · forecast zone Davis Mountains Foothills 57 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-02-17 High WindReeves County · forecast zone Reeves County Plains 51 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 Reeves County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1987-05-22 TornadoReeves County F4 3 mi x 1,000 yd 30 121 $2.5M step
2001-04-10 High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson Strong gradient winds behind a cold front produced blowing dust, and visibilities near zero. This caused numerous accidents on area interstates and state highways during the evening hours of 4/10/01. One fatality and three injuries were reported. A nine vehicle accident occurred at approximately 5:00 pm CST on 4/10/01 ... 62 kt wind 1 3 $833K
1974-04-26 TornadoReeves County F2 0.5 mi x 110 yd 0 12 $250K step
1962-05-17 TornadoReeves County F2 2 mi x 67 yd 0 3 $250K step
2002-07-29 Dust StormCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos An eleven vehicle wreck occurred in zero visibilities, due to blowing dust, along Interstate 10 at mile marker 225...or 17 miles east of Balmorhea. Two minor injuries were reported. Interstate 10 was closed for two hours and traffic in the west bound lane was backed up for a number of miles into western Pecos County. 0 2 $148K
2020-03-13 Thunderstorm WindArno, Reeves County A thunderstorm developed over eastern Culberson County and moved east northeast into northern Reeves County. This storm strengthened as it moved into Reeves County and produced significant damage to the Highway 285 RV Park about 15 miles southeast of Orla. It was determined by a National Weather Service survey team ... 113 kt wind 0 1 $570K
2010-06-07 Thunderstorm WindPecos, Reeves County The Reeves County Emergency Manager reported that an old trailer was blown over at approximately 7 PM CST in the city of Pecos, TX. A girl was injured when the trailer fell on top of her. 56 kt wind 0 1 –
1998-05-28 Thunderstorm WindPecos, Reeves County A dry microburst on the extreme south side of Pecos caused extensive damage in the Maxey Park section of Pecos. An anemometer at the airport recorded a 69 mph gust and there was scattered damage across the southwest side of the city covering about a one square mile area. Flying debris hit a woman causing a 2-inch gash ... 0 1 $27K

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 Reeves County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-08-01 DroughtCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos 0 0 $5.1M
2004-04-04 Flash FloodToyah, Reeves County 0 0 $3.9M
2001-04-10 High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson 62 kt wind 1 3 $833K
2004-04-04 Flash FloodToyah, Reeves County 0 0 $781K
2014-09-21 FloodPecos, Reeves County 0 0 $623K
2014-09-23 FloodOrla, Reeves County 0 0 $623K
2020-03-13 Thunderstorm WindArno, Reeves County 113 kt wind 0 1 $570K
2004-04-03 HailToyah, Reeves County 4.25 in hail 0 0 $156K

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: May 22, 1987 (tornado, Reeves County, 30 killed).

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 Reeves 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).

Reeves County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Hail11181453584417
Severe thunderstorm wind183515212815
Floods––––9221411
High wind and dust storms––––37635 z
Tornadoes489213732
Winter storms––––1865

High wind and dust storms in the 2020-26: 35 records against 6 in the decade before, 35 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 Reeves 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?

53% of its hail reports since 1957 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 16 · Feb 18 · Mar 38 · Apr 76 · May 117 · Jun 106 · Jul 30 · Aug 24 · Sep 31 · Oct 27 · Nov 3 · Dec 12 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Reeves County

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

Declarations including Reeves County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2025-07-06DR-4879FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
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
2011-09-09DR-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
1999-09-01EM-3142FireExtreme Fire Hazards
1998-08-26DR-1239Severe StormTropical Storm Charley

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 Reeves County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 56 flood or flash flood records for Reeves County from 1996 to 2026, on 42 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Reeves County ranks 2756th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1,020 on 2 claims filed in Reeves County; the most in one year was 1 in 2011. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2011: 1 · 2016: 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 Reeves County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Reeves 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Reeves County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
DroughtRelatively Moderate$896K102 modeled event-days a year
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$785Konce in about 2 years (modeled)
Winter WeatherRelatively Moderate$74K4.8 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Low$101Konce in about 3 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$161K1.6 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Low$110K45 a year (modeled)
WildfireVery Low$39Konce in about 921 years (modeled)
Heat WaveVery Low$145K5.3 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 Reeves County

  1. Culberson County 1,728
  2. Eddy County, NM 1,549
  3. Pecos County 1,061
  4. Jeff Davis County 513
  5. Reeves County 498
  6. Ward County 285
  7. Loving County 108

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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