Starr County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48427 · population 65,565 · 1,223 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 575 records for Starr County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 468 days; the most frequent are drought records (216 records). 361 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The most damaging was the July 24, 2008 flash flood ($68.5 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1967, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Storms and Flooding” on May 21, 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
- 575on 468 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 03 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $204Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 4strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Starr County most?
The most frequent records are drought records: 216 since 1996. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | 216 | 213 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $15M | 17 of 254 |
| Hail | 82 | 52 | 1968-2026 | 0 | 0 | $22K | 231 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 67 | 62 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 7 of 254 |
| Floods | 60 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $147M | 131 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 58 | 41 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 3 | $730K | 225 of 254 |
| Heat | 53 | 53 | 2008-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 79 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 15 | 15 | 2008-2024 | 0 | 0 | $408K | 31 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 9 | 2009-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 40 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 4 | 4 | 1983-2009 | 0 | 0 | $542K | 245 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2005-2008 | 0 | 0 | $15K | 153 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 3 | 3 | 2004-2017 | 0 | 0 | – | 249 of 254 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2008-2020 | 0 | 0 | $37M | 75 of 254 |
| Rip currents and high surf | 1 | 1 | 2022-2022 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 of 254 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 152 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 Starr County had?
NOAA records 4 tornadoes in Starr County from 1983 to 2009, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 0 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 4 tornadoes whose track touched Starr County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 4, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Starr County (4)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-06-03 | Rincon, Starr County | EF0 1.43 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-04-02 | Roma, Starr County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-05-05 | Starr County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-09-07 | Starr County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Starr County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 8, 2026 flash flood ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Excessive HeatStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-15 | Flash FloodRio Grande City Airport, Starr County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-09 | HailLos Saenz, Starr County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-07 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-10 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-08 | Flash FloodRoma, Starr County | 0 | 0 | $25K | |
| 2026-03-08 | Thunderstorm WindOlnos, Starr County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $30K |
| 2026-03-07 | Thunderstorm WindRio Grande City Airport, Starr County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-03-07 | Thunderstorm WindRosita, Starr County | 61 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $250K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-08 | Thunderstorm WindOlnos, Starr County The storm survey investigated an incident at a fuel service station on the east side of Rio Grande City. The gull canopy tipped over with bent columns at foundation. No other damage in area was noted, so wind speed at the site was estimated to be 65 to 70 mph. The canopy collapsed onto a pickup truck underneath, and ... | 61 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $30K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-07-24 | Flash FloodLa Gloria, Starr County | 0 | 0 | $69M | |
| 2010-07-08 | FloodFalcon Hgts, Starr County | 0 | 0 | $51M | |
| 2020-07-25 | Tropical StormStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | $37M | |
| 2003-10-13 | FloodStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2007-06-22 | Flash FloodLos Saenz, Starr County | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2001-01-01 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | $6.5M | |
| 2000-08-01 | DroughtStarr County · forecast zone Starr | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | |
| 2018-06-21 | Flash FloodRoma Airport, Starr County | 0 | 0 | $3.5M |
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: May 5, 1991 (tornado, Starr 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 Starr 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 54 | 85 | 76 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 25 | 11 | 22 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 4 | 4 | 32 | 27 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 26 | 19 | 11 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 16 | 9 | 14 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 0 | 49 |
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 Starr County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 47 · Feb 44 · Mar 53 · Apr 61 · May 121 · Jun 51 · Jul 41 · Aug 40 · Sep 42 · Oct 15 · Nov 24 · Dec 36 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Starr County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Starr County: 14 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-21 | DR-4871 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2021-02-19 | DR-4586 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storms |
| 2021-02-14 | EM-3554 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2020-07-26 | EM-3530 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hanna |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4485 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3458 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2015-05-29 | DR-4223 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding |
| 2010-08-03 | DR-1931 | Hurricane | Hurricane Alex |
| 2010-06-29 | EM-3313 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Alex |
| 2008-09-10 | EM-3294 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ike |
| 2008-08-29 | EM-3290 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2008-07-24 | DR-1780 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dolly |
| 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 |
| 1998-08-26 | DR-1239 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Charley |
| 1990-01-09 | DR-850 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 1984-01-07 | DR-696 | Freezing | Severe Freezing Weather |
| 1971-09-18 | DR-313 | Flood | Heavy Rains, High Winds & Flooding |
| 1967-09-28 | DR-232 | Hurricane | Hurricane Beulah |
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 Starr County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 60 flood or flash flood records for Starr County from 1996 to 2026, on 45 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Starr County ranks 1399th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hanna | 2020-07-25 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Alex | 2010-07-08 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Dolly | 2008-07-24 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.0 million on 84 claims filed in Starr County; the most in one year was 16 in 2008. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1981: 2 · 1983: 3 · 1985: 2 · 1991: 1 · 1995: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 3 · 2001: 2 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 3 · 2007: 5 · 2008: 16 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 3 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 13 · 2022: 4 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 9 · 2026: 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 Starr County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Starr County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $29.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Very High | $18M | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $875K | 7.1 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $275K | 76 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $74K | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $369K | once in about 177 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $861K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $7.7M | 1.5 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $268K | once 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 Starr 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
- Drought in TexasThe state's drought records, 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 Starr CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Starr County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis