Stephens County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48429 · population 9,089 · 897 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 588 records for Stephens County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 419 days; the most frequent are hail reports (234 records). The deadliest single record is the May 30, 2016 flood: 1 death and $123,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1978, 21 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
- 588on 419 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 16 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $154Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 22strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 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 Stephens County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 234 since 1955. 62% of its hail reports since 1955 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 | 234 | 144 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 87 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 108 | 85 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 133 of 254 |
| Drought | 94 | 94 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 67 of 254 |
| Heat | 47 | 44 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 254 |
| Floods | 28 | 20 | 1996-2021 | 1 | 0 | $293K | 185 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 28 | 27 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $366K | 128 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 22 | 19 | 1963-2020 | 0 | 6 | $12M | 182 of 254 |
| Wildfires | 12 | 12 | 2009-2024 | 0 | 0 | $132M | 27 of 254 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 59 of 254 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 1997-1998 | 0 | 0 | – | 83 of 254 |
| Lightning | 2 | 2 | 2025-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.8M | 97 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2009-2009 | 0 | 0 | $4K | 189 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 Stephens County had?
NOAA records 22 tornadoes in Stephens County from 1963 to 2020, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 6 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Stephens County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 22, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-10-30 06:15, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 18.6 mi | 0 |
| 1979-05-21 17:37, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 2 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Stephens County (22)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-18 | Crystal Falls, Stephens County | EF0 1.52 mi x 12 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-06-20 | Ivan, Stephens County | EF0 0.01 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-04-09 | Caddo, Stephens County | EF0 1.54 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-04-09 | Breckenridge Airport, Stephens County | EF1 7.06 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 6 | $1.4M |
| 2008-04-09 | Eolian, Stephens County | EF0 2.32 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $55K |
| 2004-03-04 | Breckenridge, Stephens County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-15 | Eolian, Stephens County | F0 9.6 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1993-09-13 | Breckenridge, Stephens County | F0 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1993-09-13 | Breckenridge, Stephens County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $102K |
| 1989-03-28 | Stephens County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-09-11 | Stephens County | F0 0.2 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-03-11 | Stephens County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1985-03-29 | Stephens County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1983-06-03 | Stephens County | F0 0.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-05-27 | Stephens County | F0 0.1 mi x 7 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1980-05-06 | Stephens County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-10-30 | Stephens County | F3 18.6 mi x 127 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1979-08-21 | Stephens County | F0 3.6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1979-05-27 | Stephens County | F1 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1979-05-21 | Stephens County | F3 2 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1978-05-16 | Stephens County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1963-06-11 | Stephens County | F0 1 mi x 17 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 Stephens County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 19, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($10,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCaddo, Stephens County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindBreckenridge, Stephens County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2026-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindBreckenridge, Stephens County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-06-18 | HeatStephens County · forecast zone Stephens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-06-02 | HailEolian, Stephens County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-10 | HailLa Casa, Stephens County | 1.60 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-10 | HailBreckenridge, Stephens County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2026-05-10 | HailHubbard Creek Lake, Stephens County | 1.60 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-10 | HailHubbard Creek Lake, Stephens County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | HailBreckenridge, Stephens County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | HailBreckenridge, Stephens County | 1.25 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-15 | HailBreckenridge, Stephens County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $200K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-05-30 | FloodHubbard Creek Lake, Stephens County Flooding continued across the southern half of Stephens County after several inches of rain fell in a short period of time as a squall line moved through the area. One person lost her life after the truck she was riding in was overcome by floodwaters near Hwy 183 along Gunsolus Creek. | 1 | 0 | $123K | |
| 2008-04-09 | TornadoBreckenridge Airport, Stephens County The second tornado began approximately a half mile west of Highway 183 and south of FM 2231. Power poles were damaged along FM 2231 and Highway 183 and roof and barn damage was noted along Highway 183. The most significant damage occurred at and just west of the Stephens County Airport where several homes had ... | EF1 7.06 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 6 | $1.4M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-13 | WildfireStephens County · forecast zone Stephens | 0 | 0 | $131M | |
| 2026-02-14 | LightningLa Casa, Stephens County | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2008-04-09 | TornadoBreckenridge Airport, Stephens County | EF1 7.06 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 6 | $1.4M |
| 1994-04-25 | HailBreckenridge, Stephens County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2025-04-03 | LightningBreckenridge, Stephens County | 0 | 0 | $400K | |
| 2004-03-04 | Thunderstorm WindBreckenridge, Stephens County | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2011-07-26 | WildfireStephens County · forecast zone Stephens | 0 | 0 | $328K | |
| 2011-08-01 | WildfireStephens County · forecast zone Stephens | 0 | 0 | $302K |
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: October 30, 1979 (tornado, Stephens 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 Stephens 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 | 3 | 8 | 33 | 69 | 54 | 29 | 36 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 3 | 1 | 2 | 12 | 41 | 18 | 20 | 11 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 2 | 23 | 47 | 22 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 2 | 3 | 5 | 37 z |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 8 | 11 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 3 | 12 | 7 | 6 |
Heat in the 2020-26: 37 records against 5 in the decade before, 37 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 Stephens 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?
62% of its hail reports since 1955 fell in April and May. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 20 · Mar 46 · Apr 100 · May 133 · Jun 78 · Jul 48 · Aug 51 · Sep 29 · Oct 29 · Nov 14 · Dec 16 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Stephens County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Stephens County: 10 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 6 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (10) and flood (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 |
| 2016-06-11 | DR-4272 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-07-01 | DR-1999 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2011-04-16 | FM-2893 | Fire | Hohertz Fire |
| 2011-04-16 | FM-2895 | Fire | Pk East Fire |
| 2011-04-15 | FM-2888 | Fire | Pk West Fire |
| 2009-04-10 | FM-2810 | Fire | Breckenridge Fire |
| 2008-03-14 | EM-3284 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 2007-06-29 | DR-1709 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2006-08-19 | FM-2667 | Fire | Caddo Ii Fire Complex |
| 2006-01-15 | FM-2620 | Fire | Caddo Fire |
| 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 |
| 1981-10-23 | DR-648 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1978-08-03 | DR-561 | Flood | Severe 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 Stephens County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 28 flood or flash flood records for Stephens County from 1996 to 2021, on 20 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Stephens County ranks 1501st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $896,000 on 68 claims filed in Stephens County; the most in one year was 24 in 1996. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1978: 2 · 1981: 7 · 1982: 1 · 1990: 3 · 1991: 3 · 1996: 24 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2007: 7 · 2016: 16 · 2021: 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 Stephens County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Stephens County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.6 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $288K | once in about 163 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $366K | 6.7 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $130K | 82 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $646K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $373K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $247K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Landslide | Very Low | $2K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $213K | 12 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 Stephens 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 Stephens CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Stephens County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis