Trinity County, Texas

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48455 · population 13,573 · 694 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 276 records for Trinity County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 195 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (105 records). The deadliest single record is the September 3, 2000 thunderstorm wind: 1 death, 2 injuries and $1.7 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 28 declarations naming the county since 1989, 25 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Beryl” on July 9, 2024.

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
276on 195 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
530 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$96Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
25strongest F3
FEMA declarations
28latest 2024

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 Trinity County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 105 since 1981. 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.

Trinity County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 105 79 1981-2024 1 4 $3.4M 104 of 254
Hail 55 43 1985-2024 0 0 $507K 204 of 254
Floods 42 29 1996-2024 1 0 $3.0M 119 of 254
Tornadoes 25 21 1952-2024 1 23 $18M 133 of 254
Drought 14 14 1996-2023 0 0 $15M 212 of 254
Heat 12 12 1999-2023 0 0 – 105 of 254
Winter storms 11 11 1997-2026 0 1 $87K 180 of 254
Hurricanes and tropical storms 5 5 1998-2008 0 1 $56M 22 of 254
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 3 3 2000-2004 0 0 – 73 of 254
Extreme cold 1 1 2021-2021 1 0 $279K 207 of 254
Heavy rain 1 1 2013-2013 0 0 – 129 of 254
High wind and dust storms 1 1 2017-2017 0 1 $4K 178 of 254
Lightning 1 1 1996-1996 1 0 – 111 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 Trinity County had?

NOAA records 25 tornadoes in Trinity County from 1952 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 1 death and 23 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Trinity County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 25: 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.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Trinity County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2024-04-28 18:35, as SPC files itWestwood ShoresEF10.29 mi1
1990-01-19 15:40, as SPC files itHudsonF313 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.

Every tornado record filed for Trinity County (25)
Every tornado recorded in Trinity County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-04-28 Pagoda, Trinity County EF1 0.29 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $94K
2011-04-25 Centralia, Trinity County EF1 0.64 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $39K
2009-05-03 Pennington, Trinity County EF1 2.08 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $83K
2004-11-23 Apple Spgs, Trinity County F2 2 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $156K
2001-10-13 Trinity County F1 0.5 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $17K
1999-01-01 Groveton, Trinity County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $71K
1999-01-01 Trinity County F2 5 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $1.3M
1997-05-15 Groveton, Trinity County F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $9K
1997-04-04 Nogalus, Trinity County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
1997-04-04 Pennington, Trinity County F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $9K
1996-11-30 Trinity County F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 2 $47K
1994-05-09 Groveton, Trinity County F0 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1992-06-30 Trinity County F1 1 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $3K step
1992-06-30 Trinity County F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd 0 0 $25K step
1992-06-30 Trinity County F1 0.1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $250K step
1990-01-19 Trinity County F3 5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1989-05-17 Trinity County F2 6 mi x 400 yd 0 3 $2.5M step
1983-12-10 Trinity County F2 10 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250K step
1982-06-28 Trinity County F2 3 mi x 73 yd 0 0 $25K step
1981-05-18 Trinity County F1 0 0 –
1981-05-09 Trinity County F1 0 0 –
1965-03-30 Trinity County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 –
1964-07-25 Trinity County F1 0.2 mi x 13 yd 0 0 $3K step
1954-04-30 Trinity County F2 17.8 mi x 883 yd 0 13 $250K step
1952-12-03 Trinity County F2 13.3 mi x 100 yd 0 4 $25K 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 Trinity County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the January 25, 2026 winter weather (1 injury).

A winter storm moved into southeast Texas on the night of the 24th. After the storm cleared the next day, Trinity county Sheriffs Office reported that bridges had been iced over across the county. One person had also reportedly slid off the road as a result.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1304772)
The 12 most recent records kept for Trinity County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-01-25 Winter WeatherTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 0 1 –
2025-01-20 Winter WeatherTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 0 0 –
2024-05-01 FloodCarlisle, Trinity County 0 0 $2.5M
2024-04-28 TornadoPagoda, Trinity County EF1 0.29 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $94K
2024-01-24 Flash FloodWoodlake, Trinity County 1 0 –
2023-04-26 HailCentralia, Trinity County 2.75 in hail 0 0 –
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 1 0 $279K
2020-04-22 HailTrinity County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $10K
2020-04-18 HailPagoda, Trinity County 3.00 in hail 0 0 $34K
2017-01-22 Strong WindTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 39 kt wind 0 1 $4K
2013-06-06 Thunderstorm WindWoodlake, Trinity County 65 kt wind 0 0 $38K
2013-05-09 Thunderstorm WindTrinity County 65 kt wind 0 1 $51K

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 Trinity County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2000-09-03 Thunderstorm WindSebastopol, Trinity County Downburst winds of 80 to 100 mph caused a three mile wide swath of damage along FM 356 between Trinity and Sebastopol near White Rock Creek. A woman was killed when the front porch collapsed at her home in the Hillwood Acres subdivision. Two children were injured inside several boats that flipped over in the lake. ... 1 2 $1.7M
2024-04-28 TornadoPagoda, Trinity County A short-lived EF1 tornado with maximum estimated winds of 100 mph impacted the Rock Creek Subdivision in Trinity. The tornado destroyed a mobile home in the subdivision, and two of its occupants sustained injuries. One of those injured died five days later. Widespread tree damage and damage to vehicles was also ... EF1 0.29 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $94K
2024-01-24 Flash FloodWoodlake, Trinity County Flash flooding resulted flooding along Piney Creek Road near Groveton. A man drowned in the floodwaters when attempting to retrieve items from his stranded car. Time was estimated based on radar and nearby flood reports as the man's body was not found until the next day. 1 0 –
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity Bitter cold air and wind overspread SE Texas behind and Arctic front on Valentines Day with wind chill indices below zero for much the period from Sunday night to Tuesday morning. Increased power demand, wind and ice led to widespread power outages. Bursting pipes caused many to be without water as well. 1 0 $279K
1996-08-20 LightningLake Livingston, Trinity County Boater struck and killed by lightning on Lake Livingston. 1 0 –
1954-04-30 TornadoTrinity County F2 17.8 mi x 883 yd 0 13 $250K step
1952-12-03 TornadoTrinity County F2 13.3 mi x 100 yd 0 4 $25K step
1989-05-17 TornadoTrinity County F2 6 mi x 400 yd 0 3 $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.

The costliest records in Trinity County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2001-06-06 Tropical StormTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 0 0 $34M
2008-09-12 Hurricane (Typhoon)Trinity County · forecast zone Trinity 0 1 $21M
2024-05-01 FloodCarlisle, Trinity County 0 0 $2.5M
2000-09-03 Thunderstorm WindSebastopol, Trinity County 1 2 $1.7M
1999-01-01 TornadoTrinity County F2 5 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $1.3M
2021-02-15 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillTrinity County · forecast zone Trinity 1 0 $279K
2024-04-28 TornadoPagoda, Trinity County EF1 0.29 mi x 200 yd 1 1 $94K
2009-05-03 TornadoPennington, Trinity County EF1 2.08 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $83K

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 17, 1989 (tornado, Trinity County); January 19, 1990 (tornado, Trinity 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 Trinity 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).

Trinity County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind00093636195
Hail00042113314
Floods––––1113414
Tornadoes220511311
Drought––––7205
Heat––––2406

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 Trinity County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 22 · Feb 13 · Mar 16 · Apr 41 · May 56 · Jun 36 · Jul 20 · Aug 25 · Sep 13 · Oct 6 · Nov 22 · Dec 6 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Trinity County

FEMA's register lists 28 declarations that include Trinity County: 18 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) and flood (5).

Declarations including Trinity County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-07-09DR-4798HurricaneHurricane Beryl
2024-05-17DR-4781FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding
2021-02-19DR-4586Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storms
2021-02-14EM-3554Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2020-08-24EM-3540HurricaneTropical Storms Marco and Laura
2020-03-25DR-4485BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3458BiologicalCovid-19
2016-06-11DR-4272FloodSevere Storms and Flooding
2016-02-09DR-4255Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2015-05-29DR-4223Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and Flooding
2011-07-01DR-1999FireWildfires
2008-09-13DR-1791HurricaneHurricane Ike
2008-09-10EM-3294HurricaneHurricane Ike
2008-08-29EM-3290HurricaneHurricane Gustav
2006-01-11DR-1624FireExtreme Wildfire Threat
2005-09-24DR-1606HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-21EM-3261HurricaneHurricane Rita
2005-09-02EM-3216HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2003-02-01EM-3171OtherLoss of the Space Shuttle Columbia
2001-06-09DR-1379Coastal StormTx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001
1999-09-01EM-3142FireExtreme Fire Hazards
1998-10-21DR-1257FloodTx-Flooding 10/18/98
1998-08-26DR-1239Severe StormTropical Storm Charley
1996-02-23EM-3117FireExtreme Fire Hazard
1994-10-18DR-1041FloodSevere Thunderstorms and Flooding
1991-12-26DR-930FloodSevere Thunderstorms
1990-05-02DR-863Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding
1989-05-19DR-828Severe StormSevere 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 Trinity County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 42 flood or flash flood records for Trinity County from 1996 to 2024, on 29 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Trinity County ranks 1132nd of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Trinity County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Ike2008-09-1210
Hurricane Rita2005-09-2310
Tropical Storm Allison2001-06-0610

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.5 million on 140 claims filed in Trinity County; the most in one year was 19 in 1991. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 4 · 1981: 2 · 1983: 2 · 1990: 5 · 1991: 19 · 1992: 4 · 1993: 8 · 1994: 12 · 1995: 1 · 1998: 8 · 1999: 9 · 2001: 16 · 2002: 6 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 3 · 2007: 5 · 2010: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2021: 1 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 4; 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 Trinity County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Trinity County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $12.9 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 Trinity County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Cold WaveRelatively High$4.9Mabout once a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively High$495K67 a year (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$1.9Monce in about 12 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$885K2.1 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$110Kabout once a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$104Konce in about 547 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Low$1.2Monce in about 2 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$264K12 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 Trinity County

  1. Angelina County 738
  2. Houston County 414
  3. Polk County 364
  4. Walker County 343
  5. Trinity County 276
  6. San Jacinto County 268

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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