Ward County, Texas
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 48475 · population 11,622 · 836 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 285 records for Ward County, Texas from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 213 days; the most frequent are hail reports (152 records). The most damaging was the August 1, 1996 drought ($1.3 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 11 declarations naming the county since 1998, 9 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
- 285on 213 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 020 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $15Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 16strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 11latest 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 Ward County most?
The most frequent records are hail reports: 152 since 1959. 69% of its hail reports since 1959 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hail | 152 | 112 | 1959-2026 | 0 | 0 | $142K | 116 of 254 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 58 | 56 | 1958-2026 | 0 | 1 | $806K | 180 of 254 |
| Floods | 18 | 17 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 0 | $42K | 196 of 254 |
| Drought | 16 | 16 | 1996-2006 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 214 of 254 |
| Tornadoes | 16 | 12 | 1960-2020 | 0 | 18 | $13M | 207 of 254 |
| High wind and dust storms | 11 | 10 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 77 of 254 |
| Winter storms | 9 | 9 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | – | 211 of 254 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 1997-2005 | 0 | 1 | $77K | 56 of 254 |
| Heat | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 174 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 Ward County had?
NOAA records 16 tornadoes in Ward County from 1960 to 2020, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 18 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 16 tornadoes whose track touched Ward County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 16, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-04-19 12:25, as SPC files it | Unnamed | F3 | 4.3 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Texas.
Every tornado record filed for Ward County (16)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-03-13 | Barstow, Ward County | EF1 0.47 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2006-04-22 | Pyote, Ward County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-03-22 | Wickett, Ward County | F0 1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $514K |
| 1992-04-15 | Ward County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1992-04-15 | Ward County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-25 | Ward County | F2 11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-05-25 | Ward County | F0 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1986-10-01 | Ward County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-08-24 | Ward County | F0 0.3 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-04-19 | Ward County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-04-19 | Ward County | F3 4.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 18 | $2.5M step |
| 1977-04-19 | Ward County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1977-04-14 | Ward County | F0 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1974-05-17 | Ward County | F1 1.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1961-09-19 | Ward County | F2 | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1960-05-31 | Ward County | F0 | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Ward County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($95,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Members of the public posted pictures of several powerlines blown down onto State Hwy 115 on social media. The time of occurrence is estimated from radar. The maximum gust and the cost of damages is also estimated.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1341863)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindPyote, Ward County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $95K |
| 2026-06-19 | Flash FloodMonahans, Ward County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-26 | HailMonahans, Ward County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-14 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-10 | High WindWard County · forecast zone Ward | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-13 | HailMonahans, Ward County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-20 | Thunderstorm WindPyote Wilson Airport, Ward County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-10-23 | Thunderstorm WindPyote Wilson Airport, Ward County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-10 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 53 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-08 | Thunderstorm WindPyote Wilson Airport, Ward County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-29 | Thunderstorm WindBarstow, Ward County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $35K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977-04-19 | TornadoWard County | F3 4.3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 18 | $2.5M step |
| 1997-06-08 | LightningGrandfalls, Ward County A 16 year old male received an indirect lightning strike. He was taken to Ward Memorial Hospital in Monahans and transferred to Odessa Medical Center for testing, and was released late that night. The boy and his mother were walking across their porch leaving the house when lightning struck a metal pipe along the side ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1989-07-18 | Thunderstorm WindWard County | 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-08-01 | DroughtWard County · forecast zone Ward | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2000-03-22 | TornadoWickett, Ward County | F0 1 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $514K |
| 2021-06-26 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $218K |
| 2004-09-30 | Thunderstorm WindGrandfalls, Ward County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $117K |
| 2002-09-13 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $82K |
| 2020-03-13 | TornadoBarstow, Ward County | EF1 0.47 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 1995-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 0 | 0 | $39K | |
| 2025-05-24 | Thunderstorm WindMonahans, Ward County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $35K |
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: April 19, 1977 (tornado, Ward 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 Ward 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 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 46 | 38 | 27 | 14 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 8 | 12 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 0 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
69% of its hail reports since 1959 fell in May and June. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 4 · Feb 5 · Mar 19 · Apr 28 · May 94 · Jun 67 · Jul 9 · Aug 18 · Sep 14 · Oct 19 · Nov 4 · Dec 4 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Ward County
FEMA's register lists 11 declarations that include Ward County: 5 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for fire (3) and hurricane (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 |
| 2008-03-14 | EM-3284 | Fire | Wildfires |
| 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 |
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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Ward County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Ward County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $503K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $182K | once in about 681 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $371K | 2.6 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $175K | 74 modeled event-days a year |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low | $58K | 4.3 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $150K | 5.5 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $94K | 44 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $30K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Ward 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 Ward CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Ward County's FEMA declarations (CSV)11 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis