PlainHazard

Texas high wind and dust storms

Every recorded high wind record since 1996 · 214 counties with a record

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 6,566 high wind and dust records in Texas from 1996 through June 30, 2026, about 237 a year since 2000. The deadliest was the January 17, 1996 high wind in El Paso County: 3 deaths and $18.8 million in damage in 2025 dollars. Texas ranks 4th of 52 states and territories by count and 38th of 51 per square mile.

High wind and dust storms in Texas, 1996 to 2026

Wind records per year (NOAA Storm Events); 2026 to June 30, 2026.

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $1 million
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
Records
6,5661996 to June 30, 2026
A year since 2000
237average
Deaths
3198 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$105Mas filed
Busiest year
2025524 records

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; deaths and damage as filed, damage in 2025 dollars. Search the record at NCEI.

Are high wind and dust records common in Texas?

Texas averages about 237 high wind and dust records a year since 2000, 4th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2025 (524). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Texas records 251 high wind and dust records since 1996, 38th of 51 states and territories by that measure.

  1. 1. Rhode Island 7061
  2. 2. New Jersey 4882
  3. 3. Massachusetts 4776
  4. 4. Delaware 3705
  5. 5. Maryland 1330
  6. 6. Connecticut 1301
  7. 7. Vermont 1178
  8. 8. Hawaii 1067
  9. 9. New York 1028
  10. 10. Wyoming 900
  11. 38. Texas 251

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1996, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.

Which counties in Texas have the most high wind and dust records?

Per square mile, Culberson County leads Texas: 822 days with a high wind record since 1996, 215.6 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Culberson County has the most wind records (1,437 since 1996); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).

  1. Culberson County 215.6 (1,437)
  2. Lubbock County 166.4 (177)
  3. Potter County 118.9 (219)
  4. Castro County 117.4 (115)
  5. Moore County 113.4 (147)
  6. Hockley County 112.3 (115)
  7. Parmer County 110.1 (105)
  8. Swisher County 105.6 (98)
  9. Yoakum County 101.3 (91)
  10. El Paso County 100.6 (113)
  11. Lamb County 98.4 (112)
  12. Cochran County 98.1 (83)

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1996 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.

When is the windy season in Texas?

41% of its high wind and dust records since 1996 fell in March and April. The busiest month is March (1,411 records).

The values, month by month

Jan 764 · Feb 1,092 · Mar 1,411 · Apr 1,279 · May 497 · Jun 279 · Jul 58 · Aug 12 · Sep 30 · Oct 176 · Nov 371 · Dec 597 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began, since 1996.

What were the deadliest high wind and dust records in Texas?

Texas: the storms with the most deaths since 1996
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-01-17 High WindEl Paso County · forecast zone El Paso High winds did widespread but mostly minor damage across west Texas and Southern New Mexico. The most serious incident was a roof partially ripped off a supermarket in Anthony, TX killing three people. On Fort Bliss, at least 6.9 million dollars of damage was done, 80% as a result of damaged roofs. High winds also ... 3 0 $19M
2020-06-09 Dust StormSherman County · forecast zone Sherman High winds caused blowing dust which reduced visibility to near zero. These conditions contributed to a traffic crash on U.S. Highway 54 around 1440CST around 11 miles northeast of Stratford involving a northeast-bound tractor-trailer driver who was unable to see the highway markings, became disoriented, and locked up ... 2 2 –
2003-12-02 Strong WindHartley County · forecast zone Hartley A strong gust of wind lifted a pickup truck and travel trailer off of the highway and into the path of another vehicle. The fatal accident occurred five and a half miles southwest of Dalhart on U.S. Highway 54. 48 kt wind 2 2 $96K
2017-07-03 Dust StormChildress County · forecast zone Childress A blinding dust storm struck southeast Childress County late this night in advance of a strong thunderstorm. As the dust storm enveloped Highway 287 near Kirkland, many motorists slowed to a crawl or stopped, but remained in their lane of travel. A semi trailer approaching from behind was unable to stop in time and ... 2 2 $84K
2013-05-09 Strong WindLamb County · forecast zone Lamb A man and a child were killed after the truck they were riding in collided with a tractor-trailer. The accident happened on U.S. 84 just west of County Road 85 in Sudan. The tractor-trailer was traveling eastbound on U.S. 84 when troopers say wind caused the tractor-trailer to jackknife and obstruct the path of the ... 48 kt wind 2 0 –
2009-06-18 Dust StormFloyd County · forecast zone Floyd One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. A complex of strong to severe thunderstorms developed over the western South Plains during the late afternoon and early evening of the 18th. A few of these storms became severe and produced locally intense wind gusts up to 67 mph. The most significant impacts from these storms, however, occurred as an organized and ... 2 0 $5.3M
2012-12-19 Dust StormLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock A significant dust storm swept into Lubbock County early this afternoon and did not release its grip until shortly after 1830 CST. Officially, dust storm conditions (visibility at or below 1/2 mile) were observed by the Lubbock Airport weather observers for 5 hours and 38 minutes making this the longest duration dust ... 1 17 $1.3M
2006-03-20 High WindLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock Strong to occasionally severe gradient winds were associated with the passage of a strong storm system over the Texas Panhandle on the 20th. Westerly winds were generally sustained in the 30 MPH range with gusts approaching 55 MPH over a large part of the South Plains region. Winds were enhanced, however, over the ... 53 kt wind 1 9 $278K
2006-01-01 High WindRandall County · forecast zone Randall A deepening low pressure system over the central Plains states resulted in a tight pressure gradient across the Texas panhandle during the late morning into the afternoon hours. Sixty to sixty-five mile an hour gusts were measured at Vega...Amarillo...and Claude. Forty-four mile an hour sustained winds were measured ... 56 kt wind 1 3 $127K
2001-04-10 High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. 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 $2.5M

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed by the National Weather Service, summed over each storm (one episode, or one named storm filed by several offices). Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest high wind and dust records in Texas

Texas: the most damaging storms since 1993, 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2011-10-17 High WindLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock 64 kt wind 0 0 $33M
1996-01-17 High WindEl Paso County · forecast zone El Paso 3 0 $19M
2009-06-18 Dust StormFloyd County · forecast zone Floyd One storm episode: 7 records in 7 places; the totals are the episode's. 2 0 $5.3M
2019-03-13 High WindLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. 35 kt wind 0 0 $5.1M
2006-06-22 Dust StormTerry County · forecast zone Terry One storm episode: 4 records in 4 places; the totals are the episode's. 0 0 $3.1M
2009-12-08 High WindEl Paso County · forecast zone El Paso One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. 69 kt wind 0 0 $3.0M
2001-04-10 High WindCulberson County and Reeves County · forecast zone Reeves County And Upper Trans Pecos / Reeves / Ne Culberson One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. 62 kt wind 1 3 $2.5M
2007-02-24 High WindGrayson County · forecast zone Grayson One storm episode: 6 records in 6 places; the totals are the episode's. 50 kt wind 0 3 $1.7M

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.

Are high wind and dust records becoming more frequent in Texas?

Texas's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. NOAA recorded every event type only from 1996, so earlier decades are not comparable; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.

High wind and dust storms: Texas and the United States by decade (2020s to June 30, 2026)
DecadeTexasUnited StatesTexas's share
1996-9922114,0261.6%
2000s1,62537,2544.4%
2010s2,30341,7485.5%
2020-262,41736,3006.7%

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

The most recent high wind and dust records in Texas

The 12 most recent records, to June 30, 2026
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-23 High WindArmstrong County · forecast zone Armstrong 64 kt wind 0 0 $15K
2026-06-23 High WindLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-23 High WindKing County · forecast zone King 53 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-21 High WindLipscomb County · forecast zone Lipscomb 54 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 High WindHutchinson County · forecast zone Hutchinson 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-13 High WindHansford County · forecast zone Hansford 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-11 Strong WindHockley County · forecast zone Hockley 48 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-08 Strong WindLipscomb County 48 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-06-08 High WindHale County · forecast zone Hale 51 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-31 High WindCottle County · forecast zone Cottle 63 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-31 High WindLubbock County · forecast zone Lubbock 60 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-26 Strong WindDeaf Smith County · forecast zone Deaf Smith 43 kt wind 0 0 –

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.

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