Fate
Population 29,007 (2025)
136 tornadoes have tracked within 25 miles of Fate since 1950, 11 of them rated EF3 or F3 or stronger; the most recent was on May 25, 2024.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950136
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger5
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Rockwall County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Rockwall County.
Strongest tornado
EF4
December 26, 2015, 13.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1902, 8.2 miles away
Federal disaster declarations
17
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2024
DetailsTornadoes
About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 11 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
December 26, 2015
EF4, 13.0 mile path
550 yards wide; 10 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, May 25, 2024
EF1, 1.1 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| May 25, 2024 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 13, 2022 | EF2 | 17.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2022 | EF1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2021 | EF1 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2021 | EF0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF0 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF1 | 5.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF2 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 20, 2019 | EF3 | 15.8 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 2019 | EF0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 2019 | EF0 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 26, 2015 | EF1 | 5.2 | 2 | 1 |
| Dec 26, 2015 | EF1 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 26, 2015 | EF2 | 5.3 | 119 | 2 |
| Dec 26, 2015 | EF4 | 13.0 | 468 | 10 |
| May 10, 2015 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2014 | EF1 | 11.8 | 4 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2014 | EF0 | 0.9 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | EF3 | 3.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | EF3 | 7.7 | 7 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | EF0 | 0.3 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 2012 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2011 | EF1 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 2011 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 24, 2010 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2010 | EF0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 8, 2010 | EF1 | 9.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2009 | EF0 | 2.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 10, 2008 | EF1 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2007 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2007 | EF0 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2007 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2007 | EF0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2004 | F1 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 |
| May 27, 2000 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 16, 1998 | F1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 17, 1996 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 17, 1996 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F1 | 6.0 | 8 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 3, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1994 | F1 | 1.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1994 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 20, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1993 | F1 | 19.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1993 | F2 | 12.0 | 63 | 1 |
| Apr 19, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 1, 1992 | F0 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan 19, 1990 | F2 | 0.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1987 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1985 | F2 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
| May 13, 1985 | F2 | 8.0 | 23 | 0 |
| May 13, 1985 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 13, 1984 | F3 | 10.0 | 28 | 0 |
| Mar 23, 1984 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 23, 1984 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26, 1984 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 26, 1984 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 11, 1984 | F2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 1982 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 6, 1980 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 1979 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 1978 | F3 | 29.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 12, 1977 | F2 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1976 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 30, 1976 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 26, 1976 | F3 | 4.5 | 1 | 0 |
| May 23, 1976 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1974 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1974 | F2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1974 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 20, 1973 | F1 | 0.1 | 3 | 0 |
| Oct 12, 1973 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 1, 1973 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1972 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 1972 | F2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F1 | 1.5 | 4 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F2 | 11.9 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 1971 | F2 | 4.3 | 4 | 0 |
| Jul 19, 1971 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 1, 1970 | F1 | 14.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 1970 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 1 |
| Apr 18, 1970 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1970 | F1 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Oct 12, 1969 | F3 | 45.9 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1969 | F2 | 16.5 | 45 | 0 |
| May 13, 1968 | F2 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1967 | F3 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1967 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 1967 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 1966 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1966 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1963 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 1963 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1961 | F2 | 0.3 | 3 | 0 |
| Mar 26, 1961 | F2 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 20, 1960 | F2 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 4, 1959 | F3 | 27.6 | 5 | 0 |
| Aug 12, 1958 | F2 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1958 | F0 | 5.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 1958 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 6, 1958 | F3 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1958 | F2 | 15.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 14, 1958 | F2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1957 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 1954 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1954 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 24, 1954 | F1 | 4.9 | 4 | 0 |
| Mar 2, 1952 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
1 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
June 28, 1902
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
8.2 miles at closest approach, winds near 40 mph.
Most recent
September 13, 2008
Ike, Tropical storm
78.4 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 41 days
Heavy smoke on 7 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
13.2 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
5 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 18 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
61 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $1.5 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Rockwall County, the county that contains Fate.
Most claims in one year
2018: 10 claims
$444,000 paid.
2nd most
2015: 7 claims
$209,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 75032 | 35 | $437,000 |
| 75087 | 19 | $389,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood28
- Heavy Rain7
- Flood1
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 187 of 1,581 months since 1895 (12%); the longest spell lasted 37 months.
The drought index is for Rockwall County, the county that contains Fate.
187
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
73
Months in extreme drought
12%
Share of all months, severe or worse
68
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
September 1956
−5.92, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
37 months
February 1909 to February 1912.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.05, extreme drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
68 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1997; none reached magnitude 4.
17
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
January 6, 2015
Magnitude 3.6
6 km NE of Irving, Texas; 30.4 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
August 25, 2017
Magnitude 3.0
5 km S of Farmers Branch, Texas; 29.7 miles away.
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
394 events in the National Weather Service record for Rockwall County, 321 of them since 1996.
71
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
20
Hail, 2 inches or larger
39
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
26
Winter weather events since 1996
57
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 25, 1994
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
August 21, 1978
97 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Apr 11, 2016Hail$50.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A trained spotter reported grapefruit sized hail at Eastshore Road near Rockwall, TX.
- Apr 3, 2012Hail$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Golf ball to baseball sized hail was reported in Heath.
- Apr 3, 2012Tornado$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
An EF-3 tornado began in eastern Rockwall County and traveled northeast into Hunt County before lifting. The tornado touched down to the southwest of the intersection of FM 548 and Bent Rd in Rockwall County. The tornado quickly moved into a subdivision and severely damaged or destroyed several homes. The worst of the damage in this subdivision occurred along Laci Ln. Trees and shrubs northeast of these houses by a half mile or so were completely debarked and had no vegetation remaining. The tornado continued northeast and produced damage to homes along Country Manor Rd. There was one house that had a large portion of its roof/top story completely removed. A couple of small barns…
- Apr 11, 2016Hail$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A social media report indicated 3-inch diameter hail in Rockwall, TX.
- Oct 20, 2019Tornado$10.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Tornadic wind damage was observed in Rockwall, generally parallel with and north of US 66, from the eastern shore of Lake Ray Hubbard into northeastern Rockwall. The most intense damage was observed close to the lake, along Sunset Hill Drive where several homes sustained significant roof damage. As the path continued farther east across SH 205, damage consisted of downed trees and fences and missing shingles on roofs. Based on eyewitness accounts and video footage, a tornado, with maximum rated wind speeds of 90 mph, or EF-1 intensity was confirmed. The tornado is believed to have developed over Lake Ray Hubbard with a path length of almost 2 miles.
- Apr 11, 2016Hail$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Amateur radio reported two-inch diameter hail in Royce City, TX.
- Apr 3, 2012Hail$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hail up to the size of tea cups fell in eastern Rockwall County. This large hail was falling from the tornadic supercell that also produced the EF-2 tornado south of Royse City.
- Mar 17, 2021Thunderstorm Wind$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Video shows docks and boats detached from the Sapphire Bay marina and floating.
- Jun 11, 2023Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A social media report indicated hail up to baseball size in Royse City.
- Dec 26, 2015Tornado$800,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Garland / Rowlett tornado continued across a small tract of land in western Rockwall County. The tornado continued doing significant damage in the City of Rowlett, before moving onto Lake Ray Hubbard and dissipating over the lake.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Dallas FAA Airport, 27.4 miles from the city centre, with records from 1939.
- All-time high
- 112°F3 times, most recently Jul 22, 2018
- All-time low
- 0°FJan 23, 1940
- Warmest night
- 89°FJul 22, 2026
- Coldest day
- 13°FDec 22, 1989
- Wettest day
- 6.90 inMar 19, 2006
- Snowiest day
- 7.8 inFeb 11, 2010
- Hottest year
- 2017mean 70.1°F
- Coldest year
- 1940mean 63.7°F
- Wettest year
- 201568.02 in
- Driest year
- 196317.52 in
- Snowiest season
- 14.1 in1977-78
Median first snow
January 15
Earliest: November 13, 1976
Median last snow
February 7
Latest: March 21, 1970
24 of 77 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Dallas FAA Airport (USW00013960), 484 ft elevation, 27.4 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1939 to October 27, 2026; 99.8% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
17 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, May 17, 2024.
Declarations for Rockwall County.
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781-TX |
| Feb 19, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4586-TX |
| Feb 14, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3554-TX |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4485-TX |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3458-TX |
| Feb 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4255-TX |
| Mar 14, 2008 | Fire | EM-3284-TX |
| Jan 11, 2006 | Fire | DR-1624-TX |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1606-TX |
| Sep 21, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3261-TX |
| Sep 2, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3216-TX |
| Feb 1, 2003 | Other | EM-3171-TX |
| Sep 1, 1999 | Fire | EM-3142-TX |
| Aug 26, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1239-TX |
| Sep 10, 1993 | Drought | EM-3113-TX |
| May 19, 1989 | Severe Storm | DR-828-TX |
| May 12, 1966 | Flood | DR-218-TX |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00013960.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.