Tomball

Population 15,768 (2025)

25 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Tomball since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1900 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Tomball Tornado: 99th percentile. Tropical: 89th percentile. Wildfire: 7th percentile. Flood: 77th percentile. Hail & wind: 74th percentile. Heat: 92th percentile. Cold: 50th percentile. Winter: 14th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950141
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger44
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 19843
  • Major flood years since 1978, Harris County6

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 Harris 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 Harris County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

141

7 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

25

4 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

170,854

Harris County

$8.8 billion paid since 1978

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

3

Largest: Riley Road, 2011

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

September 20, 1967, 19.9 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1900, 26.4 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

41

Most recent: Hurricane Beryl, 2024

Details

Record high

109°F

Reached 4 times, most recently August 27, 2023

Details

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 7 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

September 20, 1967

F3, 19.9 mile path

10 yards wide.

Deadliest

February 5, 1986

2 killed, F3

0 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Monday, November 24, 2025

EF2, 3.8 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 5 5 1960s: 10 10 1970s: 25 25 1980s: 26 26 1990s: 26 26 2000s: 23 23 2010s: 11 11 2020s: 15 15 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 14 F: 7 M: 6 A: 12 M: 28 28 J: 7 J: 4 A: 12 S: 9 O: 15 N: 18 D: 9 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Nov 24, 2025EF23.840000
Nov 24, 2025EF12.650000
Dec 28, 2024EF310.31,675100
Dec 28, 2024EF110.915000
May 16, 2024EF11.410000
May 16, 2024EF10.67500
May 16, 2024EF10.710000
Apr 10, 2024EF11.730000
Jan 9, 2022EF12.27500
Jan 9, 2022EF12.24000
Jan 8, 2022EF01.14000
Jan 8, 2022EF00.520000
Jan 8, 2022EF00.83000
Oct 27, 2021EF00.02000
Aug 12, 2021EF00.21000
May 3, 2019EF00.31500
Apr 7, 2019EF00.03000
Aug 26, 2017EF00.55000
Aug 26, 2017EF10.95000
Jan 16, 2017EF00.22000
Jan 16, 2017EF00.12000
Jan 16, 2017EF00.12000
May 26, 2016EF11.030000
Apr 27, 2016EF00.44001
Apr 17, 2016EF00.53000
Jun 28, 2014EF00.71000
Jun 17, 2006F01.07500
Apr 29, 2006F00.22000
Dec 14, 2005F00.12000
Nov 23, 2004F00.12000
Nov 23, 2004F00.32500
Nov 23, 2004F00.22500
Nov 23, 2004F00.22000
Nov 22, 2004F00.22000
Nov 17, 2004F10.53000
Nov 17, 2004F00.75000
May 11, 2004F11.025000
May 1, 2004F00.12000
May 1, 2004F10.54510
Nov 17, 2003F00.25000
Sep 4, 2003F00.23000
Mar 18, 2003F00.52000
Dec 23, 2002F00.52000
Oct 8, 2002F00.12000
Dec 16, 2001F00.17000
Nov 24, 2000F11.05010
Nov 23, 2000F00.55000
Nov 12, 2000F00.55000
Nov 5, 2000F10.55000
Jun 15, 1999F00.55000
Apr 14, 1999F00.35000
Apr 3, 1999F00.3000
Mar 19, 1999F00.3000
Jan 1, 1999F18.0000
Oct 18, 1998F01.03000
Oct 18, 1998F01.03000
Oct 23, 1997F14.010000
Oct 23, 1997F00.22300
Oct 23, 1997F25.044010
May 30, 1997F10.52000
Apr 22, 1996F00.55000
Dec 18, 1995F02.05000
Jan 12, 1995F00.11000
Oct 16, 1994F00.11000
May 13, 1994F00.11000
May 13, 1994F14.05000
May 13, 1994F00.11000
May 30, 1993F00.15000
Nov 21, 1992F225.0200110
Aug 2, 1992F10.11000
Mar 4, 1992F00.51000
May 4, 1991F00.21000
Jan 18, 1991F00.51000
Jan 18, 1991F00.41000
Jan 18, 1991F00.51310
Feb 5, 1986F35.07002
Feb 5, 1986F11.03000
Feb 5, 1986F22.57000
Feb 5, 1986F28.017050
Dec 10, 1983F02.010000
Dec 10, 1983F00.53000
Aug 18, 1983F00.53000
Aug 18, 1983F01.04000
Aug 18, 1983F00.54000
Aug 17, 1983F00.32000
May 21, 1983F00.33000
May 21, 1983F00.33000
May 20, 1983F24.033321
May 20, 1983F00.32000
May 20, 1983F212.033371
May 20, 1983F27.033351
May 20, 1983F11.516700
Mar 4, 1983F00.52000
Jan 31, 1983F15.24000
Sep 3, 1982F11.020021
May 13, 1982F10.22000
Oct 14, 1981F10.84000
May 9, 1981F25.14020
Oct 18, 1980F10.21700
May 17, 1980F10.11700
May 15, 1980F13.63000
May 22, 1979F00.84000
Apr 18, 1979F10.11000
Jul 16, 1978F00.21300
Jun 6, 1978F17.01000
Nov 8, 1977F00.11000
Nov 8, 1977F15.11000
Nov 8, 1977F10.11000
Sep 11, 1977F00.11000
Sep 1, 1976F10.11000
May 7, 1976F00.11000
Jul 12, 1975F00.11000
Sep 12, 1974F00.31300
Aug 29, 1974F10.21000
Aug 29, 1974F21.06700
Jul 14, 1974F20.888000
Oct 10, 1973F11.01700
Feb 13, 1973F23.33010
Jul 4, 1972F00.12000
Mar 20, 1972F118.910000
Mar 20, 1972F10.11000
Aug 8, 1971F10.11000
May 11, 1971F10.11000
Oct 27, 1970F18.24010
Oct 27, 1970F22.04000
Aug 4, 1970F00.11000
Dec 12, 1968F36.220000
Sep 21, 1967F22.05030
Sep 20, 1967F319.91000
Sep 20, 1967F319.91000
Jun 18, 1966F24.92700
Sep 22, 1965F30.81000
Apr 17, 1964F221.92721
Jun 22, 1963F00.73300
Jun 18, 1962F20.11000
Feb 17, 1960F24.910030
Apr 8, 1959F14.96700
Oct 14, 1957F20.51700
Oct 14, 1957F31.01000
Apr 15, 1954F13.316700
Feb 19, 1954F29.515070
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. 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

25 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 4 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 9, 1900

Unnamed storm, Category 2

26.4 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.

Most recent

July 8, 2024

Beryl, Tropical storm

11.7 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 0 70s: 3 80s: 1 90s: 2 00s: 1 10s: 1 20s: 1 30s: 1 40s: 6 6 50s: 1 60s: 0 70s: 2 80s: 3 90s: 0 00s: 1 10s: 0 20s: 1 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Beryl202411.7Tropical storm66Category 5
Nicholas202152.7Tropical storm48Category 1
Ike200828.8Category 298Category 4
Humberto200783.9Category 192Category 1
Rita200594.9Category 175Category 5
Jerry198941.9Tropical storm58Category 1
Chantal198921.4Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed198767.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Bonnie198670.1Tropical storm58Category 1
Alicia19837.8Tropical storm69Category 3
Danielle198051.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Delia197344.2Tropical storm48Category 1
Felice19705.7Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Abby196489.5Tropical storm68Tropical storm
Debra195931.1Tropical storm55Category 1
Bertha195752.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194923.9Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed194720.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed194531.4Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed19439.5Tropical storm54Category 2
Unnamed194221.4Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed19418.2Tropical storm70Category 3
Unnamed194086.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed194066.9Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed193487.2Category 181Category 1
Unnamed193247.4Category 182Category 4
Unnamed192125.1Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed191535.3Category 177Category 4
Unnamed190969.2Category 190Category 3
Unnamed190196.1Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed190026.4Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed189866.3Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed189713.9Tropical storm62Category 1
Unnamed189127.5Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed18884.4Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed188854.2Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed188690.4Category 194Category 2
Unnamed188264.3Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed187977.2Category 298Category 2
Unnamed18754.0Tropical storm52Category 3
Unnamed187132.2Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed187112.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed186373.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed185426.8Tropical storm46Category 2
  1. 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

3 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

September 5, 2011

Riley Road Fire, 19,036 acres

12.5 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

September 13, 2011

George Bush Park Fire

1,559 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 2011: 25,775 25,775 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
George Bush Park201122.41,559
Riley Road201112.519,036
Dyer Mill201119.75,180
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 39 days

Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2011, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

10.1 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

4 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 13 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 20 2012: 6 2013: 1 2014: 2 2015: 2 2016: 1 2017: 1 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 4 2021: 18 2022: 21 2023: 39 39 2024: 11 2025: 4 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. 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

170,854 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $8.8 billion paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Harris County, the county that contains Tomball.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 180 1979: 8,140 1980: 660 1981: 4,765 1982: 428 1983: 6,762 1984: 1,153 1985: 711 1986: 235 1987: 564 1988: 65 1989: 6,487 1990: 79 1991: 412 1992: 2,907 1993: 445 1994: 3,561 1995: 328 1996: 285 1997: 1,624 1998: 3,936 1999: 591 2000: 277 2001: 22,946 2002: 3,198 2003: 1,650 2004: 330 2005: 386 2006: 2,466 2007: 1,425 2008: 13,716 2009: 4,824 2010: 358 2011: 62 2012: 944 2013: 451 2014: 340 2015: 7,002 2016: 8,157 2017: 49,788 49,788 2018: 259 2019: 4,773 2020: 348 2021: 573 2022: 187 2023: 187 2024: 1,745 2025: 63 2026: 81 1978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2017: 49,788 claims

$5.4 billion paid.

2nd most

2001: 22,946 claims

$874 million paid.

3rd most

2008: 13,716 claims

$425 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
770896,742$250 million
770966,482$695 million
775714,797$170 million
775864,783$161 million
770884,660$175 million
770374,197$150 million
770404,157$161 million
770343,524$118 million
770793,382$430 million
774013,302$255 million
773393,149$324 million
770243,142$202 million
770253,058$261 million
770843,058$272 million
770932,977$78.5 million
770742,825$177 million
774292,749$219 million
770392,643$109 million
770582,068$67.0 million
770152,058$90.6 million
775052,054$68.5 million
775201,891$56.5 million
770901,862$148 million
775361,855$45.4 million
775211,851$112 million
770601,842$142 million
775461,834$141 million
770701,833$198 million
775031,798$34.5 million
770351,783$126 million
770451,781$29.2 million
770771,760$103 million
770081,678$74.6 million
770801,543$46.5 million
773381,510$97.7 million
770751,494$61.2 million
770721,444$18.2 million
770321,435$47.0 million
770181,396$60.7 million
773791,391$147 million
770381,369$36.2 million
770161,367$32.8 million
770421,357$109 million
770221,325$50.0 million
775021,312$40.3 million
770131,274$73.4 million
775871,229$38.7 million
770661,191$30.4 million
770621,163$22.2 million
770281,157$47.8 million
775321,151$50.7 million
770871,099$19.7 million
770491,094$41.7 million
773731,086$76.9 million
770441,085$55.8 million
770261,078$33.1 million
770991,045$22.1 million
775621,035$23.3 million
770821,033$7.6 million
770761,024$26.0 million
77063980$54.8 million
77033965$13.1 million
77043937$21.2 million
77056928$64.8 million
77506928$28.9 million
77396928$26.6 million
77530924$17.3 million
77061917$23.7 million
77598902$28.6 million
77336896$53.9 million
77071879$23.2 million
77092874$36.7 million
77091870$34.1 million
77345849$167 million
77388840$47.1 million
77041835$77.6 million
77055816$27.5 million
77005815$20.8 million
77073807$33.4 million
77346746$90.7 million
77450703$22.3 million
77375698$50.2 million
77059694$20.8 million
77009683$31.0 million
77095682$36.7 million
77021680$16.7 million
77504677$21.8 million
77065674$29.1 million
77068640$54.3 million
77007634$33.8 million
77004607$15.7 million
77029598$29.0 million
77057596$22.5 million
77048577$8.5 million
77078556$30.8 million
77069518$54.5 million
77493517$42.4 million
77017510$14.6 million
77047472$9.3 million
77433467$28.9 million
77389450$30.2 million
439$4.2 million
77030437$27.6 million
77083430$6.2 million
77449411$16.1 million
77581403$17.0 million
77027387$21.8 million
77019362$21.2 million
77098350$7.5 million
77064348$8.9 million
77377346$14.8 million
77036341$7.1 million
77053337$3.1 million
77006333$3.1 million
77081325$7.5 million
77031309$14.2 million
77023306$8.2 million
77086286$6.4 million
77002262$18.7 million
77051208$1.6 million
77067202$2.9 million
77050201$8.0 million
77020199$6.6 million
77094178$17.0 million
77012165$6.5 million
77547152$3.6 million
77085148$1.4 million
77054139$6.1 million
77011121$5.6 million
77014110$1.3 million
77447110$3.4 million
77477108$1.8 million
7705278$3.5 million
7735767$5.4 million
7736565$2.0 million
7720562$6.2 million
7700352$529,000
7752247$655,000
7758436$356,000
7605134$171,000
7757229$169,000
7704626$248,000
7726224$22,000
7700124$348,000
7752322$341,000
7723418$220,000
7734715$123,000
7750714$129,000
7700013$143,000
7748413$410,000
7725212$351,000
7750112$41,000
7721011$232,000
7722711$114,000
7748910$0
7725810$146,000
774948$394,000
772077$12,000
772457$50,000
772517$107,000
775087$156,000
772656$43,000
772366$15,000
775006$47,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood223
  • Flood10
  • Heavy Rain8
  • Coastal Flood5

64 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.

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.

River crests

River gauges in Harris County, the county that contains Tomball.

Most severe crest

October 18, 1994

Spring Creek near Spring, 111.60 ft

20.10 feet above the 91.5 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

July 9, 2024

West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble, 51.01 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 18, 1994Spring Creek near Spring111.60+20.10Major
Aug 29, 2017Spring Creek near Spring111.52+20.02Major
Aug 29, 2017West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble69.18+19.88Major
Aug 29, 2017San Jacinto River near Sheldon28.72+18.72Major
Oct 19, 1994San Jacinto River near Sheldon28.07+18.07Major
Oct 20, 1994West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble66.39+17.09Major
May 28, 2016Spring Creek near Spring108.37+16.87Major
Aug 28, 2017Greens Bayou near Houston44.85+14.85Major
Nov 26, 1940West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble63.23+13.93Major
May 31, 1929West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble63.23+13.93Major
Aug 28, 2017Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd Drive41.90+13.90Major
Aug 28, 2017White Oak Bayou at Houston45.60+13.60Major
May 29, 2016West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble61.95+12.65Major
Apr 20, 2016Spring Creek near Spring103.68+12.18Major
Aug 29, 2017Cypress Creek near Westfield97.12+11.62Major
Jun 15, 1973San Jacinto River near Sheldon21.10+11.10Major
May 19, 1989San Jacinto River near Sheldon21.08+11.08Major
Nov 15, 1998San Jacinto River near Sheldon20.85+10.85Major
Aug 31, 2017Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point Village62.84+10.84Major
Nov 15, 1998West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble60.13+10.83Major
May 4, 2024San Jacinto River near Sheldon19.72+9.72Major
May 4, 2024West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble58.80+9.50Major
Jun 27, 1989Greens Bayou near Houston39.40+9.40Major
Sep 20, 2019San Jacinto River near Sheldon19.37+9.37Major
May 30, 2016San Jacinto River near Sheldon19.33+9.33Major

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Bear Creek at Barker111.0114.86 ftApr 18, 20165
Brays Bayou at Gessner Drive57.061.60 ftMay 26, 20157
Brays Bayou at Houston41.045.67 ftAug 27, 20171
Buffalo Bayou at Barker Reservoir93.2101.60 ftAug 27, 20170
Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point Village52.062.84 ftAug 31, 20171
Buffalo Bayou at Shepherd Drive28.041.90 ftAug 28, 20172
Buffalo Bayou at West Belt Drive62.271.22 ftAug 31, 20173
Cedar Bayou near Crosby53.458.99 ftAug 28, 20170
Clear Creek above Telephone Road43.547.40 ftAug 29, 20170
Cypress Creek near Cypress122.0129.97 ftAug 28, 20173
Cypress Creek near Hockley157.3162.85 ftAug 28, 20176
Cypress Creek near Westfield85.597.12 ftAug 29, 20179
Goose Creek near McNair26.0——0
Greens Bayou at Houston55.062.88 ftAug 28, 201710
Greens Bayou near Houston30.044.85 ftAug 28, 201717
Greens Bayou near Houston84.886.16 ftApr 18, 20160
Langham Creek at Addicks Reservoir96.0109.09 ftAug 30, 20170
Langham Creek near Addicks109.0112.64 ftApr 18, 20163
San Jacinto River near Sheldon10.028.72 ftAug 29, 201716
Sims Bayou at Houston26.230.44 ftOct 5, 19815
Spring Creek near Spring91.5111.60 ftOct 18, 19944
Tide Station (HGX) at Manchester3.77.57 ftSep 14, 20211
Tide Station (HGX) at Morgan's Point3.76.03 ftSep 14, 20211
West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble49.369.18 ftAug 29, 201724
White Oak Bayou at Houston32.045.60 ftAug 28, 20174
Willow Creek near Tomball129.4133.89 ftAug 28, 20171
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

High tide flooding

Tide gauges in Harris County.

Most in one year, Morgans Point, Barbours Cut

24 days

May 2024 to April 2025.

Last ten years

11.9 days a year

At Morgans Point, Barbours Cut, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

35 days

Since 1993, 6 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Morgans Point, Barbours Cut 1993: 3 1994: 2 1995: 1 1997: 4 1998: 11 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 4 2002: 3 2003: 6 2004: 7 2005: 2 2006: 3 2007: 3 2008: 8 2009: 7 2010: 9 2011: 4 2012: 0 2013: 2 2014: 0 2015: 16 2016: 11 2017: 14 2018: 8 2019: 22 2020: 17 2021: 12 2022: 1 2023: 7 2024: 24 24 2025: 3 1993200420142024
Days at or above NOAA’s minor high tide flooding threshold, each meteorological year (May to April) from 1920. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
  1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 133 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 20 months.

The drought index is for Harris County, the county that contains Tomball.

133

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

51

Months in extreme drought

8%

Share of all months, severe or worse

19

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

September 2011

−6.07, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

20 months

February 1917 to September 1918.

Latest month

September 2026

−3.23, severe drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 2 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 1 1902: 3 1903: 0 1904: 2 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 2 1910: 0 1911: 3 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 11 1918: 9 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 8 1926: 0 1927: 1 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 2 1949: 0 1950: 1 1951: 12 12 1952: 6 1953: 0 1954: 1 1955: 2 1956: 12 1957: 2 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 4 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 4 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 1 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 2 1989: 4 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 1 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 0 2000: 9 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 3 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 9 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 4 2023: 2 2024: 0 2025: 1 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. 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

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

2,113 events in the National Weather Service record for Harris County, 1,636 of them since 1996.

350

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

31

Hail, 2 inches or larger

454

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

20

Winter weather events since 1996

83

Heat events since 1996

10

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 4, 2006

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 16, 2024

104 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Storm surge and tide400Sep 14, 2021
Lightning721255May 16, 2024

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 26, 2017Flash Flood$10 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    There were numerous water rescues within Houston and the surrounding suburbs. Flood waters completely inundated thousands of homes and businesses. Roads and highways in and around Houston were flooded and therefore closed for long time periods. Catastrophic flooding occurred on nearly every one of the 22 watersheds in Harris County. 10 out of the 19 bayous in the county reached record crests and flooding. There was widespread flooding along Buffalo Bayou and upstream and downstream of both Addicks and Barkers Reservoirs due to record level pool elevations. There was major flooding of hundreds of homes within numerous neighboring subdivisions along the San Jacinto River and the…

  2. Jun 5, 2001Tropical Storm, Harris$5.0 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Allison formed in the northwest Gulf of Mexico during the early afternoon of June 5th, 80 miles south of Galveston. Allison moved northward, making landfall on the west end of Galveston Island between midnight and 1am on the 6th, less than 12 hours after forming. As Allison moved inland it caused two to three foot tides, which had little impact on the area. On the evening of the 5th a tornado briefly touched down in Brazoria county causing damage to one home in the Manvel area. Over the next five days Allison produced record rainfall that led to devastating flooding across Southeast Texas, killing 22 people and damaging over 48,000 homes, 70,000 automobiles and…

  3. Sep 12, 2008Storm Surge/Tide, Harris$3.0 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Storm tide ranged from 10 to 15 feet above mean sea level along the Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and associated tributaries which caused major flooding of coastal areas. Number of injuries unknown. Shoreacres, Clear Lake Shores, Seabrook, and Taylor Lake Village were among the hard hit areas.

  4. Sep 12, 2008Hurricane (Typhoon), Harris$2.0 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Ike produced damage due to high storm surge and high winds along the Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and associated tributaries. Storm tides of 10 to 15 feet were found in these areas.

  5. Sep 19, 2019Flash Flood$200 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous flooded roads, road closures in the Kingwood and Huffman areas. Water entering homes. There were numerous reports of flooding in and around the Kingwood area. There were reports of flood water entering homes in Huffman and in Plum Grove. Water rescues were conducted around Will Clayton Parkway and West Lake Houston Parkway and also for stranded flooded home residents on Meyer Road. Several major roadways were impassage due to flooding. Some of these impassable flooded roadways included, but were not limited to, sections of Kingwood Drive and the intersection of FM 1960 and FM 2100.

  6. Sep 23, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Harris$90.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The eye of Hurricane Rita moved ashore in extreme southwest Louisiana between Sabine Pass and Johnson's Bayou In Cameron Parish with a minimum central pressure of 937 mb and maximum sustained winds of 120 mph. Rita was a Category 3 hurricane at landfall.Two and a half weeks after Hurricane Katrina made her final and devastating landfall along the northern Gulf coast, all eyes turned to Tropical Storm Rita as she moved westward through the central Bahamas. On Tuesday, September 20th, Rita rapidly intensified while moving west through the Florida Straits into the Gulf of Mexico. Rita reached Category 2 intensity as the center passed about 50 miles south of Key West and significantly…

  7. May 16, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$70.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Trained spotters reported trees downed in Katy by strong thunderstorm winds as a derecho moved through the area. Damage dollar totals include all of Harris County and City of Houston for this event.

  8. Apr 17, 2016Flash Flood$35.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain caused extensive flooding especially over western half of the county where 10 to 15 inches of rain fell in less than a 12 hour period. An estimated 40,000 vehicles and 10,000 homes were flooded. Seven people in Harris County drowned in their vehicles when they drove into flooded roadways. There were numerous high water rescues.

  9. Feb 12, 2021Cold/Wind Chill, Inland Harris$33.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Very cold air and gusty winds overspread SE Texas behind an Arctic front with wind chill indices from near zero to single digits 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.

  10. Sep 7, 1998Tropical Storm, Harris$28.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Synoptic Situation...On Monday September 7 (Labor Day) a tropical disturbance in the western Gulf of Mexico was increasing the pressure gradient along the Texas coast. A weak cold front had pushed south to near the Red River by Tuesday evening. At 4pm Tuesday the disturbance was upgraded to a Tropical Depression located about 250 miles south of Galveston. On Wednesday morning the cold front had sagged down to a Lufkin to Dallas line with a 1022 high pressure centered over the Ohio Valley. At 4 PM the depression was upgraded to a Tropical Storm and given the name Frances. Winds along the upper Texas coast were from the ENE 20 to 30 mph with gusts nearing 40 mph. The poorly…

  1. 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 Houston Intercontinental Airport, 17.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1969.

All-time high
109°F4 times, most recently Aug 27, 2023
All-time low
7°FDec 23, 1989
Warmest night
84°FSep 1, 2020
Coldest day
25°FFeb 15, 2021
Wettest day
16.07 inAug 27, 2017
Snowiest day
2.0 inJan 11, 1973
Hottest year
2024mean 73.1°F
Coldest year
1976mean 65.8°F
Wettest year
201779.69 in
Driest year
198822.93 in
Snowiest season
4.8 in1972-73
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Houston Intercontinental Airport 32°F 64° 43° 3.7 Jan 68° 47° 2.6 Feb 75° 54° 3.1 Mar 80° 60° 3.7 Apr 87° 68° 5.5 May 92° 74° 5.9 Jun 94° 76° 4.2 Jul 95° 76° 4.6 Aug 91° 71° 4.8 Sep 83° 61° 5.0 Oct 73° 52° 3.8 Nov 66° 46° 3.6 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 18 1977: 30 1978: 46 1979: 7 1980: 92 1981: 36 1982: 66 1983: 9 1984: 16 1985: 37 1986: 39 1987: 51 1988: 56 1989: 20 1990: 66 1991: 26 1992: 21 1993: 58 1994: 47 1995: 56 1996: 41 1997: 30 1998: 84 1999: 49 2000: 67 2001: 35 2002: 29 2003: 34 2004: 30 2005: 47 2006: 29 2007: 23 2008: 57 2009: 71 2010: 55 2011: 108 108 2012: 50 2013: 62 2014: 30 2015: 41 2016: 53 2017: 36 2018: 67 2019: 66 2020: 61 2021: 51 2022: 81 2023: 99 2024: 64 2025: 70 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 54.0.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 0.4 in 1978: 0.0 in 1979: 1.4 in 1980: 0.0 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 1.7 in 1.7 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.0 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 1.7 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.1 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 0.0 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 1.4 in 2009: 1.0 in 2010: 0.0 in 2011: 0.0 in 2012: 0.0 in 2013: 0.0 in 2014: 0.0 in 2015: 0.0 in 2016: 0.0 in 2017: 0.8 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 1.0 in 2021: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 1.4 in 2025: 0.0 in 19761986199620062016
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 11

Earliest: December 4, 2009

Median last snow

January 21

Latest: February 17, 1973

46 of 57 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Houston Intercontinental Airport (USW00012960), 90 ft elevation, 17.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1969 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% 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

41 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Beryl, July 9, 2024.

Declarations for Harris County.

Federal disaster declarations
Jul 9, 2024HurricaneHurricane BerylMajor disasterDR-4798-TX
May 17, 2024FloodSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4781-TX
Feb 19, 2021Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-4586-TX
Feb 14, 2021Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3554-TX
Aug 24, 2020HurricaneTropical Storms Marco and LauraEmergencyEM-3540-TX
Jul 26, 2020HurricaneHurricane HannaEmergencyEM-3530-TX
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4485-TX
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3458-TX
Oct 4, 2019FloodTropical Storm ImeldaMajor disasterDR-4466-TX
Aug 25, 2017HurricaneHurricane HarveyMajor disasterDR-4332-TX
Jun 11, 2016FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4272-TX
Apr 25, 2016FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4269-TX
Nov 25, 2015Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4245-TX
May 29, 2015Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4223-TX
Jun 17, 2011FireForest Brook FireFire managementFM-2924-TX
Sep 13, 2008HurricaneHurricane IkeMajor disasterDR-1791-TX
Sep 10, 2008HurricaneHurricane IkeEmergencyEM-3294-TX
Aug 29, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavEmergencyEM-3290-TX
Oct 2, 2007Severe StormTropical Storm ErinMajor disasterDR-1730-TX
Aug 18, 2007HurricaneHurricane DeanEmergencyEM-3277-TX
Jan 11, 2006FireExtreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disasterDR-1624-TX
Sep 24, 2005HurricaneHurricane RitaMajor disasterDR-1606-TX
Sep 21, 2005HurricaneHurricane RitaEmergencyEM-3261-TX
Sep 2, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3216-TX
Nov 5, 2002Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1439-TX
Jun 9, 2001Coastal StormTx-Tropical Storm Allison-06-06-2001Major disasterDR-1379-TX
Sep 1, 1999FireExtreme Fire HazardsEmergencyEM-3142-TX
Oct 21, 1998FloodTx-Flooding 10/18/98Major disasterDR-1257-TX
Sep 23, 1998Severe StormHurricane Georges - TexasMajor disasterDR-1245-TX
Aug 26, 1998Severe StormTropical Storm CharleyMajor disasterDR-1239-TX
Oct 18, 1994FloodSevere Thunderstorms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1041-TX
Dec 4, 1992TornadoSevere Thunderstorms & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-970-TX
Mar 20, 1992FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-937-TX
Jul 18, 1989FloodTropical Storm AllisonMajor disasterDR-836-TX
May 19, 1989Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-828-TX
Oct 30, 1984FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-727-TX
Aug 19, 1983HurricaneHurricane AliciaMajor disasterDR-689-TX
Sep 25, 1979FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-603-TX
Apr 26, 1979Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-580-TX
Jun 19, 1976FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-510-TX
Jul 11, 1973FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-398-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 USW00012960.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, 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.