Henderson County
Population 88,595 (2025) 874 sq mi
Henderson County has recorded 38 tornadoes since 1950, 113th most of 254 counties in Texas; the most recent was on June 3, 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 since 195038
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger14
At a glance
The record for Henderson County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Strongest tornado
EF4
April 29, 2017, 21.4 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm Ike, 2008, 12.8 miles away
Federal disaster declarations
25
Most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, 2024
DetailsTornadoes
About one every 2 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 29, 2017
EF4, 21.4 mile path
1,760 yards wide; 2 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Monday, June 3, 2024
EFU, 0.5 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jun 3, 2024 | EFU | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 2024 | EF1 | 4.3 | 6 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 2022 | EF2 | 15.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 16, 2020 | EF0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2017 | EF2 | 11.7 | 10 | 0 |
| Apr 29, 2017 | EF4 | 21.4 | 25 | 2 |
| Mar 8, 2016 | EF0 | 5.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 26, 2015 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 20, 2010 | EF1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 20, 2010 | EF2 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 29, 2006 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 2000 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 1999 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1996 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1994 | F1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| May 27, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 27, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 17, 1989 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 13, 1981 | F1 | 6.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1981 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 1981 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1981 | F3 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 1981 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1979 | F2 | 13.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 23, 1979 | F3 | 10.3 | 1 | 0 |
| May 11, 1978 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 1977 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1972 | F2 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 21, 1972 | F2 | 1.3 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 28, 1971 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 27, 1968 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1966 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 4, 1959 | F3 | 25.1 | 3 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1957 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1954 | F3 | 0.1 | 4 | 0 |
| May 23, 1952 | F0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1952 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Henderson County: 0.
- 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
6 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 13, 2008
Ike, Tropical storm
12.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 55 mph.
Most recent
June 22, 2017
Cindy, Tropical storm
99.4 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Cindy | 2017 | 99.4 | Tropical storm |
| Ike | 2008 | 12.8 | Tropical storm |
| Rita | 2005 | 80.2 | Tropical storm |
| Carla | 1961 | 59.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 49.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 27.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 50.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 46.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 20.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 64.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 91.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 65.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 89.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
- 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 here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 39 days
Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
12.0 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
4 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 16 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
90 federal flood insurance claims since 1980, with $3.4 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2015: 20 claims
$746,000 paid.
2nd most
2016: 7 claims
$287,000 paid.
3rd most
2012: 7 claims
$386,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 75156 | 25 | $277,000 |
| 75143 | 16 | $75,000 |
| 75148 | 14 | $2.0 million |
| 75751 | 11 | $550,000 |
| 75752 | 6 | $21,000 |
| 75758 | 6 | $140,000 |
| 75163 | 5 | $31,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood50
- Flood10
- Heavy Rain6
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
Most severe crest
June 5, 2015
Trinity River at Trinidad, 49.33 ft
16.33 feet above the 33.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
June 14, 2025
Trinity River at Trinidad, 44.07 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Trinity River at Trinidad | 33.0 | 49.33 ft | 3 |
- 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.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 178 of 1,581 months since 1895 (11%); the longest spell lasted 26 months.
178
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
62
Months in extreme drought
11%
Share of all months, severe or worse
62
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 1925
−5.91, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
26 months
February 1909 to March 1911.
Latest month
September 2026
−5.18, 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
1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.0 in 2015.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
27
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
1
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
May 7, 2015
Magnitude 4.0
5 km N of Venus, Texas; 38.7 miles away, 1.6 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
March 28, 2025
Magnitude 3.5
13 km NNE of Wells, Texas; 47.4 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| May 7, 2015 | 4.0 | 38.7 |
- 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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
688 events in the National Weather Service record, 532 of them since 1996.
149
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
17
Hail, 2 inches or larger
119
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
25
Winter weather events since 1996
57
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 20, 1955
4.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
November 1, 1998
92 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 3 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 2, 1997Thunderstorm Wind$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The severe windstorm that developed over eastern Navarro County moved into northwestern Henderson County and continued to produce widespread wind damage across a widening path of 4 to 6 miles. Four mobile homes were overturned, thousands of large trees were snapped and uprooted, and hundreds of homes and businesses were damaged by high winds.In Tool, trees were snapped and uprooted, numerous homes and businesses in the lake community sustained minor damage, and power lines were blown down by strong winds.
- Nov 4, 2022Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado first touched down around 5:35 PM south of Malakoff, hitting a private family property and wedding venue just west of CR 3441. The tornado continued to move northeast and damaged another family home on CR 1208. The tornado made a continuous path northeast, marked by damage to trees and outbuildings. The tornado moved through Athens, damaging additional structures and uprooting/snapping trees. A Dollar General had its windows blown out. The tornado moved over the Athens Steel Building Corporation, causing the most significant damage of the tornado track. Damage included collapse of the southern portion of the structure. The tornado exited the city and dissipated after…
- Dec 29, 2006Tornado$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
At least two dozen houses were damaged in Poynor Friday night as a tornado ripped through the community. Dozens of sheds, barns, and storage units were demolished. Significant damage to roofs and garages occurred at residences, while dozens of fences and trees were blown down. At least one home was considered a total loss. A metal support beam from a destroyed storage unit was driven through a truck, and the truck was then rolled onto its side by the strong winds. Numerous other vehicles were rolled and damaged by debris. In addition, houses which had portions of their roofs removed sustained heavy water damage from the rainfall following the tornado.
- Mar 2, 1997Thunderstorm Wind$1.7 million
National Weather Service narrative
Extensive wind damage occurred along Highway 198 from Gun Barrel City to Mabank. The canopy of a convenience store/gas station was destroyed, numerous homes and businesses sustained roof and structural damage, and trees and power lines were blown down. In Gun Barrel City, an estimated 13 homes received major damage, 151 sustained minor damage, 10 mobile homes were destroyed, 21 mobile homes received major damage, and 6 businesses and a church sustained major damage.
- Feb 15, 2021Extreme Cold/Wind Chill, Henderson$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Extreme cold gripped the county for several days. Overnight lows were near or below 25 degrees Fahrenheit almost all week. The period of February 15-16th was the coldest with low temperatures between 10 and -5 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum temperature on the 15th was only in the teens. Wind chill values during the 14th-16th were between 10 to -10 degrees Fahrenheit most of the time. The cold temperatures resulted in an extreme amount of damage to pipes, infrastructure, and power. The State listed 2 fatalities in Henderson County due to the winter storm but no additional information could be obtained.
- Jul 6, 2007Flash Flood$750,000
National Weather Service narrative
About 15 to 20 roads were flooded. A 15' by 20' sinkhole developed, and a bridge was washed out on Cedar Oaks Drive in Payne Springs stranding about 30 households. FM 2636 in Malakoff, Bunny Rabbit Road in Athens, and FM 773 north of Murchison were closed due to high water. A bridge was washed out on CR 2803.
- Mar 2, 1997Thunderstorm Wind$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
High winds damaged hundreds of homes and businesses, and blew down trees and power lines.
- Apr 18, 2019Thunderstorm Wind$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Emergency management reported at least one hundred trees blown down, many of which were very large and some of which fell on homes and vehicles.
- Apr 29, 2017Tornado$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
A National Weather Service damage survey crew found the start of tornado number three began in Henderson County, approximately 3 miles due south of Eustace. This tornado eventually moved into Van Zandt County, where the storm produced EF4 damage. In Henderson County, several homes suffered EF2 damage, along with a considerable amount of tree damage and damage to farm buildings. As the storm moved into Van Zandt County, the tornado grew to a mile wide at the tornado's maximum width. Over 50 homes were either damaged or destroyed, with a continuous path noted between counties.
- Oct 1, 2006Drought, Henderson$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Persistent drought conditions continued across portions of north Texas. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, much of the region was still experiencing extreme (D3) drought conditions. The areas which were rated exceptional drought (D4) last month had received enough rainfall to be downgraded into the D3 category this month.|Even though drought conditions were lessened by a few rain events this month, serious hydrological problems remained. For instance, as much water was used from Lake Bridgeport in one month alone as was saved through conservation efforts by north Texas over the summer. Almost every north Texas lake remained well below conservation levels. The rain events this…
- 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 Tyler Pounds Field, 29.5 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1883.
- All-time high
- 110°F2 times, most recently Aug 3, 2011
- All-time low
- −6°FFeb 16, 2021
- Warmest night
- 88°FJul 14, 1901
- Coldest day
- 10°FFeb 13, 1899
- Wettest day
- 8.15 inJun 10, 2010
- Snowiest day
- 7.5 inJan 30, 1949
- Hottest year
- 2023mean 69.6°F
- Coldest year
- 1895mean 63.6°F
- Wettest year
- 201568.05 in
- Driest year
- 200524.92 in
- Snowiest season
- 7.5 in1948-49
Median first snow
January 22
Earliest: January 3, 1942
Median last snow
January 25
Latest: February 13, 1905
10 of 20 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Tyler Pounds Field (USW00013972), 523 ft elevation, 29.5 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1883 to October 26, 2026; 94.6% 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
25 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, May 17, 2024.
| May 17, 2024 | Flood | DR-4781-TX |
| Apr 21, 2023 | Winter Storm | DR-4705-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 |
| Mar 19, 2016 | Flood | DR-4266-TX |
| Feb 9, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4255-TX |
| May 29, 2015 | Severe Storm | DR-4223-TX |
| Sep 9, 2011 | Fire | DR-4029-TX |
| Sep 10, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3294-TX |
| Mar 14, 2008 | Fire | EM-3284-TX |
| Jun 29, 2007 | Severe Storm | DR-1709-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 |
| Dec 26, 1991 | Flood | DR-930-TX |
| May 2, 1990 | Severe Storm | DR-863-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.
How this compares
Where Henderson County stands among 254 counties in Texas and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 38 | 113 / 254 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 19 / 254 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 6 | 98 / 254 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 90 | 94 / 254 |
| Flood insurance paid | $3.4 million | 79 / 254 |
| Disaster declarations | 25 | 58 / 254 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 66 | 92 / 254 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 292 | 97 / 254 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 25 | 134 / 254 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $19.7 million | 115 / 254 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 3 | 100 / 254 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 178 | 147 / 254 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 12.0 | 80 / 254 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 1 | 92 / 254 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Anderson County | 36 | 11 |
| Cherokee County | 45 | 12 |
| Ellis County | 64 | 4 |
| Freestone County | 15 | 10 |
| Kaufman County | 39 | 2 |
| Navarro County | 51 | 5 |
| Smith County | 75 | 5 |
| Van Zandt County | 42 | 5 |
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 USW00013972.
- 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.