Terrell County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Terrell County: 0.
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.

Every storm within 100 miles

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.

Every large fire

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. 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).
2. 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.

Costliest events since 1996

1. Jul 25, 2004Flash Flood$1.1 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A large complex of thunderstorms erupted over southeastern Pecos County, northeastern Brewster County, and much of Terrell County during the pre-dawn hours Sunday. Terrell County received the heaviest rainfall, with KMAF 88D Doppler radar estimates that totaled seven to nine inches over rural portions of north-central Terrell County between 03:00 and 12:00 CST. Widespread and damaging flash flood conditions resulted across the west Texas Lower Trans Pecos. This heavy rainfall and its associated runoff produced flash flooding along Dry Creek and Independence Creek. Local officials reported that a wall of water that measured eighteen feet in height propagated down Dry Creek in the…

2. Jun 2, 2024Tornado$400,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Photos showed a tornado formed very near Sanderson along a ridge northwest of town. This tornado immediately entered a neighborhood west of US Highway 285 in Sanderson. Damage in this neighborhood included damage to walls and roofs of several houses with the complete destruction of a manufactured home. A sturdy steel carport collapsed in on itself, and trees were debarked in the area. This damage was rated with a max estimated wind speed of 140 MPH, making this tornado an EF-3. This tornado would continue a short distance to the east of this neighborhood, moving shipping containers and snapping power poles before lifting. Property damage cost is an estimation. Additionally, 12…

3. Jul 25, 2004Flash Flood$300,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Flash flooding along Independence Creek inundated the intersection of State Highway 349 and Farm to Market Road 2400 in northern Terrell County. A local newspaper reported that flood waters stranded a pair of motorists at the intersection. Emergency crews from Iraan (Pecos County) responded and conducted swift water rescues to bring the couple to safety. Dangerous flash flood conditions along Independence Creek, Farm to Market Road 2400 and its intersection with State Highway 349 corresponded to a flood wave measured along the creek at the Chandler Ranch, several miles east-southeast of the intersection. At 09:45 CST a gauge registered a crest of eighteen feet. Independence Creek…

4. Jun 15, 1997Thunderstorm Wind$200,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   An HP supercell in the western part of Terrell County produced a bow echo on its southern flank as it approach Sanderson with the apex of the bow aimed at the town. Damaging winds rushed into town with torrential rains and mostly pea size hail. The most substantial damage was to a department store that had the roof blown off and the front wall collapse into the street. Signs were bent over, trees uprooted, and power poles broken. Also a large Texaco sign was blown down and dumpsters were overturned and pushed down alleys. It was evident from the damage that all the winds were blowing from the west or northwest.

5. Jul 25, 2004Flash Flood$200,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The first of two flash floods along the Pecos River in northeastern Terrell County occurred just before sunrise. Runoff from the Dry Creek flood that damaged State Highway 349 emptied into the Pecos River from the lower portion of Independence Creek. The Chandler Ranch headquarters, located in a flood plain adjacent to the merger of Independence Creek and the Pecos River, sustained serious damage. Ranch residents described a large "wall" of water that swept through the flood plain and inundated the headquarters. Large trees were uprooted by the currents. A swimming pool was destroyed by debris carried in the raging water. Several structures, including a permanent residence, were…

6. Jul 25, 2004Flood, Terrell$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Flood waters from the swollen Dry Creek isolated thirteen workers from the Grey Wolf Drilling Company. The men were stranded on an "island" for almost thirty-six hours at an oil well site twenty-two miles northeast of Dryden. A helicopter rescue was attempted around 14:00 CST Sunday, but adverse weather conditions restricted rescue operations. The workers were not seriously injured when they walked to safety around 15:00 CST on Monday, July 26th. Minor flood damage to oil field equipment occurred.

7. Apr 21, 2011Tornado$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Tornado damage was reported near Sanderson at approximately 17:45 CST. Several cedar trees were destroyed as the tornado tracked east southeast. A home and barn were also destroyed by the tornado. Spotter reports indicate the tornado was 1/2 mile wide and travelled approximately 9 miles.

8. Jun 2, 2024Tornado$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The same supercell thunderstorm that caused the first tornado would quickly produce another smaller tornado near the center of Sanderson a short time later. This tornado was photographed as a skinny rope tornado moving roughly parallel to Oak Street. This tornado would snap power poles, damage roofs, and destroy a small wooden building before lifting. This short-lived tornado was rated an EF-1 with peak winds estimated to have been 110 MPH. Property damage cost is an estimation.

9. Jul 25, 2004Flash Flood$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   A second wave of convection developed over the Lower Trans Pecos region Sunday evening. The additional rain combined with the saturated conditions and standing water to quickly result in another round of flash flooding. The Chandler Ranch headquarters was impacted by a second large flood wave that propagated down the Pecos River and produced flash flooding. This event damaged several structures, including the foundation of a primary ranch residence which was cracked by the force of the flood waters. No injuries were reported.

10. Mar 4, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$75,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Employees at the Terrell County Gas Plant reported winds up to 70 MPH. The winds knocked over a large storage vessel that weighed several tons. In addition, a service unit was also damaged.

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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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.
• 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.