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Winkler County, Texas

Natural disaster risk, federal disaster history and flood insurance facts.

Very Low overall risk
234th of 254highest risk in Texas
$2Mexpected losses a year
10federal declarations
Photo: Aleatoric Consonance, CC BY 2.0

Winkler County, Texas has a very low overall risk from natural hazards in FEMA's National Risk Index. Its risk score is lower than 96% of US counties. It ranks 234th of 254 counties in Texas. The costliest hazards here are drought, inland flooding and hail. FEMA estimates about $2.4 million a year in expected losses, or roughly $306 per resident. Since 1998 it has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events (5 major disasters). The most recent was in February 2021 (severe winter storms). No homes here carry federal flood insurance.

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025; OpenFEMA declarations to Nov 6, 2026; NFIP records. Updated November 6, 2026.

Top risks in Winkler County

Drought

Moderate
$743,134 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 75 times a year.
  • Check local water restrictions.
  • Choose drought-tolerant plants.
$551,796 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about once every 1 years.
  • Check the FEMA flood map for your address, and ask the seller or landlord about past flooding.
  • Price a flood policy now. Most new federal policies take 30 days to start.

Hail

Low
$244,343 a yearExpected losses. Damaging events about 3 times a year.
  • Ask about the roof age and any impact-rated shingles.
  • Check your home policy for a separate wind and hail deductible.
HazardRatingScoreExpected loss a year
DroughtModerate79.5
$743K
Inland floodingVery Low4.6
$552K
HailLow52.9
$244K
Strong windLow26.0
$205K
TornadoVery Low18.8
$178K
Cold waveVery Low18.2
$160K
Heat waveVery Low29.3
$106K
LightningVery Low21.0
$60K
WildfireVery Low57.3
$60K
Winter weatherLow39.9
$38K
Ice stormVery Low23.6
$18K
EarthquakeVery Low16.2
$16K
HurricaneVery Low11.2
$2K
LandslideVery Low0.6
$0

Scores are percentiles: a score of 90 means higher risk than about 90% of US counties for that hazard. Hazards FEMA does not rate here are left out. Social vulnerability is relatively high and community resilience is relatively low in FEMA's measures.

Federal disaster history

Recent disasters nationwide ›

Declarations by decade

Federal declarations for natural events that included Winkler County. 2020s bar runs to November 2026.

By type

Fire4
Hurricane3
Severe Ice Storm2
Severe Storm1

Most recent

Feb 19, 2021Severe Winter StormsMajor disaster
Feb 14, 2021Severe Winter StormEmergency
Jul 1, 2011WildfiresMajor disaster
Mar 14, 2008WildfiresEmergency
Jan 11, 2006Extreme Wildfire ThreatMajor disaster
Sep 24, 2005Hurricane RitaMajor disaster
Sep 21, 2005Hurricane RitaEmergency
Sep 2, 2005Hurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergency
Sep 1, 1999Extreme Fire HazardsEmergency
Aug 26, 1998Tropical Storm CharleyMajor disaster

Texas also had 106 statewide declarations that did not name single counties.

Storm history since 1955

Tornado risk by county ›

The National Weather Service has logged 223 storm reports in Winkler County since 1955 and about $692,250 in reported damage. The strongest on record here was an F2 tornado on May 30, 1955.

11tornadoes
114hail reports, largest 5 inches
77damaging thunderstorm winds
21floods and flash floods

Strongest tornadoes

DateStrengthNearHurt / killed
May 30, 1955F2–0 / 0
Mar 7, 1958F1–0 / 0
May 15, 1995F1Kermit0 / 0
Jun 10, 1965F0–0 / 0
Jun 16, 1969F0–0 / 0

Most damaging storms

DateTypeNearDamage
Jul 6, 2004HailWink$275K
Jun 26, 2007Thunderstorm WindWinkler Co Arpt$100K
Jun 14, 2022Thunderstorm WindKermit Robinson Arpt$50K
Jun 3, 2022Thunderstorm WindWink$35K
Aug 6, 2017Thunderstorm WindWink$30K
May 30, 1955Tornado–$25K

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, county-based reports through Jul 16, 2026. Tornado records start in 1950, hail and wind in 1955, and floods and other storm types in 1996, so older decades undercount. Damage is in dollars of the year it happened and is often an estimate. Winter storms, heat and hurricanes are logged by forecast zone, not county, so they are not counted here.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

Hurricane risk by county ›

Since 1942, 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm have passed within 65 miles of the center of Winkler County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with top winds near 45 mph about 60 miles away.

0hurricanes
0major hurricanes (Category 3+)
1tropical storms
1942most recent: unnamed storm

Strongest storms nearby

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi

Most recent storms

DateStormStrengthClosest
Aug 31, 1942UnnamedTropical storm, 45 mph60 mi

Source: NOAA National Hurricane Center best-track records (HURDAT2), 1851 to 2025 for the Atlantic and 1949 to 2025 for the eastern Pacific. A storm counts if its track passed within 65 miles of the county's center while it was a tropical storm or hurricane. Strength is the storm's top sustained wind at that point, not the wind measured in the county. Older storms over the open sea were sometimes missed.

Flood insurance in Winkler County

Check your address flood zone ›
0%of homes have federal flood insurance (0 policies)
0%of homes in mapped high-risk flood zones are insured
$0paid on 0 flood claims since 1978
n/acostliest year

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) records only; private flood policies are not included. Home counts as of Aug 3, 2026. Since 2021 NFIP prices each home separately under Risk Rating 2.0, so your price depends on the building, not the county. Ask an agent for a quote.

Homes in Winkler County

$148,200median home value (Texas $283,800, US $332,700)
1968median year homes were built (Texas 1992, US 1980)
74%of homes built before 1980, before many modern wind, quake and flood building rules
10.5%of homes are mobile homes, which are the least safe in tornadoes and high winds

Older homes and mobile homes usually suffer more damage in storms, floods and earthquakes, and can cost more to insure. If you are buying, ask about roof age, foundation bolting and any retrofits. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates; 3,227 housing units.

Compare in Texas

All 254 ›
Largest countiesOverall riskTop hazard
Harris CountyVery HighInland flooding
Dallas CountyVery HighInland flooding
Tarrant CountyHighInland flooding
Bexar CountyHighInland flooding
Travis CountyHighInland flooding
Collin CountyHighTornado
Denton CountyHighTornado
Hidalgo CountyHighHurricane

Neighboring counties

CountyOverall riskDeclarations
Ector CountyModerate13
Lea County, NMModerate5
Andrews CountyVery Low12
Ward CountyVery Low9
Loving CountyVery Low9

Common questions about Winkler County

What is the biggest natural hazard in Winkler County?

Drought has the highest expected yearly losses in Winkler County, about $743,134 a year in FEMA's estimate. Inland flooding is second at $551,796.

How many federal disasters has Winkler County had?

Winkler County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations for natural events since 1998, including 5 major disasters. The most recent was Severe Winter Storms in February 2021.

Is Winkler County a high-risk place to live?

Its overall rating is Very Low, 234th highest of 254 in Texas. A county rating covers the whole area. Risk at one address can be much higher or lower, so check the FEMA flood map and ask about the home's history.

Do I need flood insurance in Winkler County?

Standard home insurance does not cover flooding. Lenders require it in mapped high-risk zones, but many flood claims come from outside those zones.

How many tornadoes has Winkler County had?

NOAA records list 11 tornadoes in Winkler County since 1950. The strongest was an F2 tornado on May 30, 1955. The weather service has also logged 114 hail reports and 21 floods here.

How many hurricanes have hit Winkler County?

NOAA's hurricane records show 0 hurricanes and 1 tropical storm passing within 65 miles of the center of Winkler County. The strongest was an unnamed storm in 1942, with winds near 45 mph.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (December 2025), OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, and NFIP policy and claims data. Hazard Compass is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. These figures describe the whole county, not a single property, and are not insurance or safety advice. Report a problem.