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Wind in Karnes County, Texas
30 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Karnes County, Texas, has 30 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 13 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.1% of the 43,222 wind events recorded in Texas; its 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 16.5 statewide.
10 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 1 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Karnes County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 30 | 43,222 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 16.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 20.3 | 14.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 129 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
3Mar
3Apr
7May
8Jun
3Jul
4Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 30 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1963 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1960 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1955 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Karnes County had?
30 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in Karnes County?
23 Jul 2023 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Karnes County?
The thunderstorm wind of 17 May 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $80K.
How does Karnes County compare with Texas for wind?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 16.5 statewide; the county holds 30 of the state's 43,222 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.