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Wind in Polk County, Texas
113 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.
Polk County, Texas, has 113 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 35 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 48 events against 55 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 43,222 wind events recorded in Texas; its 10.7 per 100 square miles compares with 16.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 8 deaths in the county to damaging wind.
63 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 10 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 | Polk County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 113 | 43,222 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 10.7 | 16.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 21.8 | 14.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 8 | 129 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
9Feb
8Mar
13Apr
16May
20Jun
12Jul
13Aug
7Sep
3Oct
4Nov
7Dec
1
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 113 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $13K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $17K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | $26K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | $1K | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 68 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 77 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $15K | $3K | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Nov 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Nov 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $135K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Oct 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jan 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Nov 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 135 mph | $14M | $3.8M | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50 | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Sep 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 92 mph | — | — | 5 | — | County |
| 17 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | 3 | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1961 | Thunderstorm Wind | 100 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
113 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 Polk County?
15 Mar 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The thunderstorm wind of 10 Feb 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $14M and crop damage at $3.8M.
How does Polk County compare with Texas for wind?
10.7 events per 100 square miles against 16.5 statewide; the county holds 113 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.