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Wind in Willacy County, Texas
55 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.
NCEI records 55 wind events in Willacy County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 32 years.
May is the busiest month, with 20 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 25 events against 14 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 9.3 per 100 square miles compares with 16.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
34 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 7 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 | Willacy County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 55 | 43,222 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 9.3 | 16.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 27.1 | 14.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 129 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
3Apr
6May
20Jun
6Jul
3Aug
2Sep
4Oct
3Nov
3Dec
3
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 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 45 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | $500 | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 17 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 40 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 2005 | Strong Wind | 63 mph | $10K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 20 Oct 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | $30K | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 61 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 90 mph | — | — | 1 | — | County |
| 5 Feb 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Feb 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Nov 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1983 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Nov 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 74 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Nov 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1979 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1968 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1966 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Willacy County had?
55 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 Willacy County?
16 Mar 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 63 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Willacy County?
The thunderstorm wind of 24 May 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Willacy County compare with Texas for wind?
9.3 events per 100 square miles against 16.5 statewide; the county holds 55 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.