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Wind in Zapata County, Texas
44 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 44 wind events in Zapata County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 25 years.
May is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 24 events against 19 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 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 16.5 statewide.
26 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 5 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 | Zapata County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 44 | 43,222 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 16.5 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 31.6 | 14.6 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 129 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | May | June |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
3Apr
6May
17Jun
7Jul
3Aug
2Sep
4Oct
0Nov
1Dec
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 44 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Aug 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2018 | Strong Wind | 49 mph | $25K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 21 May 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 51 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 2008 | High Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 81 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 75 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | $2K | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Zapata County had?
44 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 Zapata County?
28 May 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Zapata County?
The thunderstorm wind of 14 May 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $750K.
How does Zapata County compare with Texas for wind?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 16.5 statewide; the county holds 44 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.