Austin County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Austin County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Austin County is lower than Texas average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #193
| Austin County | 0.00 |
| Texas | 0.04 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Austin County | 0.0000 |
| Texas | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #109
| Austin County | 163.92 |
| Texas | 208.58 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 8,222 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Austin County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 13 | Dense Fog: | 2 | Drought: | 185 |
| Dust Storm: | 6 | Flood: | 1,606 | Hail: | 2,711 | Heat: | 26 | Heavy Snow: | 37 |
| High Surf: | 3 | Hurricane: | 7 | Ice Storm: | 33 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 96 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,963 | Tropical Storm: | 14 | Wildfire: | 22 | Winter Storm: | 42 | Winter Weather: | 50 |
| Other: | 406 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Austin County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Austin County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Austin County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 65 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Austin County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 4.0 | 1961-03-16 | 2 | 29°57'N / 96°16'W | 0.10 Mile | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Austin | |
| 10.0 | 1983-01-31 | 2 | 29°47'N / 96°08'W | 29°50'N / 96°08'W | 3.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Austin |
| 14.6 | 1950-06-05 | 3 | 30°11'N / 96°24'W | 30°01'N / 96°03'W | 23.90 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Washington |
| 17.6 | 1957-10-14 | 2 | 30°06'N / 96°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Waller | |
| 19.7 | 1964-02-04 | 2 | 29°36'N / 96°20'W | 29°37'N / 96°17'W | 3.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Colorado |
| 20.1 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 30°10'N / 96°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Washington | |
| 20.1 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 30°10'N / 96°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington | |
| 20.8 | 1998-10-18 | 2 | 29°49'N / 95°56'W | 29°49'N / 95°56'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 1 | 1 | 75K | 0 | Waller |
| Brief Description: Tornado destroyed mobile home. One person killed and another injured in the home. Nine other homes damaged and 2 barns destroyed. M47MH | |||||||||||
| 22.4 | 1957-10-14 | 3 | 30°07'N / 96°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Waller | |
| 23.5 | 1962-06-18 | 2 | 30°04'N / 95°56'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Waller | |||
| 23.8 | 1957-10-14 | 2 | 30°03'N / 95°55'W | 0.50 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Waller | |
| 26.5 | 1986-02-05 | 2 | 29°50'N / 95°51'W | 29°50'N / 95°49'W | 4.00 Miles | 170 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Waller |
| 28.8 | 1986-02-05 | 2 | 29°50'N / 95°49'W | 29°52'N / 95°46'W | 4.00 Miles | 170 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harris |
| 30.1 | 1964-05-01 | 2 | 30°18'N / 96°12'W | 30°20'N / 96°07'W | 5.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Washington |
| 31.1 | 1960-02-17 | 2 | 29°46'N / 95°48'W | 29°48'N / 95°44'W | 4.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Harris |
| 31.2 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 29°41'N / 95°48'W | 29°47'N / 95°46'W | 4.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 32.4 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°48'N / 96°48'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 32.6 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°44'N / 96°47'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Colorado | |
| 32.7 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 30°08'N / 96°49'W | 30°12'N / 96°37'W | 12.80 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fayette |
| 32.8 | 1966-03-28 | 3 | 29°27'N / 96°20'W | 29°23'N / 96°12'W | 9.30 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Colorado |
| 32.8 | 1993-04-07 | 2 | 29°25'N / 96°17'W | 0.50 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Wharton | |
| Brief Description: The Wharton Newspaper reported large trees blown down, metal roofs blown off barns and water pump housings blown over on Farm-to-Market Road 2614 northwest of Egypt near the community of Bonus. There were numerous reports of street flooding in the Wharton vicinity. | |||||||||||
| 33.2 | 1953-12-02 | 2 | 30°22'N / 96°11'W | 2 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Washington | |||
| 33.5 | 1955-06-05 | 2 | 29°42'N / 96°47'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Colorado | |||
| 34.3 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°48'N / 96°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 34.5 | 1965-04-19 | 3 | 29°27'N / 96°00'W | 0.20 Mile | 150 Yards | 1 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Fort Bend | |
| 35.1 | 1973-02-13 | 2 | 29°58'N / 95°43'W | 29°59'N / 95°40'W | 3.30 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Harris |
| 35.2 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 29°47'N / 95°46'W | 29°58'N / 95°36'W | 21.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 35.2 | 1983-11-19 | 2 | 30°24'N / 96°14'W | 1.10 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Brazos | |
| 35.7 | 1967-09-21 | 2 | 29°34'N / 96°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Colorado | |
| 35.8 | 1961-11-22 | 3 | 29°24'N / 96°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 0K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 38.0 | 1974-09-13 | 3 | 29°35'N / 95°45'W | 29°37'N / 95°43'W | 3.60 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | Fort Bend |
| 38.6 | 2000-03-10 | 3 | 30°25'N / 96°41'W | 30°24'N / 96°21'W | 21.00 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 2 | 1.0M | 0 | Burleson |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down near Harmony at 1955 CST with significant tree damage including an 18 inch diameter tree blown down. A trailer was also significantly damaged. Tornado then tracked to just south of Center Line with mostly F0 tree damage along its path. Tornado then reached the Pin Oak subdivision at about 2022 CST. Several trailers, including a double-wide, were destroyed. A total of 7 homes were destroyed and another 10 severely damaged in this area, with damage reaching F2 status. Tornado then struck a ranch on the south side of FM 1361 with large trees uprooted or cut in half and windows blown out and portion of roof torn off large frame house. Several rural outbuildings at the ranch which had been bolted down were destroyed. Damage in this area was rated F3 with damage swath up to a half mile wide. Tornado then tracked to just north of Clay by 2051 CST with a narrow swath of F0 to F1 tree damage along the path. When tornado passed north of Clay before dissipating, car was blown off road and damage swath reached 200 yards wide. | |||||||||||
| 39.1 | 1965-09-22 | 3 | 30°13'N / 95°44'W | 0.80 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Montgomery | |
| 39.4 | 1962-02-23 | 2 | 30°15'N / 96°47'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lee | |
| 39.9 | 1981-05-09 | 2 | 29°30'N / 95°49'W | 29°28'N / 95°47'W | 3.30 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fort Bend |
| 40.0 | 1986-02-05 | 2 | 30°01'N / 95°37'W | 2.50 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris | |
| 40.2 | 1972-03-20 | 2 | 29°20'N / 96°05'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 41.3 | 1957-03-20 | 3 | 30°16'N / 96°50'W | 30°19'N / 96°44'W | 7.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Lee |
| 41.3 | 1955-05-23 | 2 | 29°19'N / 96°05'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 41.4 | 1965-01-21 | 2 | 29°37'N / 96°53'W | 0.80 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 41.7 | 1954-07-06 | 2 | 29°42'N / 96°54'W | 29°43'N / 96°58'W | 4.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Colorado |
| 42.1 | 1964-06-15 | 2 | 29°18'N / 96°06'W | 1.50 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 42.1 | 1966-04-14 | 2 | 29°18'N / 96°06'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 42.6 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°37'N / 95°38'W | 29°37'N / 95°38'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 60 | 500K | 0 | Fort Bend |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down on west Airport Drive near Industrial in Sugar Land. 60 injuries with 7 people sent to hospital for further treatment. Damage to several office building roofs in Industrial Park. Additional damage to a Daycare facility at West Airport Drive and Dairy Ashford Road. Roof damage to several residential homes in the Meadows subdivision. Reports of several cars overturned or blown off of road along Airport Drive. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 42.8 | 1974-07-14 | 2 | 29°47'N / 95°34'W | 0.80 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris | |
| 43.1 | 1983-05-20 | 2 | 29°54'N / 96°06'W | 29°55'N / 95°00'W | 4.00 Miles | 333 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Harris |
| 44.0 | 1970-10-23 | 2 | 29°18'N / 96°00'W | 1.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 44.8 | 1974-08-29 | 2 | 29°47'N / 95°32'W | 1.00 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Harris | |
| 44.9 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 30°06'N / 96°58'W | 30°08'N / 96°59'W | 3.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 45.3 | 1987-11-15 | 2 | 30°11'N / 96°57'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Lee | |
| 45.6 | 1957-03-20 | 3 | 30°23'N / 96°47'W | 30°27'N / 96°41'W | 7.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Burleson |
| 45.7 | 1981-05-16 | 2 | 30°27'N / 96°48'W | 30°24'N / 96°39'W | 9.70 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Burleson |
| 45.8 | 1986-02-05 | 3 | 30°02'N / 95°33'W | 29°59'N / 95°29'W | 5.00 Miles | 70 Yards | 2 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Harris |
| 46.3 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°38'N / 95°34'W | 29°38'N / 95°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0 | Fort Bend |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. One home lost roof with several other homes damaged. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 46.3 | 1967-09-20 | 3 | 29°27'N / 96°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Lavaca | |
| 46.5 | 1970-10-23 | 2 | 29°18'N / 95°54'W | 1.50 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Wharton | |
| 46.7 | 1994-05-13 | 2 | 29°23'N / 96°47'W | 0.20 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 5K | Lavaca | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Vienna, destroying a mobile home and a house, knocking down power lines and covering the roadway with debris. One witness reported hearing a sound like a "freight train." | |||||||||||
| 46.9 | 1957-03-20 | 3 | 30°19'N / 96°55'W | 30°23'N / 96°47'W | 9.30 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Lee |
| 47.1 | 1983-05-20 | 2 | 30°04'N / 95°34'W | 30°04'N / 95°27'W | 7.00 Miles | 333 Yards | 1 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris |
| 47.2 | 2003-11-17 | 2 | 29°37'N / 95°33'W | 29°37'N / 95°33'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Harris |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. Tornado moved over the intersection of West Bellfort and Kirkwood. Numerous apartments lost roofs in the extensive SW Village Apartment Complex damage. A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded. These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary. | |||||||||||
| 48.4 | 1981-05-09 | 2 | 30°27'N / 95°45'W | 30°23'N / 95°43'W | 5.10 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 48.4 | 1969-04-04 | 2 | 30°30'N / 96°38'W | 30°35'N / 96°31'W | 9.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Burleson |
| 49.1 | 1983-05-20 | 2 | 29°50'N / 95°32'W | 29°56'N / 95°22'W | 12.00 Miles | 333 Yards | 1 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Harris |
| 49.3 | 1972-03-20 | 2 | 29°26'N / 96°56'W | 29°26'N / 96°52'W | 4.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lavaca |
| 49.8 | 1953-12-02 | 2 | 29°12'N / 96°02'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Wharton | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.