Polk County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Polk County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Polk County is much lower than Texas average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #92
| Polk County | 0.01 |
| 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
| Polk 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, #136
| Polk County | 135.24 |
| 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 9,035 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Polk 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: | 2 | Cold: | 7 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 109 |
| Dust Storm: | 5 | Flood: | 1,052 | Hail: | 3,095 | Heat: | 18 | Heavy Snow: | 39 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 10 | Ice Storm: | 39 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 76 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,111 | Tropical Storm: | 16 | Wildfire: | 20 | Winter Storm: | 31 | Winter Weather: | 38 |
| Other: | 367 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Polk County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Polk County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Polk County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 54 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Polk County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 2.5 | 1989-05-17 | 2 | 30°48'N / 94°53'W | 30°50'N / 94°50'W | 3.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Polk |
| 6.9 | 1987-12-06 | 2 | 30°53'N / 94°51'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk | |
| 10.4 | 1987-12-06 | 2 | 30°41'N / 94°58'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
| 11.4 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 30°49'N / 95°08'W | 30°59'N / 94°49'W | 22.10 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk |
| 12.7 | 1967-05-01 | 2 | 30°48'N / 95°07'W | 30°49'N / 94°59'W | 8.00 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Polk |
| 14.1 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 30°35'N / 94°48'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Polk | |
| 15.8 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 30°49'N / 94°49'W | 31°07'N / 94°32'W | 26.70 Miles | 1300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Polk |
| 17.2 | 1961-04-08 | 2 | 31°02'N / 94°49'W | 0.40 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Polk | |
| 19.9 | 1975-10-23 | 2 | 30°32'N / 95°03'W | 30°32'N / 94°57'W | 6.40 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | San Jacinto |
| 21.5 | 2001-12-16 | 2 | 30°46'N / 95°13'W | 30°47'N / 95°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | San Jacinto |
| Brief Description: An F2 Tornado touched down at the Point Lookout West Estates. There were 2 minor injuries. 15 homes were destroyed, with 15 to 20 other homes receiving major damage. Trees and power lines were down. Reported by the Sheriff's office. | |||||||||||
| 22.5 | 2006-04-29 | 2 | 30°36'N / 95°09'W | 30°36'N / 95°09'W | 1.00 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 4 | 100K | 0 | San Jacinto |
| Brief Description: Tornado in the Coldspring Terrace Subdivision along Lake Livingston. Four injuries in two homes that received major damage. | |||||||||||
| 23.1 | 1952-12-03 | 2 | 30°54'N / 95°18'W | 30°57'N / 95°05'W | 13.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Trinity |
| 24.1 | 1967-02-20 | 2 | 30°49'N / 94°26'W | 0.50 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Tyler | |
| 24.4 | 1982-06-28 | 2 | 31°04'N / 95°08'W | 31°02'N / 95°05'W | 3.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Trinity |
| 25.0 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 31°04'N / 95°07'W | 31°11'N / 94°51'W | 17.80 Miles | 883 Yards | 0 | 13 | 250K | 0 | Trinity |
| 25.9 | 2004-11-23 | 2 | 31°10'N / 94°53'W | 31°09'N / 94°52'W | 2.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 100K | 0 | Trinity |
| Brief Description: Seven hunters in the Davy Crockett National Forest were stranded and their vehicles severely damaged. Seventy to ninety percent of trees in path felled or damaged. | |||||||||||
| 26.4 | 1973-06-04 | 2 | 30°45'N / 95°23'W | 31°04'N / 95°08'W | 26.40 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Walker |
| 26.9 | 1983-12-10 | 2 | 31°02'N / 95°14'W | 31°06'N / 95°04'W | 10.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Trinity |
| 27.6 | 1955-05-19 | 2 | 31°11'N / 94°48'W | 0.50 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Angelina | |
| 27.8 | 1960-06-26 | 2 | 31°11'N / 94°46'W | 0.70 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Angelina | |
| 27.8 | 1960-09-22 | 2 | 31°11'N / 94°46'W | 0.40 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Angelina | |
| 32.0 | 1990-01-19 | 3 | 31°13'N / 94°57'W | 31°16'N / 94°54'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Trinity |
| 32.2 | 1989-05-17 | 2 | 31°12'N / 94°58'W | 31°17'N / 94°55'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Trinity |
| 32.4 | 1999-01-01 | 2 | 30°50'N / 95°23'W | 30°46'N / 95°23'W | 5.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | Trinity |
| Brief Description: Funnel reported over the Trinity River bridge. Storm abruptly took a right turn along the eastern shore of Lake Livingston. Tornado touched down 7 miles south of Trinity. Effected Timber Bay, Whiterock Estates, Azteck Cove and Timber Cove subdivisions. Major damage caused by trees falling on residences/vehicles. Strongest damage (and not necessarly caused by falling trees) occurred at Whiterock Estates. Resident in Timber Bay (where the first touchdown occurred) had anemometer that clocked 110 mph winds before it was blown away. Mostly F1 damage with F2 damage in Whiterock Estates. | |||||||||||
| 32.4 | 1972-11-13 | 2 | 31°03'N / 94°25'W | 31°05'N / 94°23'W | 3.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 2 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Angelina |
| 33.3 | 2002-03-30 | 3 | 31°07'N / 94°46'W | 31°20'N / 94°27'W | 24.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 6 | 5.0M | 0 | Angelina |
| Brief Description: Numerous trees and power lines broken, snapped, and pulled out of the ground along the entire track. Several barns were severely damaged and numerous homes were with missing roofs while others suffered severe roof and structural damage. South of the Ora Community one house was totally blown off its foundation and destroyed. This tornado moved into Angelina County, TX from Polk County, TX and continued into Nacogdoches County, TX and San Augustine County, TX. | |||||||||||
| 33.4 | 1981-02-10 | 2 | 30°48'N / 95°34'W | 30°50'N / 95°14'W | 19.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Walker |
| 34.4 | 1968-04-21 | 2 | 31°12'N / 94°31'W | 1.00 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Angelina | |
| 35.0 | 1983-12-10 | 2 | 30°30'N / 94°33'W | 30°34'N / 94°06'W | 26.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Tyler |
| 35.1 | 1983-12-10 | 2 | 31°12'N / 94°41'W | 31°14'N / 94°22'W | 18.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Angelina |
| 35.4 | 1992-11-21 | 3 | 30°06'N / 95°02'W | 30°27'N / 94°47'W | 28.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Liberty |
| 35.5 | 1954-04-30 | 2 | 31°11'N / 94°51'W | 31°22'N / 94°28'W | 25.90 Miles | 883 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Angelina |
| 36.2 | 1990-01-19 | 3 | 31°16'N / 94°54'W | 31°21'N / 94°50'W | 8.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Angelina |
| 37.3 | 1957-10-22 | 3 | 30°15'N / 94°58'W | 30°15'N / 94°54'W | 4.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Liberty |
| 38.6 | 1961-07-24 | 2 | 31°20'N / 94°43'W | 0.20 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Angelina | |
| 38.8 | 2009-12-23 | 3 | 31°18'N / 94°43'W | 31°22'N / 94°41'W | 4.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 2 | 10.0M | 0K | Angelina |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: An EF3 tornado touched down on the south side of Lufkin, on Loop 287 near Olive Garden just west of the intersections Loop 287 and South Chestnut Street. The tornado then tracked north northeast causing roof and tree damage to several homes behind Morgan Insurance Company on Loop 287. The tornado continued its north northeastward track then crossed South Chestnut causing major damage to Gibson Funeral Home. It then tracked northward through a residential neighborhood causing more tree and roof damage, before destroying Max Welding Shop on Denman Rd. The tornado crossed Denman Road moving through another residential area causing moderate to major tree and roof damage. The tornado then destroyed the VFW building just before crossing Lufkin Avenue. More residential damage was observed between Lufkin Avenue and Atkinson Drive. The tornado crossed Atkinson Drive causing major damage by tossing several 18-wheelers parked at a trucking company on Loop 287. The tornado then crossed Loop 287, damaging Goodyear Tires and Jim Walter Homes. The storm then tracked north into a wooded area before reaching Kit McConnico Park and causing moderate to major damage to the park. The tornado lifted on the northern end of Kit McConnico Park around 10:07 PM. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A strong upper level storm system moved its way out of the southern Great Basin and into the Southern Plains during the afternoon hours of December 23rd. Strong southerly flow was found ahead of this storm system with dewpoint temperatures in the lower to middle 60s noted northward to the Interstate 20 corridor of northeast Texas and northern Louisiana. Impressive deep layer shear was noted in the warm sector across the region which was conducive for discrete storm cells during the afternoon and evening across northeast Texas. These storms spawned tornadoes and produced large hail across portions of northeast Texas. The storm system moved eastward during the predawn hours of December 24th with again, numerous storms producing tornadoes across southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana. In addition to all the storm damage...these storms were prolific rain makers with numerous reports of flash flooding across the region as well. | |||||||||||
| 39.1 | 1974-03-20 | 3 | 31°21'N / 94°49'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Angelina | |||
| 39.8 | 1972-03-28 | 2 | 31°16'N / 94°50'W | 31°26'N / 94°35'W | 18.70 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 13 | 2.5M | 0 | Angelina |
| 40.5 | 1957-10-14 | 2 | 30°12'N / 94°54'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Liberty | |
| 40.5 | 1979-04-18 | 2 | 30°15'N / 95°12'W | 30°17'N / 95°07'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 41.4 | 1989-05-17 | 2 | 31°17'N / 94°55'W | 31°29'N / 94°48'W | 12.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Nacogdoches |
| 42.3 | 1999-01-29 | 2 | 30°37'N / 94°11'W | 30°41'N / 94°06'W | 6.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 20K | 0 | Tyler |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado moved across rural sections of eastern Tyler County, tearing up a large swath of trees and damaging a few out buildings. Some trees were as wide as 15 feet across and 100 feet tall. This tornado moved into rural sections of Jasper County. | |||||||||||
| 42.5 | 1957-03-31 | 2 | 30°43'N / 95°33'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Walker | |
| 44.1 | 1997-10-23 | 2 | 30°18'N / 95°21'W | 30°17'N / 95°16'W | 5.00 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 1 | 175K | 0 | Montgomery |
| Brief Description: This tornado was probably the most significant in strength and length that occurred this day. Several homes and mobile homes received major damage. There was one injury when a young boy was in a mobile home when the tornado picked it up and wrapped it around a tree. Damage to trees was extensive with many trees being snapped off above the ground. This storm was surveyed from the air and had continuous tree damage from Midway to Shepherd in San Jacinto County. | |||||||||||
| 44.2 | 1961-09-12 | 3 | 30°09'N / 94°44'W | 0.50 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Liberty | |
| 44.3 | 2003-04-06 | 2 | 31°25'N / 94°56'W | 31°26'N / 94°39'W | 13.70 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Angelina |
| Brief Description: A classic supercell thunderstorm moved northeastward across Angelina County, TX into Nacogdoches County, TX producing a strong tornado. Numerous structures were damaged near Central, TX, northwest of Lufkin, TX. Otherwise damage was confined to uprooted and snapped trees. | |||||||||||
| 44.9 | 2004-11-23 | 2 | 30°29'N / 94°10'W | 30°31'N / 94°09'W | 3.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 1 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Hardin |
| Brief Description: A second tornado touched down in northeastern Hardin County, was was witnessed by many people. Residents could see both tornadoes on the ground for a brief time. One elderly woman was killed when several large trees fell on the mobile home she was in. Between 10 and 20 homes were damaged or destroyed, mainly near Highway 92 near the Hardin-Tyler county line. F77MH | |||||||||||
| 45.0 | 1968-12-12 | 3 | 30°19'N / 95°26'W | 30°22'N / 95°21'W | 6.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 45.0 | 1954-02-19 | 2 | 30°19'N / 95°27'W | 30°27'N / 95°25'W | 9.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery |
| 46.4 | 2002-03-30 | 2 | 31°19'N / 94°26'W | 31°21'N / 94°20'W | 7.50 Miles | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.2M | 0 | Nacogdoches |
| Brief Description: Numerous trees and power lines broken, snapped and pulled out of the ground along the track. Numerous homes and business were severely damaged or destroyed. This tornado moved into Nacogdoches County, TX from Polk County, TX and Angelina County, TX then continued northeast into San Augustine County, TX. | |||||||||||
| 49.1 | 1974-01-19 | 3 | 31°18'N / 94°16'W | 0.80 Mile | 400 Yards | 0 | 2 | 0K | 0 | San Augustine | |
| 49.6 | 1967-05-01 | 2 | 30°04'N / 94°53'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Liberty | |
| 49.8 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 30°07'N / 94°52'W | 30°01'N / 94°39'W | 14.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Liberty |
| 50.0 | 1970-01-10 | 2 | 30°10'N / 94°24'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Hardin | |
* 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.