Fayette County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Texas Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Fayette County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Fayette County is lower than Texas average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #185
| Fayette 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
| Fayette 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, #120
| Fayette County | 151.14 |
| 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 9,114 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Fayette 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: | 22 | Dense Fog: | 2 | Drought: | 196 |
| Dust Storm: | 6 | Flood: | 2,070 | Hail: | 3,242 | Heat: | 23 | Heavy Snow: | 36 |
| High Surf: | 3 | Hurricane: | 4 | Ice Storm: | 32 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 84 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,898 | Tropical Storm: | 17 | Wildfire: | 29 | Winter Storm: | 41 | Winter Weather: | 54 |
| Other: | 355 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Fayette County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Fayette County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Fayette County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 52 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Fayette County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.5 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°48'N / 96°50'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 9.0 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°48'N / 96°48'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 11.7 | 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 |
| 13.0 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°44'N / 96°47'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Colorado | |
| 14.8 | 1955-06-05 | 2 | 29°42'N / 96°47'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Colorado | |||
| 16.8 | 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 |
| 16.9 | 1953-04-28 | 3 | 30°00'N / 97°10'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Bastrop | |
| 16.9 | 1965-05-18 | 2 | 30°00'N / 97°10'W | 1.00 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Bastrop | |
| 17.2 | 1991-01-14 | 2 | 29°59'N / 97°12'W | 30°02'N / 97°08'W | 5.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bastrop |
| 18.2 | 1965-01-21 | 2 | 29°37'N / 96°53'W | 0.80 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Fayette | |
| 21.2 | 1987-11-15 | 2 | 30°11'N / 96°57'W | 1.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 8 | 2.5M | 0 | Lee | |
| 21.4 | 1973-10-11 | 2 | 29°45'N / 97°15'W | 29°46'N / 97°15'W | 1.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Fayette |
| 23.4 | 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 |
| 23.6 | 1973-10-11 | 2 | 29°39'N / 97°16'W | 29°45'N / 97°15'W | 7.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Gonzales |
| 24.3 | 1967-09-21 | 2 | 29°34'N / 96°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Colorado | |
| 26.2 | 1980-08-10 | 2 | 30°00'N / 97°10'W | 30°05'N / 97°28'W | 18.80 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Bastrop |
| 27.0 | 1962-02-23 | 2 | 30°15'N / 96°47'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lee | |
| 29.6 | 1955-05-19 | 2 | 29°27'N / 96°57'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lavaca | |
| 29.7 | 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 |
| 29.9 | 1967-09-20 | 3 | 29°27'N / 96°51'W | 2.00 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Lavaca | |
| 30.7 | 1955-05-18 | 2 | 29°34'N / 97°10'W | 29°20'N / 96°57'W | 20.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lavaca |
| 30.7 | 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 |
| 32.7 | 1965-04-15 | 2 | 29°51'N / 97°31'W | 29°54'N / 97°25'W | 6.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Caldwell |
| 32.9 | 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 |
| 34.9 | 2007-03-31 | 2 | 29°23'N / 96°52'W | 29°22'N / 96°52'W | 0 | 4 | 75K | 0K | Lavaca | ||
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: To the southeast of Hallettsville, and southeast of the first tornado, a second tornado touched down near 0345 CST. This was just off FM530 on Road 16C, near the community of Light Chapel. This tornado touched down just south of a mobile home and began moving toward the northeast. A father, along with two sons and a daughter, had just arrived home less than an hour before the touchdown and had fallen asleep when the storm struck. The father reported feeling a jolt that awakened him as severe thunderstorm winds ahead of the tornado struck the mobile home. He reported that it became quiet again and then the mobile home exploded as the tornado stuck. He and his three children were blown and tossed almost 150 feet, coming to rest on the top of the former south wall of his mobile home. Broken glass was everywhere, but, in spite of cuts and bruises, they took shelter in a small nearby roofless shack as hail continued to fall. He then walked, carrying an injured son and daughter, to a neighbor???s house to call for help. His truck, parked under an awning just south of the mobile home was rolled and crushed. Had he and his children arrived only a few minutes later at their home, they could easily have been killed. That all have recovered except for minor bruises and cuts can only be considered a miracle. The father???s comments were that it???s all okay ??? we???re okay. What was destroyed is just ???stuff.??? Based on the destroyed mobile home, which had been tied down, and the rolled and twisted metal frame, the tornado was rated EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. Winds were estimated at 115 mph. The tornado path length was placed at four-tenths of a mile with a path width of 75 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: In the early morning hours of March 31, both supercells and short bow echoes began to form along the north-south aligned cold front after it crossed the IH-35 corridor. Moving into the eastern portion of South Central Texas, these storms produced heavy rainfall, large hail, and two tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 35.1 | 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." | |||||||||||
| 37.1 | 1967-09-20 | 3 | 29°21'N / 97°04'W | 29°21'N / 97°00'W | 4.30 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Lavaca |
| 37.7 | 1961-08-04 | 2 | 29°42'N / 97°31'W | 0.10 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 3K | 0 | Caldwell | |
| 37.8 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 30°10'N / 96°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Washington | |
| 37.8 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 30°10'N / 96°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Washington | |
| 38.6 | 1980-04-07 | 3 | 30°23'N / 97°15'W | 30°21'N / 97°13'W | 3.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Lee |
| 38.9 | 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 |
| 39.2 | 1957-04-24 | 3 | 30°16'N / 97°22'W | 30°23'N / 97°17'W | 9.60 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Bastrop |
| 39.2 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 29°53'N / 97°40'W | 29°57'N / 97°29'W | 11.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Caldwell |
| 39.5 | 1961-03-16 | 2 | 29°57'N / 96°16'W | 0.10 Mile | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Austin | |
| 39.6 | 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 |
| 39.6 | 1994-11-05 | 2 | 30°25'N / 97°09'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 10K | 0 | Lee | |
| Brief Description: A trailer home was destoyed 1 mile north of the town of Blue. The tornado lifted the mobile home and dropped it 25 feet away. A 13-year old boy was eating supper in the mobile home alone as the tornado struck. He described a sound "like a freight train", with the trailer beginning to rock back and forth. He remembered hitting the floor and ceiling as the mobile home was rolled over and destroyed. He was found uninjured amid the debris. At 1845CST the Sheriff's Department reported trees downed just southeast of Blue. | |||||||||||
| 41.0 | 1956-09-04 | 2 | 30°38'N / 97°39'W | 30°09'N / 96°53'W | 56.60 Miles | 250 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Williamson |
| 41.2 | 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 |
| 41.7 | 1965-08-28 | 2 | 29°51'N / 97°37'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Caldwell | |
| 41.8 | 1957-04-24 | 3 | 30°23'N / 97°17'W | 30°26'N / 97°14'W | 5.10 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Williamson |
| 43.9 | 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. | |||||||||||
| 44.3 | 1953-12-02 | 3 | 30°30'N / 96°58'W | 30°32'N / 97°00'W | 3.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Lee |
| 44.4 | 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 |
| 45.7 | 1957-04-26 | 2 | 29°41'N / 97°39'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Caldwell | |||
| 45.8 | 1981-05-09 | 2 | 30°35'N / 96°52'W | 30°29'N / 96°45'W | 9.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Burleson |
| 46.3 | 1980-04-07 | 3 | 30°27'N / 97°31'W | 30°23'N / 97°15'W | 16.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bastrop |
| 46.9 | 1998-10-17 | 2 | 30°30'N / 96°41'W | 30°33'N / 96°41'W | 3.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0 | Burleson |
| Brief Description: Two tornadoes touched down in the Caldwell area causing substantial damage. Twenty-two homes were completely destroyed, 37 sustained major damage, and 101 homes with minor damage. Caldwell Middle School also had major damage. Tombstones weighing more than 1000 pounds were unearthed and moved. | |||||||||||
| 47.4 | 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 |
| 47.6 | 1961-11-12 | 2 | 29°54'N / 97°43'W | 1.00 Mile | 433 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Caldwell | |
| 48.6 | 1954-04-30 | 3 | 30°25'N / 97°27'W | 30°26'N / 97°25'W | 3.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Travis |
| 49.8 | 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. | |||||||||||
* 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.