Cameron County, Texas
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
68
Tornado reports
103
Hail reports
144
Floods since 1996
879
All events
6
Deaths
$830.3M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Cameron County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 67 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
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Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
Tornado F3 Tornado
Tornado F3 Tornado
The Brownsville-South Padre International ASOS reported a heat index of 111 by 11:53 AM CDT, with 111 or higher values persisting until approximately 12:26 PM CDT on June 25th. An indirect heat-related fatality was reported at 2:04 PM CDT in San Benito, Texas (less than 10 miles …
A rapidly-developing mini-supercell formed ahead of an approaching squall line near the Lower Texas coast just before 4 AM Saturday, May 13. The supercell spawned a quick spin-up tornado that struck the town of Laguna Heights, Texas, over a two-minute period before the circulatio…
Three young men from northern Mexico were swept to their deaths in dangerous rip currents near the Isla Blanca jetties on South Padre Island. The men took advantage of the warming surf temperatures to venture into the water, only to drown due to the strength of the current and a …
A man was found dead in a parking lot near a restaurant in downtown Harlingen during the afternoon of June 12th. Residents believed the man to be homeless, and the suspected cause of death was heat stroke. The man was pronounced dead at 5:50 PM CDT but may have died a few hours e…
Some of the heaviest rainfall associated with the historic rainfall of March 26-28 fell in Harlingen. In total, nearly 19 inches was measured by trusted sources, with radar estimates up to 20.5 inches. During the peak of the multiple bands from early evening through just after mi…
An NWS Storm Survey was conducted on South Padre Island and found several areas of damage along South Padre Island. The survey found a couple of downed fences in the Isla Blanca area on the southern side of the island along with a couple of flipped recreational vehicles (RVs) tha…
Tropical Storm-force winds ravaged northern Cameron County from mid afternoon on July 25th until just after midnight on July 26th. Strongest winds occurred during the evening of July 25th, when the southern and eastern eyewall clipped the region along and north of Interstate 2 be…
Afternoon and early evening rains of 2 to 3 inches fell across the IH-2 corridor of Cameron County, from La Feria to east of Harlingen, and saturated soils ahead of the torrential rains that were to come later in the evening as the southern and eastern eyewall pulled copious trop…
Lightning strike resulted in a structure fire at Gulfport Condominiums on South Padre Island. The fire was reported around 7 AM CDT. Time of strike was estimated by radar.
A cluster of potent thunderstorms developed in northeastern Mexico and moved north into Cameron County early Sunday morning. Within this cluster of storms, a strong linear downburst crossed South Padre Island from 1:24 AM CST to 1:40 AM CST. The South Padre Island Police Departme…
Measured and estimated rainfall between 8 and 15.2 inches that fell predominantly from early evening June 24th through a bit after midnight on June 25th produced widespread flash flooding across northwestern Cameron County. Hardest hit locations were the west side of Harlingen th…
Multiple cells and clusters of thunderstorms during the pre-dawn hours into the morning commute on June 20th dropped measured and estimated rainfall between 5 and more than 8 inches in western Cameron County, which caused widespread flooding between La Feria, Harlingen, San Benit…
One day after 3 to more than 5 inches fell between Brownsville and Los Fresnos during the afternoon and early evening hours, a repeat event occurred, fed by deep tropical moisture and multiple boundaries left behind from devastating morning flooding across western Cameron and eas…
A band of thunderstorms, moving slowly from west to east, intersected the sea breeze and stalled between Brownsville and Los Fresnos, dumping 3 to 5 or more inches of rainfall in a 2 to 3 hour period, causing significant street flooding and some road closures. Flood prone roads, …
Upper level energy, low level convergence, and a possible overnight low level jet stream of extremely moisture laden air from the Gulf of Mexico produced prolonged torrential rains across south central Cameron County between 2 and 7 AM CST September 19th. The area shifted to the …
Hermine arrived in fits and starts, with frequent gusty feeder band showers followed by relatively calm conditions through the day and early evening of September 6th. Between 830 and 9 PM CST, the action got underway as the central core of Hermine brought a rapid increase in sust…
The approach of Hurricane Dolly to the barrier shoreline of South Padre Island early on the morning of July 23rd brought sustained tropical storm force winds inland to the east side of Brownsville, including the Port, just before 730 AM on the 23rd. Prior rainbands had produced f…
Slow-moving thunderstorms with torrential rainfall developed over central and eastern Cameron county. In fact, the previous daily rainfall record was shattered when 4.56 inches of rain was reported at the Brownsville-South Padre Island Airport. This amount paled in comparison to …
A strong weather disturbance combined with abundant tropical moisture across the region to produce intense rainfall across Deep South Texas during the period. The heaviest rains fell across Brooks, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy counties. La Joya in western Hidalgo…
Heavy rains were widespread across Deep South Texas during the period. Monthly rainfall totals ranged from 7 to 15 inches. Portions of Hidalgo, Willacy and Cameron counties experienced heavy rains during a 5 day period from 17th through the 21st resulting in long-lasting flooding…
A very strong heavy precipitation type supercell did extensive straight line wind damage to Laguna Vista, Laguna heights, Port Isabel and South Padre Island on the evening of May the 2nd. A National Weather Service ground survey team reported that all debris was oriented from nor…
Heat Heat
The third day of a trifecta of dangerous heat saw the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) at Brownsville/South Padre Island Int'l. Airport record a peak heat index value 115.53F during the mid afternoon, while Harlingen/Valley Int'l Airport recorded a peak value of 116.02 (…
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
One of the hottest feels-like days in modern history occurred on June 18th across inland Cameron County, as searing heat combined with remnant high humidity from early week's rain to produce extreme heat of 116F or higher for 6 hours. Peak values exceeded 120 for a few hours in t…
Heat Heat
Temperatures reaching to or just below 100 degrees, combined with high humidity left behind from earlier week rainfall, allowed heat index to rise to above 111 by early afternoon in Brownsville and Harlingen, peaking just below 120 (119.7) in Brownsville at 3:53 PM CDT, and at 11…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
A slow moving thunderstorm with torrential rainfall dropped 3.64 in about an hour across west Brownsville, just south of Los Ebanos Blvd. and west of Barnard Road. Similar rainfall likely occurred in a flood-prone intersection along the IH-69E frontage road and shopping centers a…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
AWOS site at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gusts of 61 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A SpaceX employee reported a 61 mph wind gust at Starbase.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport measured a wind gust of 64 mph.
Hail Hail
The public reported hail up to 0.75 inches in diameter 2 miles south of Harlingen.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The mesonet station TWB79 Russell Farms measured a wind gusts of 71 knots or 82 mph.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The mesonet station DW 1996 Laguna Vista measured a wind gusts of 60 knots or 69 mph.
Just after 1000 AM CDT May 9, 2026, a strong microburst descended in central Cameron County from a small but potent line of thunderstorms and produced damage along a west-northwest to east-southeast oriented line starting from Harlingen, TX through Laureles, TX. Overall damage wa…
Hail Hail
A public report and video received by an NWS employee indicated hail of various sizes covering the ground along the beach (Gulf Blvd.) in the City of South Padre Island. According to the observer, several hailstones reached golf ball size (1.75) as the storm raced through.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) Drought persisted across the western three-quarters of inland Cameron County through May 25th. Two locally heavy rain events on the 20th and 21st would bring an end to D2, replaced by Moderate (D1) conditions (county-wide) to close out the month.
Drought Drought
Central and western Cameron County remained under Severe (D2) Drought conditions during the April 21-30 timeframe.
Drought Drought
Most of Cameron County had improved to Severe (D2) Drought conditions with pockets of Extreme (D3) Drought over southern and extreme northeastern Cameron County during the April 14-20 timeframe.
Drought Drought
D3 (Extreme Drought) conditions were present across southern, extreme northwestern, and east-northeastern Cameron County from April 7-13. Finally, D2 (Severe Drought) conditions were present over central Cameron County from April 7-13 thanks to recent beneficial rains.
Drought Drought
D3 (Extreme Drought) conditions persisted across much of Cameron County April 1-6. D2 (Severe Drought) conditions persisted across extreme north-central Cameron County.
Drought Drought
Extreme Drought (D3) made its appearance in western and southern Inland Cameron County on March 17th, while Moderate (D1) Drought in the northeast corner of Inland Cameron was erased. D3 conditions would expand to cover all but a small sliver of northern inland Cameron by the 31s…
Drought Drought
Through March 16, all of inland Cameron County was under a D2 (Severe Drought)with the exception of northeastern sections near Arroyo City, which remained at D1 (Moderate).
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) Drought expanded into southern and central/eastern Cameron County on February 10th, extending from La Feria through San Benito and east to just south of Rio Hondo. Conditions would persist in these areas through the 23rd, before D2 expanded further north to reach Harl…
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Observations from several locations in the northern half of inland Cameron County reached the freezing level (32F or lower) early on the 27th. This included Harlingen, San Benito, Santa Rosa, and La Feria. Harlingen/Valley International Airport fell to 30F, while mesonet platform…
Extreme Cold/Wind Chill Extreme Cold/Wind Chill
Extreme Cold Warning Criteria (Wind chills at or below 20F) was reached at Harlingen/Valley International Airport for 6.25 hours from 3:15-9:30am CST Monday January 26th.
Frost/Freeze Frost/Freeze
Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) recorded freezing temperatures (32F degrees or lower) for 4.5 hours from 4:15-8:55am CST on Monday January 26th. Harlingen/Valley International Airport (HRL) recorded freezing temperatures (32F degrees or below) for 11 ho…
Cold/Wind Chill Cold/Wind Chill
Brownsville/South Padre Island International Airport (BRO) recorded minimum wind chill values at or below 30F degrees (Cold Weather Advisory Criteria) for 6 hours from 4:35-10:20am CST on Sunday January 25th. Harlingen/Valley International Airport (HRL) recorded minimum wind chil…
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 24 | 0 |
| 2025 | 27 | 2 |
| 2024 | 39 | 1 |
| 2023 | 116 | 2 |
| 2022 | 16 | 0 |
| 2021 | 53 | 0 |
| 2020 | 24 | 1 |
| 2019 | 11 | 1 |
| 2018 | 13 | 0 |
| 2017 | 15 | 1 |
| 2016 | 15 | 0 |
| 2015 | 15 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 0 |
| 2013 | 36 | 0 |
| 2012 | 42 | 2 |
| 2011 | 30 | 0 |
| 2010 | 23 | 4 |
| 2009 | 39 | 0 |
| 2008 | 26 | 2 |
| 2007 | 19 | 0 |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 |
| 2005 | 13 | 3 |
| 2004 | 6 | 0 |
| 2003 | 28 | 0 |
| 2002 | 30 | 1 |
| 2001 | 17 | 5 |
| 2000 | 16 | 1 |
| 1999 | 7 | 1 |
| 1998 | 9 | 1 |
| 1997 | 6 | 2 |
| 1996 | 12 | 3 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 3 | 1 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 5 | 2 |
| 1991 | 5 | 2 |
| 1990 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 5 | 3 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 12 | 2 |
| 1982 | 14 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 | 4 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 3 | 2 |
| 1976 | 2 | 2 |
| 1975 | 6 | 3 |
| 1974 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 1 |
| 1972 | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0 |
| 1970 | 6 | 3 |
| 1969 | 8 | 4 |
| 1968 | 17 | 2 |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 |
| 1966 | 2 | 0 |
| 1965 | 2 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1956 | 1 | 0 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Cameron County, measured to its path.
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