151
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
5
Direct injuries
$1.8M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Jim Wells County, Texas: 151 recorded events between 1960 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 100. That places the county #1,515 nationally and #81 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Jim Wells County, Texas: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Jim Wells County is the 2020s, when 57 of the county's 151 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Jim Wells County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 41.9% of all recorded severe weather across 7 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #1,515 for this hazard and #81 within Texas, putting it in the 51.7 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
May is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Jim Wells County with 78 recorded events, while Dec is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2025 | ALICE | 87 | 0 | 4 | $0 |
| Jun 12, 1986 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 14, 2026 | BEN BOLT | 50 | $0 |
| Nov 2, 2025 | PREMONT | 51 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 100 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 91 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 83 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 78 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 83 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | (ALI)ALICE INTL ARPT | 83 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | ALICE | 64 | $0 |
| May 9, 2025 | BEN BOLT | 52 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Jim Wells County
- Hail 87
- Flash Flood 64
- Tornado 44
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
NWS storm survey concluded that damaging straight line winds, estimated at 65 to 70 mph, impacted the town of Orange Grove. The damage path was 4.5 miles long and 3.2 miles wide. Approximately 500-600 homes suffered minor to moderate damage with a few broken windows, damaged shingles or siding. A few homes suffered major damage with all west facing windows broken, and exterior siding destroyed by wind blown hail. Throughout the impacted areas, large tree branches and fence posts were snapped. Numerous trampolines were blown and destroyed. There were approximately a dozen unanchored outdoor storage sheds or carports that were destroyed by the wind. One large unanchored outdoor metal building was blown into the neighboring home with debris scattered 300 yards downstream. Another large metal building was blown into an adjacent vehicle with debris scattered 400 yards down wind. There were reports of several horses injured by wind blown debris and large hail.
A NWS survey concluded that a downburst of straight-line winds occurred over the southern portion of the city of Orange Grove near the intersection of Highway 359 and County Road 374. The winds were estimated to be up to 80 mph. The damage path was 1 mile long and a half of a mile wide. Several large power poles were snapped in half. The roof was peeled off of two mobile homes. The roof was damaged on a two story home with a large porch overhang. There were numerous large trees and branches down across the area also.
NWS storm survey concluded damage in and around Palito Blanco was the result of straight-line winds estimated at 60-70 mph. The damage path was approximately 2 miles wide and 4 miles long, beginning 2 miles northwest of Palito Blanco and ending roughly 2 miles southeast of Palito Blanco. The damage consisted primarily of large broken tree limbs, and a few uprooted trees. Several traffic sign poles made of fiberglass were broken off at their bases. Some sheet metal damage to the roof of an open barn was observed. The roof was partially blown off of one mobile home in Palito Blanco. Crops were blown down flat in a few fields. All debris throughout the damage swath was lying in the southeast direction.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Jim Wells County, Texas?
151 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Jim Wells County between 1960 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Jim Wells County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Jim Wells County measured 100.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Jim Wells County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Jim Wells County, Texas.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/texas/jim-wells-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.