997
Recorded events
160
Counties affected
74
Direct deaths
$97.3M
Property damage
Texas lightning history: 997 recorded events across 160 counties between 1996 and 2026.
Decade by decade
Texas lightning history by decade
The 2010s are the busiest decade on record with 370 reported lightning events across Texas. Earlier decades are thinner because systematic reporting for this hazard expanded over time, not because the weather was calmer.
County ranking
Counties with the most lightning events in Texas
| Rank | County | Events | Deaths | Damage | Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Tarrant County | 90 | 4 | $12.1M | 1996–2026 |
| #2 | Harris County | 72 | 11 | $7.1M | 1996–2024 |
| #3 | Collin County | 65 | 0 | $13.3M | 1996–2025 |
| #4 | Denton County | 51 | 1 | $8.4M | 1996–2025 |
| #5 | Dallas County | 42 | 4 | $5.0M | 1996–2025 |
| #6 | Travis County | 27 | 2 | $2.4M | 1996–2021 |
| #7 | Galveston County | 25 | 5 | $3.9M | 1996–2025 |
| #8 | Smith County | 24 | 0 | $674K | 1996–2022 |
| #9 | Fort Bend County | 23 | 4 | $574K | 1996–2021 |
| #10 | Lubbock County | 23 | 1 | $2.1M | 1997–2023 |
| #11 | Brazoria County | 19 | 2 | $462K | 1997–2019 |
| #12 | Montgomery County | 18 | 2 | $203K | 2007–2025 |
| #13 | Wise County | 16 | 0 | $607K | 2000–2024 |
| #14 | Gregg County | 15 | 1 | $183K | 1997–2019 |
| #15 | McLennan County | 15 | 1 | $251K | 1997–2025 |
| #16 | Grayson County | 15 | 1 | $450K | 1996–2025 |
| #17 | Jefferson County | 14 | 3 | $576K | 1996–2025 |
| #18 | Bell County | 13 | 0 | $1.1M | 1998–2025 |
| #19 | Rusk County | 11 | 0 | $210K | 2006–2022 |
| #20 | Hidalgo County | 11 | 1 | $1.3M | 1996–2020 |
| #21 | Nueces County | 11 | 1 | $1.2M | 2004–2017 |
| #22 | Shelby County | 10 | 0 | $369K | 1996–2015 |
| #23 | Wichita County | 10 | 0 | $910K | 1996–2007 |
| #24 | Johnson County | 10 | 0 | $694K | 1996–2024 |
| #25 | Ellis County | 10 | 0 | $943K | 1996–2014 |
Significant events
Deadliest lightning events in Texas
| Date | County | Scale | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2025 | Willacy County | — | 2 | 0 |
| May 15, 2023 | Bosque County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 2012 | Harris County | — | 2 | 1 |
| Apr 25, 2026 | Tarrant County | — | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 20, 2017 | Harris County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 2024 | Brazos County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2009 | Jefferson County | — | 1 | 7 |
| Jul 3, 2020 | Dallas County | — | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 10, 2010 | Montgomery County | — | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 10, 2003 | Galveston County | — | 1 | 1 |