Palo Pinto County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk

• HailRelatively Moderate$1.47M/yr expected annual loss, about 7.7 events a year
• WildfireRelatively Moderate$1.15M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 178 years
• LandslideRelatively Low$7,171/yr expected annual loss, about once every 4 years
• Strong windRelatively Moderate$886K/yr expected annual loss, about 2.8 events a year
• Cold waveRelatively Moderate$1.42M/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
• Heat waveRelatively Low$536K/yr expected annual loss, about 12 events a year
• TornadoRelatively Low$1.52M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• DroughtRelatively Low$209K/yr expected annual loss, about 61 events a year
• Winter weatherRelatively Low$64.06K/yr expected annual loss, about 4.9 events a year
• LightningRelatively Low$159K/yr expected annual loss, about 50 events a year
• HurricaneVery Low$32.17K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 98 years
• Ice stormRelatively Low$40.23K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
• EarthquakeVery Low$44.47K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,012 years

Bars show the national percentile score (0 to 100) for each hazard. Dollar figures are expected annual losses to buildings, people and crops. Not rated here: avalanche, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, tsunami, volcanic activity.

Check the flood zone for an address

Homes with flood insurance

127 of 12,521 (1.0%)

Homes in high-risk flood zones

797

Insured in high-risk zones

98 (12%)

Flood claims since 1978

97

Claims paid since 1978

$1.39M

• Hail246
• Thunderstorm Wind116
• Drought85
• Flash Flood49 · 1 death
• Heat35
• Tornado24
• Excessive Heat20
• Wildfire19 · 1 death
• Winter Storm18 · 1 death
• Flood12 · 1 death

• Wildfire04/10/2011

  Palo Pinto

  $20M damage

  What happened

  The Hohertz fire began in southwest Palo Pinto County, approximately 9 miles northwest of Strawn. The local newspaper reported an arching power line started the fire in a pasture. Early on, some deer stands and oil field equipment were burned. On April 15th, this fire merged with the PK West Fire in Stephens County and the fires were renamed the PK Complex. On April 17th, the PK East fire in Palo Pinto County burned into this complex, and on April 19th, the Jackson Ranch Fire in Stephens County also joined this complex. In all, 126,734 acres were burned by this complex of four fires, 167 homes were destroyed, 2 churches were destroyed, and another 124 outbuildings were lost.

• Wildfire08/30/2011

  Palo Pinto

  1 injured, $12M damage

  What happened

  The 101 Ranch fire began on August 30th south of Possum Kingdom Lake on the east side of Highway 16. The fire burned to the north, jumped the highway and burned into the Gaines Bend and Cliffs Subdivisions. It was finally controlled on October 11th after burning 6555 acres. The fire burned 39 homes in the Cliffs and Gaines Bend. The guard shack, the pro shop, and the front office to the Cliffs also burned, and nine recreational vehicles were lost in the fire. One person suffered minor burns and two firefighters sustained minor ankle injuries.

• Flash Flood03/30/2007

  Possum Kingdom Lake, Palo Pinto County

  1 death, 1 injured, $10K damage

  What happened

  Numerous roads closed due to flooding countywide, including Old Christian Road and Highway 254 East near Graford, and FM 2270 near Salesville. Numerous high water rescues were required. A boy who was trying to wakeboard in the flood waters was dragged several blocks and hurt his leg. A man who was believed to be driving on Hell's Gate Drive near Possum Kingdom Lake during the storms was found dead three days later in the lake.

• Hail2.5" hail04/18/2008

  Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County

  1 injured, $10M damage

  What happened

  Tennis ball-size hail broke windows, damaged vehicles, and downed power and cable lines. The Palo Pinto General Hospital sustained about $400,000 damage to its roof. The Wal-Mart in town had every skylight broken which resulted in water damage. Mineral Wells High School sustained heavy damage to its roof and also to its new outdoor stadium and bleachers. Numerous city vehicles as well as private vehicles and residences received damage from the large hail. Car dealerships reported damage to 8,000 cars in the metroplex. Most of the damage in Palo Pinto County occurred in a west to east swath north of Highway 180. One woman was injured when she was hit in the head with a large hailstone but did not seek medical attention.

• Winter Storm12/24/2009

  Palo Pinto

  1 death, $75K damage

  What happened

  Local COOP Observers reported 4-5 of snow across the western half of the county. Only 3 of snow was reported at Mineral Wells and other eastern parts of the county. The local newspaper reported that up to 9 of snow may have fallen in the far northwestern corner of the county near Possum Kingdom Lake. Strong winds created near blizzard conditions across mainly the western half of the county during the afternoon hours. The peak wind reported at the automated weather station in Mineral Wells (K0F2) was 45 mph. At night, the snow froze on the roadways, creating icy roads and treacherous travel conditions across the county through Christmas morning. No roads were closed in the county during this event, but a fatal accident occurred during the afternoon hours on HWY 281 killing one female.

• Wildfire07/04/2011

  Palo Pinto

  1 death, $30K damage

  What happened

  A grass fire began on July 4th approximately 5 miles northwest of Mineral Wells. This fire was contained on July 15th and burned a total of 932 acres. A camper and some outbuildings were lost in the fire. On the 7th, a firefighter from Boise, ID died due to hyperthermia while working on the lines of the 337 Fire.

• Excessive Heat07/22/2026

  Palo Pinto

• Heat07/20/2026

  Palo Pinto

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/19/2026

  Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto County

  $5,000 damage

• Thunderstorm Wind55 kt wind06/19/2026

  Graford, Palo Pinto County

• Thunderstorm Wind56 kt wind06/19/2026

  Possum Kingdom Lake, Palo Pinto County

• Thunderstorm Wind65 kt wind06/19/2026

  Possum Kingdom Lake, Palo Pinto County

  $500K damage

• Heat06/18/2026

  Palo Pinto

• Hail1.5" hail04/28/2026

  (Mwl)mineral Wells a, Palo Pinto County

• City of Mineral WellsServes 15,564 · Surface water · Local government1 health violation+2 monitoring or reporting
• Possum Kingdom WscServes 8,583 · Surface water · Local government3 health violations+3 monitoring or reporting
• North Rural WscServes 3,610 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+3 monitoring or reporting
• Santo SudServes 3,546 · Purchased surface water · Local governmentNo health violations+7 monitoring or reporting
• Sturdivant Progress WscServes 3,111 · Purchased surface water · Local government1 health violation+5 monitoring or reporting
• Lake Palo Pinto Area WscServes 2,247 · Surface water · Local government2 health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
• City of StrawnServes 1,311 · Surface water · Local government8 health violations+34 monitoring or reporting
• The CliffsServes 1,115 · Surface water · Private20 health violations+32 monitoring or reporting