Wharton County, TX Environment & Hazard Risk
Relatively Moderate natural hazard risk, led by hurricane. 285 storm events since 1996.
- Expected yearly loss
- $35.02M
- Relatively Low nationally
- Storm events since 1996
- 285
- Most often thunderstorm wind
- Flood insurance policies
- 1,617
- 10.0% of homes
- Hurricanes nearby
- 6
- 11 tropical storms or stronger since 1854
Natural hazard risk
FEMA National Risk Index, December 2025
Overall risk
Relatively Moderate
Score 83.0 of 100
Social vulnerability
Very High
Score 83.5 of 100
Community resilience
Relatively Moderate
Score 41.0 of 100
Community resilience runs the other way: a higher rating means a community can recover faster.
Building value exposed: $9.09B · Agriculture value exposed: $268M · Risk-adjusted yearly loss: $52M
Risk by hazard
- HurricaneRelatively High$14.22M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 7 years
- Cold waveRelatively High$6.08M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2 years
- DroughtRelatively High$1.32M/yr expected annual loss, about 41 events a year
- Heat waveRelatively Low$986K/yr expected annual loss, about 14 events a year
- HailRelatively Moderate$500K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.7 events a year
- TornadoRelatively Moderate$1.92M/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- LightningRelatively Moderate$343K/yr expected annual loss, about 66 events a year
- Ice stormRelatively Low$78.16K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 1 year
- WildfireVery Low$38.45K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 921 years
- Strong windRelatively Low$342K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.0 events a year
- Winter weatherRelatively Low$27.64K/yr expected annual loss, about 1.1 events a year
- EarthquakeVery Low$35.36K/yr expected annual loss, about once every 2,315 years
- LandslideVery Low$24/yr expected annual loss, about once every 10 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.
Flood risk and insurance
National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA flood maps
Check the flood zone for an address
- Homes with flood insurance
- 1,617 of 16,210 (10.0%)
- Homes in high-risk flood zones
- 4,727
- Insured in high-risk zones
- 1,029 (22%)
- Flood claims since 1978
- 1,166
- Claims paid since 1978
- $51.96M
Flood claims paid per year
- Hurricane Harvey$36.58M · 484 claims
- Flooding$2.7M · 184 claims
- Spring severe storms$2.51M · 61 claims
- Tropical Storm Bill$1.14M · 27 claims
- Heavy rains$42.04K · 4 claims
- Early summer severe storms$32.52K · 8 claims
Storm history
Since 1996: 285 events, 2 deaths, $226M in damage
- Thunderstorm Wind87
- Hail64
- Tornado28
- Flash Flood28
- Funnel Cloud28
- Drought16
- Heat7
- Excessive Heat6
- Tropical Storm6
- Lightning3
Events per year
71 tornadoes on record (EF0 6, EF1 3, F0 25, F1 23, F2 8, F3 1).
Most damaging storms
Since 1996, ranked by deaths, injuries and damage
- Tropical Storm08/25/2017
Wharton
$200M damage
What happened
Slow moving Tropical Storm Harvey produced widespread catastrophic flooding across Wharton County. Major to record flooding occurred along the Colorado and San Bernard Rivers and several other creeks and tributaries. Two tornadoes were reported.
- Cold/Wind Chill02/15/2021
Wharton
1 death, $26K damage
What happened
Very cold air and gusty winds overspread SE Texas behind an Arctic front with wind chill indices from near zero to single digits for much the period from Sunday night to Tuesday morning. Increased power demand, wind and ice led to widespread power outages. Bursting pipes caused many to be without water as well.
- Hail4.5" hail06/21/1996
Egypt, Wharton County
$10M damage
What happened
Grapefruit sized hail fell in Egypt. 30-40% of homes with significant damage to roofs and windows. Trees snapped and many cars totalled. Significant agriculture loss (1000 acres sorgham, 2000 acres corn, and 1000 acres soybeans destroyed).
- Ice Storm01/12/1997
Wharton
1 death
What happened
Freezing rain/sleet event occured on the 12th-13th. Trees, powerlines and roadways were all effected. The weight of the ice caused trees and powerlines to snap/fall. Glazed roadways posed hazardous driving conditions. Over 1100 traffic accidents were reported in Southeast Texas which accounted for 3 deaths. Estimated damage was set at $800,000.
- Drought08/01/1998
Wharton
$8.3M damage
What happened
Drought conditions continue from July. After months of extremely dry and hot weather across SE Texas, relief came late in the month with welcomed rainfall and slightly cooler temperatures. Over 20 people across the region lost their lives due to the extreme heat and property and crop damage averaged $8.3 million per county since May. Locations across the region were finally catching up with rainfall toward the end of the month as the drought was coming to an end. NOTE: CROP AND PROPERTY DAMAGE LISTED HERE ARE FOR THE PERIOD MAY-AUGUST 1998.
- TornadoF1, 6 mi path, 40 yd wide06/08/2004
Wharton, Wharton County
6 injured, $300K damage
What happened
Tornado formed just outside city limits and caused damage to shopping center roof, several homes, and overturned a pump house as it entered Wharton. A mobile home was flipped over, damage occurred to several out houses, and vehicles. Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down. Overall, six minor injuries were reported, mainly from flying glass.
Latest storm reports
Newest first
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind02/15/2026
Lane City, Wharton County
$2,000 damage
- Thunderstorm Wind52 kt wind02/15/2026
El Campo, Wharton County
$8,000 damage
- TornadoEF1, 1.65 mi path, 130 yd wide06/12/2025
Dinsmore, Wharton County
$200K damage
- TornadoEF0, 2.15 mi path, 50 yd wide06/12/2025
Iago, Wharton County
- Winter Weather01/21/2025
Wharton
- TornadoEF1, 0.51 mi path, 50 yd wide12/26/2024
Pierce, Wharton County
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind05/30/2024
East Bernard, Wharton County
$10K damage
- Thunderstorm Wind50 kt wind04/10/2024
El Campo, Wharton County
Hurricanes and tropical storms
Storms whose track crossed Wharton County, with the wind when it passed
- Hurricane Beryl (2024)06/28/2024 · Landfall: TX · 932 mbCategory 192 mph nearby
- Tropical Storm Danielle (1980)09/05/1980 · 1,004 mbTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Hurricane Delia (1973)09/02/1973 · Landfall: TX · 986 mbTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1945)08/24/1945 · Landfall: TX · 963 mbCategory 186 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1933)07/14/1933 · Landfall: TXTropical storm46 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1932)08/12/1932 · Landfall: TX · 935 mbCategory 3115 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1921)06/16/1921 · Landfall: TX · 980 mbCategory 192 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1909)07/13/1909 · Landfall: TX · 959 mbCategory 2104 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1888)06/16/1888 · Landfall: TXTropical storm58 mph nearby
- Unnamed storm (1880)06/21/1880 · Landfall: TXTropical storm46 mph nearby
Drinking water
13 community water systems serve about 26,657 people. Violations since 2021.
4 systems had health-based violations, such as a contaminant over the legal limit or a missed treatment step. 6 systems had a violation of any kind still open at last report.
- City of El CampoServes 12,095 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- City of WhartonServes 8,756 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+59 monitoring or reporting
- Wharton County Wcid 2Serves 2,200 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Wharton County Wcid 1 LouiseServes 1,206 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+1 monitoring or reporting
- Boling MwdServes 800 · Groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+8 monitoring or reporting
- Isaacson MudServes 729 · Purchased groundwater · Local governmentNo health violations+5 monitoring or reporting
- Hungerford Mud 1Serves 390 · Groundwater · Local government1 health violation+14 monitoring or reporting
- Pyssens Live Oak Estates SubdivisionServes 159 · Groundwater · PrivateNo health violations
Largest systems by population served. Monitoring and reporting violations mean required tests or notices were late or missing, not that the water was unsafe.
Climate
1991-2020 normals at El Campo, 7.3 mi from the county center
Summer highs peak around 96°F in Aug and winter lows bottom out near 42°F in Jan. About 49.6 inches of rain falls in a typical year.
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65°F | 42°F | 3.13 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 46°F | 1.95 in |
| Mar | 76°F | 53°F | 2.81 in |
| Apr | 82°F | 59°F | 3.09 in |
| May | 88°F | 67°F | 4.79 in |
| Jun | 92°F | 73°F | 4.89 in |
| Jul | 95°F | 75°F | 4.30 in |
| Aug | 96°F | 74°F | 3.92 in |
| Sep | 93°F | 70°F | 5.71 in |
| Oct | 85°F | 60°F | 5.59 in |
| Nov | 75°F | 51°F | 5.69 in |
| Dec | 67°F | 45°F | 3.73 in |
| Year | 71°F average | 49.6 in | |
Pollution sites
0 Superfund sites and 2 toxic release facilities in Wharton County
Superfund sites
None in this county.
Toxic release facilities
- Lamberti USA Inc3,444 lbs released, Hungerford
- Seatex - El Campo0 lbs released, El Campo
Total: 3,444 lbs in 2024, 390 lbs to air.
Superfund sitesToxic release facilitiesEPA inspections and enforcementAir toxics cancer risk28 historic places
Frequently asked questions
- How risky is Wharton County for natural disasters?
- FEMA rates Wharton County relatively moderate for overall natural hazard risk, with expected losses of $35.02M a year. The highest-rated hazards are hurricane (relatively high), cold wave (relatively high), drought (relatively high).
- What storms are most common in Wharton County?
- Since 1996, NOAA recorded 285 storm events affecting Wharton County, most often thunderstorm wind (87), hail (64), tornado (28).
- How many tornadoes have hit Wharton County?
- 71 tornadoes have been recorded in Wharton County since 1950, including 1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
- How many homes in Wharton County have flood insurance?
- 1,617 residential flood insurance policies are in force in Wharton County, covering about 10.0% of homes. The program has paid $51.96M on 1,166 claims here since 1978.
- What is the weather like in Wharton County?
- At El Campo, average highs reach 96°F in Aug and lows fall to 42°F in Jan, with 49.6 inches of rain a year (1991-2020 normals).
Source: FEMA (National Risk Index, NFIP), NOAA (Storm Events, HURDAT2, Climate Normals), EPA · Last updated 08/01/2026 · Storm counts include events in forecast zones that touch the county. This product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA.