Zavala County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Zavala County is about the same as Texas average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Zavala County is much lower than Texas average and is much lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #151
Zavala County | 0.00 |
Texas | 0.04 |
U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
Zavala County | 0.0000 |
Texas | 0.0000 |
U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #205
Zavala County | 44.46 |
Texas | 208.58 |
U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 3,763 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Zavala County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 2 | Cold: | 2 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 86 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,187 | Hail: | 1,524 | Heat: | 7 | Heavy Snow: | 27 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 10 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 44 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 791 | Tropical Storm: | 4 | Wildfire: | 8 | Winter Storm: | 21 | Winter Weather: | 8 |
Other: | 41 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Zavala County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Zavala County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Zavala County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 21 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Zavala County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
6.4 | 1966-05-23 | 2 | 28°42'N / 99°50'W | 28°51'N / 99°38'W | 16.00 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Zavala |
13.0 | 1956-10-18 | 2 | 28°41'N / 99°49'W | 1.00 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Zavala | |
24.1 | 1971-02-25 | 2 | 28°32'N / 99°53'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Dimmit | |
24.1 | 1959-05-02 | 2 | 29°10'N / 99°39'W | 29°14'N / 99°39'W | 4.60 Miles | 1200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bexar |
24.4 | 1975-05-19 | 2 | 29°13'N / 99°48'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Uvalde | |||
24.6 | 2006-03-19 | 2 | 29°13'N / 99°43'W | 29°13'N / 99°41'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.5M | 0 | Uvalde |
Brief Description: The most severe level of damage was located approximately 5 miles to the east of the Uvalde airport along Agape Road. This was due to a combination of both severe thunderstorm winds and a strong tornado. The wind damage, which had ended just south of Uvalde, once again was observed beginning just west of the Agape area by the team. The damage continued toward the east nearly one quarter mile to the Agape compound. Roof damage was noted at the first buildings, along with widespread damage to trees. Continuing to the east, the team found a mobile home that had been completely destroyed with the debris deposited about 30 yards to the south. This was the first time damage had been thrown in any direction except to the east and is believed to be just east of the starting point of the tornado. About 50 yards further to the east, an asphalt road was observed to have chunks of the topping removed and tossed toward the southeast. Very nearby, a large three-story concrete and steel-beam gymnasium valued at one million dollars had been gutted by the storm. The windward, west side was not blown inward as would have occurred with severe thunderstorm winds. Instead, it was pulled outward. A 40-foot steel beam had been bolted in a dozen different places to the building. The beam was pulled from the building and thrown back 15 feet to the northwest. Although many of the supporting steel beams held, several were pulled away and tossed. Concrete blocks, filled solid with concrete in their construction, had been ripped out of the building and lay tossed and strewn over the area. Much of the wall structure was destroyed. Pieces of sheet metal were strewn to the east and southeast for nearly one half mile. Additional damage to vegetation stretched for another 2 miles east of the gymnasium. Some of this damage was clearly due to severe thunderstorm winds and some of the damage was due to the tornado. Based on the level of damage of the mobile home and the gymnasium, the tornado was rated F2. The path width was estimated at 50 yards and the path length was estimated at 2 miles. From the reports available, it is thought the tornado developed about 1020 pm CST and dissipated around 1025 pm CST. It is the strongest tornado in South Central Texas since the evening of October 12, 2001, when an F3 tornado struck Stonewall, and an F2 tornado struck Hondo. | |||||||||||
30.2 | 1970-08-03 | 2 | 28°44'N / 99°17'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Frio | |||
38.6 | 1959-05-01 | 2 | 29°19'N / 99°28'W | 29°23'N / 99°25'W | 5.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Uvalde |
39.6 | 2002-04-07 | 2 | 29°07'N / 99°10'W | 29°08'N / 99°11'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Medina |
Brief Description: As a new supercell formed in southern Medina County and tracked eastward, it spawned an F2 tornado just west of the small community of Yancey. This was very close to the the site where a devastating F3 killer tornado had struck almost exactly 27 years earlier. This tornado touched down along County Road 731, destroying two homes. It moved toward the northeast for one mile, damaging two other homes and a mobile home while rolling over a car and knocking down several large trees. | |||||||||||
39.9 | 1970-08-03 | 2 | 28°35'N / 99°11'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Frio | |||
41.0 | 2007-04-24 | 3 | 28°38'N / 100°24'W | 28°36'N / 100°21'W | 4.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 7 | 0 | 80.0M | 0K | Maverick |
Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A supercell thunderstorm formed in the Mexican mountains west of Piedras Negras, across the Rio Grande from Eagle Pass. Reports from west of the Rio Grande indicate that a large and devastating tornado stuck Piedras Negras from the west, then dissipated on the west side of the Rio Grande. The supercell crossed the Rio Grande near 6:00 pm CST and struck the community of Rosita Valley near 6:01pm CST. Severe outflow winds from the storm estimated at between 80 mph and 100 mph struck the community first, causing minor damage to houses and mobile homes. Roofs were partially lifted, exteriors of homes were damaged, and trees were knocked over. Following the wind damage, hail to the size of golfballs struck the area, along with very heavy rain. Following the winds and hail, the tornado struck next. The team found the tornado touchdown point approximately one-quarter mile to the southwest of the Rosita Valley Elementary School. It struck a four room home??? destroying the outer walls and leaving only the interior walls standing. This damage was rated as EF-2 damage. The tornado then moved toward the east-northeast, directly toward the school. Along its path it damaged three more homes and destroyed a fourth. Damage to the three homes was rated EF-1 with the destroyed home rated EF-2. The tornado next struck a mobile home, tearing off its frame and tossing the debris into the school building. This also indicated EF-2 damage. Then the tornado crossed Rosita Valley Road, destroying mobile homes and damaging homes and tossing the debris into the south and west sides of the Rosita Valley Elementary School building. The initial strike points at the school showed only minor EF-0 damage. However damage was severe from the center of the school northeastward. It appeared that the tornadic winds were able to open enough of the center part of the roof to enter the interior of the school. These winds as well as winds that entered through wall openings caused severe damage to the north and south wings of the building. This damage indicated wind speeds approaching 140 mph and damage at EF-3 level. To the northwest of the school were two brick retail buildings; both were well-constructed. Outer walls were destroyed in each with damage to interior walls in one of the structures. This also suggested wind speeds near 140 mph and EF-3 level damage. Finally as the tornado exited the school area it struck an area of single family houses some 200 yards to the northeast. Most of the houses were swept off their foundations and many of them were completely flattened. This damage suggested wind speeds approaching 150 mph, the highest speeds found at Rosita Valley. This was mid-range EF-3 damage. In conclusion???the tornado was rated EF-3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with a path width near one-quarter mile and a path length near four miles. In all the tornado destroyed one elementary school, along with 59 manufactured homes and 57 houses. Major damage was reported to 21 manufactured homes and 19 houses with minor damage to10 manufactured homes, 22 houses, and 9 apartments. There were seven deaths in Rosita Valley as a result of the tornado. A family of five in one mobile home were killed as it was destroyed and rolled into the Rosita Valley Elementary School. Two other victims were found, one in a permanent home that had collapsed and one in another mobile home. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A supercell thunderstorm produced one of the strongest and deadliest tornadoes to strike near the Rio Grande in many decades. | |||||||||||
41.2 | 1968-11-26 | 2 | 28°38'N / 99°13'W | 28°48'N / 98°59'W | 18.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Frio |
41.3 | 1975-04-29 | 3 | 29°04'N / 99°11'W | 29°04'N / 99°03'W | 8.30 Miles | 500 Yards | 3 | 5 | 0K | 0 | Medina |
44.5 | 1973-04-15 | 4 | 28°50'N / 99°13'W | 28°49'N / 98°50'W | 23.30 Miles | 440 Yards | 5 | 12 | 0K | 0 | Frio |
45.9 | 1969-05-06 | 2 | 28°40'N / 100°29'W | 0.10 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Maverick | |
48.9 | 1981-05-24 | 2 | 28°22'N / 100°20'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Maverick | |
48.9 | 1970-05-14 | 2 | 29°30'N / 99°24'W | 0.50 Mile | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Medina | |
49.0 | 1972-05-06 | 2 | 28°55'N / 100°37'W | 28°57'N / 100°31'W | 6.50 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Maverick |
49.3 | 1989-05-16 | 4 | 29°17'N / 100°25'W | 29°31'N / 100°11'W | 17.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Kinney |
49.8 | 2001-10-12 | 2 | 29°22'N / 99°10'W | 29°21'N / 99°09'W | 1.20 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 25 | 20.0M | 50K | Medina |
Brief Description: The tornado was spotted as it touched down near 940 pm CST just northwest of the Hondo airport. It grew to nearly 500 yards in width and moved toward the southeast for 1.2 miles across the airport and over the National Guard Armory before dissipating near the center of town. Although much of the damage was F0 and F1 on the Fujita Scale, the tornado was rated F2 because of the level of damage from the airport to the armory. During this time it destroyed a large hangar, partially destroyed the roof and walls of the concrete Armory and moved numerous mobile homes off their pads. One mobile home clearly showed the nature of damage from a tornado. The center of the mobile home was completely destroyed, along with a tree in front of it, while much less damage was indicted on both ends of the mobile home as well as vegetation near the ends. The storm also knocked out power to much of the area, and this, along with the darkness in the late night hour, made spotting very difficult. It is possible that additional small tornadoes might have accompanied the storm, but the combination of damage from the large tornado and the downburst winds, along with the darkness of the late night hour made it impossible to tell. Almost 150 homes in Hondo and almost 50 more outside the city were damaged, with nearly 100 mobile homes damaged. At least 10 houses and 30 mobile homes were destroyed. Losses to homes and mobile homes were estimated at 1.5 million dollars. In addition, nearly two dozen aircraft, including one corporate jet and 14 crop dusters, were damaged and destroyed at the Hondo Airport. Some were in collapsed hangars while others were lifted, tossed and set down across the Airport area. Commercial losses placed at 18 million dollars. At least 25 persons were injured. | |||||||||||
49.8 | 1996-09-15 | 2 | 29°32'N / 99°32'W | 29°35'N / 99°32'W | 4.00 Miles | 700 Yards | 0 | 1 | 20K | 0K | Uvalde |
Brief Description: Tornado formed 6 miles south of Utopia and moved northward to 2 miles south of Utopia before dissipating. It knocked over numerous trees of 15 to 20 foot diameter, damaging vehicles, trailers and barns along the way. The tornado moved cabins and took the roofs off two of the cabins at a Girl Scout Camp. It moved the cabins off their foundations, but caused no injuries as the Scouts had gathered in a larger, more substantial building. The tornado moved across a second campground, destroying the site and causing one injury as it knocked a tree over on one of the campers. |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.