Brownsville, TX

Local storm history & FEMA National Risk Index data

Population: 191,967 · Part of Cameron County

Brownsville is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk — higher risk than most US counties — based on FEMA's National Risk Index for Cameron County, TX. The county's highest-rated hazards are cold wave, hurricane, and heat wave.

Storm events near Brownsville

NOAA-recorded tornado, hail, and flood events within 25 miles of Brownsville's center, 2016–2026 — the only hazards NOAA reports with exact coordinates, so these counts are specific to Brownsville itself, not the whole county.

Tornado 7 events
Hail 26 events
Inland Flooding 59 events

County-wide hazard risk

Every other hazard FEMA and NOAA track — including drought — is only scored at the county level. These are Cameron County's FEMA National Risk Index scores, covering Brownsville along with the rest of the county, not a Brownsville-specific figure.

Hazard NRI score Rating
Wildfire 83.8 Relatively Low
Inland Flooding 92.8 Relatively Moderate
Coastal Flooding 67 Relatively Moderate
Earthquake 50.4 Very Low
Heat Wave 97.3 Relatively High
Tornado 85.1 Relatively Moderate
Avalanche Not Applicable
Cold Wave 99.5 Very High
Drought 83.2 Relatively Moderate
Hail 96.6 Relatively High
Hurricane 99 Very High
Ice Storm 94.5 Relatively High
Landslide 37.3 Very Low
Lightning 82.3 Relatively High
Strong Wind 87.6 Relatively High
Tsunami Insufficient Data
Volcanic Activity Not Applicable
Winter Weather 85.9 Relatively High

Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20.0, December 2025. See the methodology page for definitions, or the full Cameron County risk profile for disaster declarations, social vulnerability, and climate projection data.

Other cities in Cameron County:

More on Cameron County:

Frequently asked questions

What natural hazards is Brownsville, TX at risk of?

Brownsville is rated Relatively High for overall natural hazard risk by FEMA's National Risk Index — higher risk than most US counties. The highest-rated hazards for Cameron County, where Brownsville is located, are cold wave, hurricane, and heat wave.

What is Brownsville's biggest natural hazard risk?

Cold Wave is the highest-rated hazard for Cameron County, where Brownsville is located, scoring 99.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (rated "Very High").

Is Brownsville a high-risk area for natural disasters?

Yes — Brownsville carries higher risk than most US counties for overall natural hazard risk, per FEMA's National Risk Index rating of "Relatively High" for Cameron County.

Has Brownsville had tornadoes, hail, or flooding?

NOAA has recorded 7 tornado, 26 hail, 59 inland flooding events within 25 miles of Brownsville since 2016.