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Sunray, Texas

6 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1954 and the latest in 1986. It stands in the Sunray census division. It lies in ZIP code area 79086. The Survey maps it on the Sunray quadrangle. 1,707 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 3,507 feet above sea level.

Sunray within Moore County

Population over time

2 figures

Sunray fell from 1,926 to 1,707 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
20101,926
20201,707-219 (-11%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

4 surveys from 6 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

19 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 19 fires within 5 miles of Sunray between 2006 and 2020, burning about 1,656 acres in total. 1 started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined12
Equipment and vehicle use3
Power generation/transmission/distribution1
Debris and open burning1
Natural1
Railroad operations and maintenance1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
10 August 2019Power generation/transmission/distributionunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceMAXUS ROAD FIRE
4 July 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceCALICHE PIT
12 July 2020Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceENERGY TRANSFER FLARE FIRE
11 July 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreTexas A & M Forest ServiceCALICHE PIT FIRE 2
21 June 2020Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCALICHE PIT FIRE
18 June 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresTexas A & M Forest ServiceCEMATARY RD
20 May 2006Natural300 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named
9 April 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined20 acresTexas A & M Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Moore County

Storms near this place

60 since 1993

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Sunray in 60 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 44 hail, 10 thunderstorm wind, 5 tornado, 1 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2025Thunderstorm WindSunray$250,000A severe thunderstorm moved across portions of Moore County during the early morning hours of August 3, 2025. It produced significant, widespread damage to portions of the county from north of Dumas and especially across the town of Sunray. Based on pictures and radar imagery, it has been determined that this damage is attributed to straight line winds. The most significant damage occurred in Sunray. Here, numerous trees were snapped or uprooted. Several power poles were snapped, center pivots were flipped, a few light poles were bent at the base. The press box at the high school sports complex was destroyed. Other structure damage included destroyed|outbuildings and barns as well as roof damage to homes and businesses. Train|cars were laid on their side off a track between Cactus and Sunray. All of the damage was laid in a pattern that is indicative of straight line winds and no convergence of damage was noted.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindSunray$100,000The Moore County Emergency Management Office reported that thunderstorm wind gusts resulted in considerable damage in the town of Sunray Texas in Moore County. An official National Weather Service Storm Survey confirmed that the damage was caused by a downburst. The damage was mainly on the north side of Sunray with some of the most serious damage being a metal roof which was blown off of a business and blown one block away into the street. Also, an empty mobile home was flipped and a large moving truck was tipped on its side. Other damage included several trees and tree limbs which were blown down as well as numerous power lines. Several windows were blown out in homes.
April 2007Tornado (EF1)Sunray$18,000This tornado formed four miles east of Sunray at 1936 CST and moved north exiting Moore county five miles east northeast of Sunray at 1939 CST. The tornado continued into Sherman county for about another six miles before dissipating at 1950 CST. Empty rail cars were overturned northeast of Sunray and a barn was destroyed along with roof damage to several hog barns. No injuries were reported. While in Moore county...the tornado was rated as EF1 but in Sherman county it was rated EF0.
April 2007Tornado (EF1)Sunray$8,000This tornado formed near the Valero McKee Refinery which is located about six miles southwest of Sunray at 1959 CST. The tornado was rated a strong EF1...with winds approaching one hundred and ten miles an hour. Damage was reported to double wooden power poles that were snapped near their bases. The tornado resulted in minor damage to the southeast side of the Valero property. No injuries were reported.
June 2010HailSunray$2,000The large hail came through the window of the vehicle which the storm chaser was driving and caused minor cuts to the driver.
May 2024HailSunray-Quarter to half dollar size hail fell in Sunray.
August 2018Thunderstorm WindSunray-Spotters in Sunray confirmed wind gusts likely over 60 mph.
March 2017HailSunray-Hail on FM 1060 and FM 1058 the size of half dollars.
May 2017HailSunray-Dime size hail also reported.
April 2016HailSunray-Ping pong ball size hail was reported just south of Sunray. Hail accumulation was reported on roadways.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSunray-The KVII Schoolnet weather station located in Sunray measured a wind gust of 58 mph.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSunray-Severe thunderstorm winds resulted in 9 power poles snapped near County Road 1060 and Highway 281.
August 2015Thunderstorm WindSunray-Severe thunderstorm winds resulted in 6 power poles being blown down approximately 2 to 3 miles south of Sunray on Highway 119.
June 2014HailSunray-A discrete supercell developed over Moore County during the evening hours of the 6th. As this storm moved over the town of Sunray (Moore County), it went through a storm split and the left moving portion of the storm began moving southeastward. While this portion of the storm was over the town of Sunray (Moore County), a trained storm spotter reported golf ball size hail (1.75 inches) in town. After producing this hail the left moving supercell continued moving to the southeast across the county.
June 2014HailSunray-A discrete supercell developed over Moore County during the evening hours of the 6th. As this storm moved over the town of Sunray (Moore County), it went through a storm split and the left moving portion of the storm began moving southeastward. While this portion of the storm was over the town of Sunray (Moore County), the Emergency Manager reported golf ball size hail (1.75 inches) 2 miles east of town. After producing this hail the left moving supercell continued moving to the southeast across the county.
June 2013HailSunray-A cluster of thunderstorms developed along a stalling cold front during the evening hours of the 8th. This cluster of thunderstorms moved to the south across the northern Texas Panhandle. While over the city of Sunray (Moore County), the Moore County Sheriff's office reported golfball size hail (1.75 inches) in the city. The storm that produced this hail continued moving to the south across the county after producing this hail.
June 2013HailSunray-A cluster of thunderstorms developed along a stalling cold front during the evening hours of the 8th. This cluster of thunderstorms moved to the south across the northern Texas Panhandle. The Moore County Sheriff's Office reported half dollar size hail (1.50 inches) 6 miles south of Sunray (Moore County). The storm that produced this hail continued moving to the south across the county after producing this hail.
June 2010Tornado (EF0)Sunray-The cone tornado touched down at 1414 CST about eight miles south of Sunray Texas and remained over open country. No damage or injuries were reported. The Moore County Sheriff also witnessed the brief tornado in the same location. The tornado lifted around 1416 CST in about the same location. The tornado path length and path width were estimated.
April 2007Tornado (EF0)Sunray-This tornado formed two miles southwest of Sunray at 1919 CST and then dissipated two miles west of Sunray at 1923 CST. The tornado remained over open country and the path length and path width were estimated. No damage or injuries were reported.
May 2003Tornado (F0)Sunray-The tornado remained over open country. No damage or injuries were reported.
March 2001HailSunray-Hail reported to have covered the ground to a depth of two inches.
July 1994HailSunray-Nickel-size hail was reported by the Sheriff's Office.
June 2023HailSunray-no account filed
April 2011HailSunray-no account filed
May 2010HailSunray-no account filed
May 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2010HailSunray-no account filed
June 2009HailSunray-no account filed
June 2009HailSunray-no account filed
June 2009HailSunray-no account filed
May 2008HailSunray-no account filed
April 2007HailSunray-no account filed
May 2007HailSunray-no account filed
April 2006HailSunray-no account filed
June 2006HailSunray-no account filed
May 2004Thunderstorm WindSunray-no account filed
June 2004Thunderstorm WindSunray-no account filed
June 2004HailSunray-no account filed
May 2003HailSunray-no account filed
May 2003HailSunray-no account filed
May 2002HailSunray-no account filed
May 2002HailSunray-no account filed
May 2002HailSunray-no account filed
May 2002HailSunray-no account filed
August 2002Thunderstorm WindSunray-no account filed
March 2001HailSunray-no account filed
May 2001HailSunray-no account filed
May 1997Thunderstorm WindSunray-no account filed
June 1996HailSunray-no account filed
June 1996HailSunray-no account filed
June 1996HailSunray-no account filed
July 1996Flash FloodSunray-no account filed
July 1995HailSunray-no account filed
July 1995HailSunray-no account filed
August 1993HailSunray-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Moore County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Sheerin Junction3.1 miles6
Sheerin4.4 miles6
Bryden6.9 miles6
Etter9.3 miles6
Cactus9.7 miles6
Capps Switch9.8 miles6
Machovec10.0 miles6
Dumas13.1 miles6

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on SunrayAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q982810The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1369408. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.