Tornadoes since 1950 9,481
Average a year 126
Deaths 593
F4/EF4 or stronger 55
Busiest year 2015 (241)
Peak month May
Counties with a tornado 254
Texas recorded 9,481 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 126 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 593 people. The busiest year was 2015, with 241.
Walker: 20 tornadoes since 1950 Brooks: 5 tornadoes since 1950 Deaf Smith: 38 tornadoes since 1950 Hockley: 71 tornadoes since 1950 Shackelford: 25 tornadoes since 1950 Tom Green: 54 tornadoes since 1950 Wise: 62 tornadoes since 1950 Cottle: 37 tornadoes since 1950 Taylor: 70 tornadoes since 1950 Armstrong: 49 tornadoes since 1950 Hutchinson: 78 tornadoes since 1950 Irion: 14 tornadoes since 1950 Mitchell: 54 tornadoes since 1950 Yoakum: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Childress: 27 tornadoes since 1950 Gillespie: 18 tornadoes since 1950 Dickens: 43 tornadoes since 1950 La Salle: 9 tornadoes since 1950 Hansford: 66 tornadoes since 1950 Potter: 43 tornadoes since 1950 Falls: 19 tornadoes since 1950 Hamilton: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Runnels: 56 tornadoes since 1950 Hale: 137 tornadoes since 1950 San Jacinto: 21 tornadoes since 1950 Duval: 18 tornadoes since 1950 Moore: 58 tornadoes since 1950 Martin: 37 tornadoes since 1950 Limestone: 31 tornadoes since 1950 Zavala: 10 tornadoes since 1950 Cochran: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Fisher: 51 tornadoes since 1950 Baylor: 28 tornadoes since 1950 Panola: 54 tornadoes since 1950 Jack: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Coryell: 36 tornadoes since 1950 Lipscomb: 45 tornadoes since 1950 Donley: 62 tornadoes since 1950 Atascosa: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Briscoe: 50 tornadoes since 1950 Goliad: 20 tornadoes since 1950 Gray: 93 tornadoes since 1950 Hall: 56 tornadoes since 1950 Brown: 39 tornadoes since 1950 Gaines: 37 tornadoes since 1950 Bell: 72 tornadoes since 1950 Sutton: 5 tornadoes since 1950 San Augustine: 21 tornadoes since 1950 King: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Uvalde: 14 tornadoes since 1950 Wilson: 19 tornadoes since 1950 Schleicher: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Swisher: 78 tornadoes since 1950 Motley: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Lynn: 45 tornadoes since 1950 Menard: 3 tornadoes since 1950 Nolan: 49 tornadoes since 1950 Sterling: 19 tornadoes since 1950 Garza: 21 tornadoes since 1950 Callahan: 47 tornadoes since 1950 Stonewall: 27 tornadoes since 1950 Franklin: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Van Zandt: 41 tornadoes since 1950 Hunt: 62 tornadoes since 1950 Madison: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Hood: 29 tornadoes since 1950 Mason: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Gregg: 36 tornadoes since 1950 Hemphill: 53 tornadoes since 1950 Castro: 87 tornadoes since 1950 Upton: 20 tornadoes since 1950 Jim Hogg: 4 tornadoes since 1950 Lavaca: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Midland: 37 tornadoes since 1950 Kimble: 7 tornadoes since 1950 Carson: 95 tornadoes since 1950 Palo Pinto: 43 tornadoes since 1950 Lamb: 95 tornadoes since 1950 Eastland: 57 tornadoes since 1950 Kerr: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Lubbock: 97 tornadoes since 1950 Erath: 45 tornadoes since 1950 Upshur: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Blanco: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Andrews: 25 tornadoes since 1950 Jeff Davis: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Knox: 29 tornadoes since 1950 Llano: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Wheeler: 58 tornadoes since 1950 Crosby: 61 tornadoes since 1950 McMullen: 6 tornadoes since 1950 Roberts: 43 tornadoes since 1950 Kent: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Comal: 15 tornadoes since 1950 Zapata: 5 tornadoes since 1950 Aransas: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Orange: 32 tornadoes since 1950 Winkler: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Jones: 87 tornadoes since 1950 Sherman: 44 tornadoes since 1950 Chambers: 34 tornadoes since 1950 Hardin: 30 tornadoes since 1950 Hill: 61 tornadoes since 1950 Williamson: 74 tornadoes since 1950 Kinney: 13 tornadoes since 1950 Calhoun: 32 tornadoes since 1950 Ellis: 64 tornadoes since 1950 Clay: 40 tornadoes since 1950 Kaufman: 39 tornadoes since 1950 Foard: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Collin: 55 tornadoes since 1950 Comanche: 39 tornadoes since 1950 Concho: 29 tornadoes since 1950 Crane: 19 tornadoes since 1950 Jasper: 58 tornadoes since 1950 Gonzales: 21 tornadoes since 1950 Jefferson: 111 tornadoes since 1950 Dimmit: 3 tornadoes since 1950 Bowie: 56 tornadoes since 1950 Brewster: 21 tornadoes since 1950 Dallam: 37 tornadoes since 1950 Cass: 72 tornadoes since 1950 Fayette: 31 tornadoes since 1950 Burnet: 33 tornadoes since 1950 Refugio: 25 tornadoes since 1950 Ochiltree: 70 tornadoes since 1950 Matagorda: 47 tornadoes since 1950 Throckmorton: 42 tornadoes since 1950 Anderson: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Caldwell: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Medina: 27 tornadoes since 1950 Glasscock: 25 tornadoes since 1950 Kenedy: 6 tornadoes since 1950 Wood: 44 tornadoes since 1950 Liberty: 64 tornadoes since 1950 Travis: 71 tornadoes since 1950 Montgomery: 54 tornadoes since 1950 Howard: 52 tornadoes since 1950 Bastrop: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Trinity: 26 tornadoes since 1950 McLennan: 69 tornadoes since 1950 McCulloch: 30 tornadoes since 1950 Brazoria: 98 tornadoes since 1950 Bailey: 61 tornadoes since 1950 Houston: 32 tornadoes since 1950 San Saba: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Presidio: 5 tornadoes since 1950 Nacogdoches: 51 tornadoes since 1950 Washington: 30 tornadoes since 1950 Cooke: 61 tornadoes since 1950 Wilbarger: 55 tornadoes since 1950 Leon: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Karnes: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Randall: 88 tornadoes since 1950 DeWitt: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Ward: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Wichita: 64 tornadoes since 1950 Willacy: 21 tornadoes since 1950 Shelby: 45 tornadoes since 1950 Kendall: 20 tornadoes since 1950 Morris: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Hopkins: 36 tornadoes since 1950 Rockwall: 19 tornadoes since 1950 Hudspeth: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Smith: 71 tornadoes since 1950 Hidalgo: 40 tornadoes since 1950 Brazos: 28 tornadoes since 1950 Burleson: 24 tornadoes since 1950 Delta: 8 tornadoes since 1950 Crockett: 13 tornadoes since 1950 Lee: 31 tornadoes since 1950 Robertson: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Mills: 13 tornadoes since 1950 Loving: 7 tornadoes since 1950 Sabine: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Austin: 27 tornadoes since 1950 Reagan: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Reeves: 48 tornadoes since 1950 Tarrant: 113 tornadoes since 1950 Hays: 29 tornadoes since 1950 San Patricio: 59 tornadoes since 1950 Oldham: 25 tornadoes since 1950 Pecos: 97 tornadoes since 1950 Real: 2 tornadoes since 1950 Dallas: 107 tornadoes since 1950 Nueces: 108 tornadoes since 1950 Red River: 38 tornadoes since 1950 Coleman: 42 tornadoes since 1950 Rusk: 73 tornadoes since 1950 Terrell: 10 tornadoes since 1950 Tyler: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Victoria: 38 tornadoes since 1950 Webb: 9 tornadoes since 1950 Wharton: 69 tornadoes since 1950 Kleberg: 30 tornadoes since 1950 Harris: 251 tornadoes since 1950 Hardeman: 42 tornadoes since 1950 Newton: 33 tornadoes since 1950 Navarro: 51 tornadoes since 1950 Montague: 54 tornadoes since 1950 Frio: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Harrison: 88 tornadoes since 1950 Lamar: 46 tornadoes since 1950 Floyd: 58 tornadoes since 1950 Starr: 4 tornadoes since 1950 Stephens: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Parmer: 56 tornadoes since 1950 Marion: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Val Verde: 44 tornadoes since 1950 El Paso: 6 tornadoes since 1950 Coke: 16 tornadoes since 1950 Cameron: 66 tornadoes since 1950 Waller: 22 tornadoes since 1950 Bee: 36 tornadoes since 1950 Titus: 27 tornadoes since 1950 Camp: 13 tornadoes since 1950 Grimes: 14 tornadoes since 1950 Scurry: 43 tornadoes since 1950 Jim Wells: 47 tornadoes since 1950 Ector: 45 tornadoes since 1950 Rains: 17 tornadoes since 1950 Parker: 71 tornadoes since 1950 Young: 52 tornadoes since 1950 Polk: 31 tornadoes since 1950 Angelina: 44 tornadoes since 1950 Live Oak: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Dawson: 53 tornadoes since 1950 Haskell: 59 tornadoes since 1950 Terry: 35 tornadoes since 1950 Archer: 30 tornadoes since 1950 Henderson: 38 tornadoes since 1950 Bosque: 40 tornadoes since 1950 Hartley: 36 tornadoes since 1950 Collingsworth: 44 tornadoes since 1950 Somervell: 6 tornadoes since 1950 Colorado: 31 tornadoes since 1950 Freestone: 15 tornadoes since 1950 Borden: 11 tornadoes since 1950 Culberson: 6 tornadoes since 1950 Galveston: 126 tornadoes since 1950 Lampasas: 14 tornadoes since 1950 Edwards: 4 tornadoes since 1950 Guadalupe: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Cherokee: 44 tornadoes since 1950 Fannin: 57 tornadoes since 1950 Fort Bend: 62 tornadoes since 1950 Milam: 26 tornadoes since 1950 Bexar: 72 tornadoes since 1950 Johnson: 107 tornadoes since 1950 Denton: 57 tornadoes since 1950 Bandera: 7 tornadoes since 1950 Maverick: 13 tornadoes since 1950 Jackson: 42 tornadoes since 1950 Grayson: 71 tornadoes since 1950 Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950:
Tornadoes by year
20 50
15
13
32
77
104
56
145
74
86
77 60
124
143
82
78
108
77
232
136
127
121 70
191
144
147
116
117
178
123
137
157
152 80
176
203
186
93
90
132
126
89
160
158 90
192
189
117
187
232
138
191
120
165
147 00
137
174
156
178
105
116
198
120
129
107 10
102
115
84
46
241
100
167
53
167
84 20
94
118
78
132
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in Texas
226 Jan
214 Feb
755 Mar
1,639 Apr
2,919 May
1,375 Jun
360 Jul
417 Aug
482 Sep
484 Oct
355 Nov
255 Dec
May is the peak, with 2,919 tornadoes since 1950 (31% of the total).
How strong
Rating
Estimated 3-second gust
Tornadoes
F0 / EF0
Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale)
4,921
F1 / EF1
Moderate: 86 to 110 mph
2,684
F2 / EF2
Considerable: 111 to 135 mph
1,285
F3 / EF3
Severe: 136 to 165 mph
338
F4 / EF4
Devastating: 166 to 200 mph
49
F5 / EF5
Incredible: over 200 mph
6
EF-U
Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016)
198
Texas has had 6 F5 or EF5 tornadoes, the top of the scale.
The deadliest tornadoes in Texas
Date
Rating
Deaths in Texas
Counties
May 11, 1953
F5 (the Waco tornado)
114
McLennan County
April 10, 1979
F4
42
Archer County , Clay County , Wichita County
May 22, 1987
F4
30
Reeves County
May 27, 1997
F5
27
Williamson County
May 11, 1970
F5
26
Lubbock County
May 15, 1957
F4
21
Briscoe County
March 13, 1953
F4
17
Haskell County , Knox County
April 18, 1970
F4
16
Armstrong County , Briscoe County , Donley County , Gray County , Swisher County
May 11, 1953
F4 (the Waco tornado)
13
Tom Green County
April 10, 1979
F4
11
Foard County , Wilbarger County
Counties with the most tornadoes
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Galveston County (294 per 1,000 sq mi), Johnson County (145 per 1,000 sq mi), Harris County (141 per 1,000 sq mi), Hale County (137 per 1,000 sq mi), Gregg County (132 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in Texas
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.