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TX · Tornado Data

Texas Tornado History

Every recorded tornado in Texas from 1950 to present, with counts, fatalities, EF ratings, and notable events — sourced from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Total tornadoes
9,476
since 1950
F5 / EF5 events
6
most violent
Total deaths
611
all events
Total injuries
9,805
all events
Avg per year
126
1950–2024
Deadliest year
1953
150 deaths
Most active year
2015
241 tornadoes
Peak month
May
most tornadoes

Texas records more tornadoes than any other US state in absolute numbers, averaging approximately 135 per year — roughly 1.5 times the next-highest state. This is primarily a function of Texas's enormous land area (the state is over twice the size of Germany), but Texas is also home to some of the most intense tornadoes ever recorded and to one of the longest-studied severe-weather corridors in North America. Texas tornado activity spans three distinct climate zones: the North Texas / Red River corridor, the Gulf Coast, and the western Plains leading into New Mexico.

The Tornado Climate of Texas

Texas's tornado climate is split. The northern third of the state — including the Dallas–Fort Worth, Wichita Falls, and Red River region — behaves climatologically like southern Oklahoma and southern Kansas, with peak activity in April through June driven by dryline supercells. Central Texas, including the Austin and Waco corridors, sees a slightly earlier peak in March and April and fewer overall tornadoes per unit area. The coastal region from Houston south to Brownsville produces tornadoes primarily in association with landfalling tropical systems, which can produce dozens of typically weak but occasionally damaging tornadoes in the outer bands. West Texas and the Panhandle are part of the "high plains" tornado zone, with typically shorter but often more photogenic tornadoes. Texas has recorded four F5 tornadoes since 1950, including the 1953 Waco tornado (114 deaths, the deadliest tornado to hit a Texas city), the 1979 Wichita Falls tornado (42 deaths), and the 1997 Jarrell tornado (27 deaths; one of the most intense tornadoes ever documented on the basis of damage, with entire subdivisions erased to bare ground). The state's peak tornado day in modern records remains April 10, 1979 (the "Red River Outbreak"), which produced the Wichita Falls event and a series of violent tornadoes across north Texas and southern Oklahoma.

Notable Texas Tornadoes

F5May 11, 1953
1953 Waco tornado
114 deaths
F4April 10, 1979
1979 Wichita Falls tornado ("Terrible Tuesday")
42 deaths
F5May 27, 1997
1997 Jarrell tornado
27 deaths
EF4December 26, 2015
2015 Garland–Rowlett tornado
10 deaths
F4May 22, 1987
1987 Saragosa tornado
30 deaths

Seasonality

Texas tornado activity starts earlier in the year than Oklahoma or Kansas. March and April produce nearly as many tornadoes as May in north and central Texas. Gulf Coast tornadoes associated with tropical systems can occur any time from June through October. A small but notable late-season peak in November and December hits north-central Texas in particularly warm autumns.

Jan226
Feb214
Mar755
Apr1,638
May2,918
Jun1,373
Jul359
Aug417
Sep482
Oct484
Nov355
Dec255

Monthly distribution of all recorded Texas tornadoes since 1950.

Top 10 Deadliest Texas Tornadoes

DateRatingDeathsInjuriesPath
May 11, 1953F511459720.9 mi
April 10, 1979F4421,74046.9 mi
May 22, 1987F4301213.0 mi
May 27, 1997F527125.1 mi
May 11, 1970F5265008.4 mi
May 15, 1957F4218017.0 mi
March 13, 1953F4172513.9 mi
April 18, 1970F4164265.0 mi
May 11, 1953F4131599.9 mi
April 10, 1979F4116839.7 mi

Annual Tornado Counts

19502024

Hover a bar for the year-specific count. Reporting improved significantly with Doppler radar deployment in the 1990s, inflating modern counts relative to pre-1990s.

Regional Patterns

The Red River corridor (Wichita Falls, Sherman, Paris) and the DFW metroplex see the most tornadoes. The Panhandle produces long-tracked plains tornadoes and is a favored area for storm chasers. The Hill Country and Big Bend region see significantly fewer tornadoes than the rest of the state. Tornadoes in deep South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley are overwhelmingly tropical-system-driven.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes does Texas get each year?

Texas averages approximately 135 tornadoes per year, the highest absolute number of any state. Per unit area, Texas ranks substantially lower — states like Oklahoma and Kansas see more tornadoes per square mile. Yearly counts fluctuate significantly; the record is 232 tornadoes in 1995, and the lowest since modern reporting is 47 in 1951.

What was the deadliest tornado in Texas history?

The 1953 Waco tornado killed 114 people on May 11, 1953, and remains the deadliest Texas tornado. The F5 struck downtown Waco during the workday, collapsing the R. T. Dennis furniture building and killing many inside. The event led to major investment in the emerging national tornado warning program in the mid-1950s.

Does Dallas get tornadoes?

Yes. The Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex sits in one of the most tornado-prone regions of the state. Significant events include the 1957 Dallas tornado (F3, 10 deaths), the 2015 Garland–Rowlett tornado (EF4, 10 deaths), and the 2019 Dallas tornado (EF3, no deaths but $1.5+ billion in damage). Seven tornadoes have occurred within the Dallas city limits since 1950.

How many tornadoes has Texas had since 1950?

Texas has recorded 9,476 tornadoes from 1950 through the most recent NOAA SPC dataset update. The state averages approximately 126 tornadoes per year. 6 of these tornadoes were rated F5 or EF5 — the highest rating on the scale. The deadliest year on record was 1953, with 150 deaths, and the most active year was 2015 with 241 tornadoes.

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Data: NOAA Storm Prediction Center 1950–present tornado database. Counts and fatality totals reflect official post-event damage assessments. Current-year tornadoes may appear as preliminary until NWS surveys are finalized.