Texas Tornadoes
Texas averages 140 tornadoes per year — the highest of any US state. Waco 1953 F5 killed 114, Jarrell 1997 F5 remains one of the most destructive ever documented.
Notable Texas Tornadoes with Full Details
Waco F5
· May 11, 1953Deadliest tornado in Texas history. 114 killed. Led directly to the creation of the US tornado warning system. Read the full story →
Jarrell F5
· May 27, 1997Possibly the most extreme tornado damage ever documented. 27 killed in Double Creek Estates. Read the full story →
Other Historic Texas Tornadoes
- Lubbock, TX (May 11, 1970) — F5, 26 killed. Struck downtown Lubbock at night.
- Dallas–Fort Worth (March 28, 2000) — F3, struck downtown Fort Worth
- Wichita Falls, TX (April 10, 1979) — F4 "Terrible Tuesday" outbreak, 42 killed
- Saragosa, TX (May 22, 1987) — F4, 30 killed at a graduation ceremony
Key Facts About Texas Tornado Activity
- Texas Panhandle is a major storm chaser destination — high tornado density with wide open terrain
- North Texas has among the highest hail-storm frequency in the country
- Hurricanes making landfall on the Texas coast routinely spawn tornadoes as they move inland
Texas Tornado Season
Peak activity in Texas: April–June, with a secondary fall peak in the Panhandle. Even outside this window, violent tornadoes are possible — no month is fully safe. Residents should have a household tornado plan year-round. See our tornado season guide → and tornado safety guide →.
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →