Abilene, TX Tornado History — 144 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Abilene, TX had?
Abilene has had 144 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Abilene?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Abilene was an Unrated on May 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Abilene?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Abilene, with 59 on record. April through June account for 112 of the 144 tornadoes on record near Abilene.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Abilene
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 23 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Abilene since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Delayed report. Brief tornado touchdown from a video taken south of Clyde. (SJT)
Within 25 miles of Abilene. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Abilene
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Abilene and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 18, 2025 and the most recent on May 18, 2025. It is already counted in the Abilene totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Delayed report: Video and report of a Tornado a few miles south of Clyde near FM 604. Report of a lot of tree damage associated with this tornado. Time and exact locati (SJT)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Abilene
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Abilene since 1950, across 1 event. 45 injuries have been reported across all events. 1950 was the deadliest year on record near Abilene.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 28, 1950, which caused 5 fatalities along a 1.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Abilene
What the record shows near Abilene
The 1980s were the busiest decade near Abilene, with 27 of the 144 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 6 so far. The Abilene record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Abilene, 114 reached EF0 or EF1 and 29 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Abilene is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Abilene is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Abilene has averaged 1.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 23 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 7, and 11 of those years passed with none at all.