Alton, TX Tornado History — 40 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Alton, TX had?
Alton has had 40 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Alton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alton was an EF0 on March 27, 2025.
When is tornado season in Alton?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alton, with 14 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Alton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 5 total, averaging 0.3 per year over this window.
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
Have any tornadoes near Alton been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Alton from any of the 40 tornadoes since 1950, though 23 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Alton
About Tornadoes in Alton
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Alton, Texas has experienced 40 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The majority of these events have been relatively weak, with 21 rated EF0 and 14 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only three tornadoes have reached EF2 strength or higher in the area's recorded history, and notably, no tornado-related fatalities have been documented in this region during the period of record.
Tornado activity in the Alton area has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest concentration with 13 recorded events, followed by the 2000s with 9 tornadoes. In contrast, the 1950s, 1970s, and 2010s each recorded three or fewer events. The most recent tornado occurred on March 27, 2025, an EF0 event that caused $500,000 in property damage along a 0.3-mile path. This recent activity demonstrates that tornado risk remains present in the region across multiple decades.
Unlike many areas where tornado season peaks in spring, the Alton vicinity shows an unusual pattern with September as the most active month, accounting for 14 of the 40 recorded tornadoes. This late-season peak may reflect the influence of tropical systems and Gulf moisture patterns that affect South Texas during late summer and early fall, though spring tornadoes have also occurred in the area.
The most significant tornado on record struck on March 15, 1983, an F3-rated storm that carved a 6.1-mile path with a maximum width of 900 yards. This event caused $2,750,000 in property damage and stands as both the costliest and widest tornado documented near Alton. The longest-tracked tornado occurred on April 27, 1967, when an F2 tornado traveled 40.2 miles with a relatively narrow 67-yard width, causing $27,500 in damage. Despite the intensity of these events, the absence of fatalities across all recorded tornadoes reflects both the rural character of much of the affected area and the relatively modest strength of most storms.