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Brownsville, TX Tornado History — 57 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Brownsville, TX had?

Brownsville has had 57 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Brownsville?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Brownsville was an Unrated on October 27, 2025.

When is tornado season in Brownsville?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Brownsville, with 14 on record. April through June account for 27 of the 57 tornadoes on record near Brownsville.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
57
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
2
3.5% of total
Peak Month
May
14 on record
Per Year Avg
0.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Brownsville

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 14 total, averaging 0.7 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 0
2023 2
2022 0
2021 0
2020 1
2019 0
2018 0
2017 1
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 2
2011 0
2010 4
2009 0
2008 2
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Brownsville

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Brownsville and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on October 26, 2025 and the most recent on October 26, 2025. It is already counted in the Brownsville totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

October 27, 2025
South Padre Island, Cameron County, TX
[Landspout] **Corrects previous report from South Padre Island to change from wind to landspout/waterspout.** A short-lived landspout/waterspout nudged over the sand (BRO)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1960s 8
1970s 11
1980s 8
1990s 9
2000s 9
2010s 7
2020s 5

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.

EF0 40
EF1 10
EF2 3
EF3 2
Unrated 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 1
Apr 6
May 14
Jun 7
Jul 5
Aug 10
Sep 6
Oct 2
Nov 5
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Brownsville

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Brownsville since 1950, across 1 event. 12 injuries have been reported across all events. 2023 was the deadliest year on record near Brownsville.

The deadliest single event was an EF1 on May 13, 2023, which caused 1 fatality along a 0.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Brownsville

Deadliest Tornado
EF1 on May 13, 2023 — 1 fatality, 0.5 mi path, 200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F1 on September 16, 1988 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F1 on August 20, 1967 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on May 24, 1970 — 25.5 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on October 27, 2025.

What the record shows near Brownsville

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Brownsville, with 11 of the 57 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Brownsville record runs from the 1960s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Brownsville, 50 reached EF0 or EF1 and 5 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Brownsville is rated EF3, of which 2 are logged. A further 2 near Brownsville are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Brownsville has averaged 0.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 14 in total. 2010 was the busiest of them with 4, and 13 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Brownsville, TX had?
Since 1950, 57 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Brownsville. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Brownsville?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Brownsville was an EF1 on May 13, 2023, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Brownsville?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Brownsville, with 14 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Brownsville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Brownsville was an Unrated on October 27, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Brownsville?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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