Friendswood, TX Tornado History — 293 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Friendswood, TX had?
Friendswood has had 293 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 10 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Friendswood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Friendswood was an EF2 on December 28, 2024, causing 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Friendswood?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Friendswood, with 41 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 Friendswood
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 54 total, averaging 2.7 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
Casualties on Record Near Friendswood
6 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Friendswood since 1950, across 6 events. 316 injuries have been reported across all events. 2024 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on December 13, 1977, which caused 1 fatality along a 25.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Friendswood
About Tornadoes in Friendswood
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.
Friendswood, Texas, situated in the Houston metropolitan area, has experienced significant tornado activity over the past seven decades. According to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 288 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of the city since 1950. The 1970s saw the highest concentration of events with 69 tornadoes, while activity has moderated somewhat in recent decades, with 38 tornadoes in the 2010s and 8 recorded so far in the 2020s.
The majority of tornadoes in the Friendswood area have been relatively weak, with 156 rated EF0 and 94 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. However, the region has also witnessed more powerful storms: 28 tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, 9 achieved EF3 status, and one particularly severe event was rated EF4. Unlike many parts of the country where tornado season peaks in spring, August stands out as the most active month for the Friendswood area with 41 recorded events, reflecting the influence of Gulf Coast weather patterns and tropical systems.
The most destructive tornado on record struck on November 21, 1992, when an F4 tornado carved a 30-mile path with a maximum width of 1,800 yards. This storm caused $275 million in property damage but remarkably resulted in no fatalities. The deadliest tornado occurred on December 13, 1977, when an F3 tornado claimed one life and caused $27.5 million in damage along a 25.1-mile track. Most recently, an EF2 tornado on December 28, 2024, traveled 8.9 miles with a maximum width of 300 yards, tragically resulting in one fatality.
The substantial tornado count within 25 miles of Friendswood reflects both the genuine meteorological activity in this coastal region of Texas and improvements in detection and reporting capabilities over the decades. While weaker tornadoes dominate the historical record, the presence of multiple violent tornadoes underscores the potential for significant severe weather events in this area.