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Gainesville, TX Tornado History — 129 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Gainesville, TX had?

Gainesville has had 129 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 13 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Gainesville?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gainesville was an Unrated on May 19, 2025.

When is tornado season in Gainesville?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gainesville, with 39 on record. April through June account for 86 of the 129 tornadoes on record near Gainesville.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
129
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
13
10.1% of total
Peak Month
April
39 on record
Per Year Avg
1.7
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Gainesville

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 32 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 3
2023 1
2022 3
2021 0
2020 0
2019 4
2018 1
2017 1
2016 1
2015 5
2014 0
2013 1
2012 0
2011 3
2010 3
2009 1
2008 2
2007 1

What storm spotters reported near Gainesville

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Gainesville and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 19, 2025 and the most recent on May 19, 2025. It is already counted in the Gainesville totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

May 19, 2025
3 SE Saint Jo, Cooke County, TX
Several stormchaser videos and Texas Tech mobile radar data show a brief tornado touched down near Powell Ranch Lane south of US 82. (FWD)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 16
1960s 13
1970s 21
1980s 6
1990s 31
2000s 14
2010s 19
2020s 9

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 59
EF1 38
EF2 18
EF3 12
EF4 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 2
Mar 15
Apr 39
May 38
Jun 9
Jul 2
Aug 0
Sep 7
Oct 10
Nov 4
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Gainesville

16 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Gainesville since 1950, across 6 events. 158 injuries have been reported across all events. 2024 was the deadliest year on record near Gainesville.

The deadliest single event was an EF3 on May 25, 2024, which caused 7 fatalities along a 47.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Gainesville

Deadliest Tornado
EF3 on May 25, 2024 — 7 fatalities, 47.3 mi path, 1,400 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on May 7, 1995 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F3 on March 31, 1959 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF3 on May 25, 2024 — 47.3 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on May 19, 2025.

What the record shows near Gainesville

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Gainesville, with 31 of the 129 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 9 so far. The Gainesville record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Gainesville, 97 reached EF0 or EF1 and 31 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Gainesville is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Gainesville is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Gainesville has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 32 in total. 2015 was the busiest of them with 5, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Gainesville, TX had?
Since 1950, 129 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Gainesville. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Gainesville?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Gainesville was an EF3 on May 25, 2024, which caused 7 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Gainesville?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Gainesville, with 39 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.
Has Gainesville been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Gainesville, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Gainesville?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Gainesville was an Unrated on May 19, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Gainesville?
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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