VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Houston, TX Tornado History — 300 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Houston, TX had?

Houston has had 300 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Houston?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Houston was an EF1 on November 24, 2025.

When is tornado season in Houston?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Houston, with 40 on record. April through June account for 84 of the 300 tornadoes on record near Houston.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
300
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
4.0% of total
Peak Month
May
40 on record
Per Year Avg
3.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Houston

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 2
2024 5
2023 3
2022 4
2021 2
2020 1
2019 2
2018 1
2017 18
2016 3
2015 8
2014 1
2013 0
2012 2
2011 1
2010 0
2009 1
2008 1
2007 0

What storm spotters reported near Houston

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Houston and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on November 24, 2025 and the most recent on November 24, 2025. It is already counted in the Houston totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

November 24, 2025
6 SE Tomball, Harris County, TX
Damaged was reported at the Klein Fire Department Admin complex along Stuebner Airline Road. Photos showed debris scattered across the area with downed fences and scatt (HGX)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 17
1970s 69
1980s 50
1990s 56
2000s 44
2010s 36
2020s 17

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 149
EF1 101
EF2 38
EF3 11
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 21
Feb 25
Mar 23
Apr 22
May 40
Jun 22
Jul 9
Aug 36
Sep 17
Oct 35
Nov 36
Dec 14

Casualties on Record Near Houston

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Houston since 1950, across 10 events. 434 injuries have been reported across all events. 1983 was the deadliest year on record near Houston.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on February 5, 1986, which caused 2 fatalities along a 5.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Houston

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on February 5, 1986 — 2 fatalities, 5.0 mi path, 70 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on November 21, 1992 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on November 21, 1992 — 1,800 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on November 21, 1992 — 32.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on November 24, 2025.

What the record shows near Houston

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Houston, with 69 of the 300 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 17 so far. The Houston record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Houston, 250 reached EF0 or EF1 and 50 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Houston is rated EF4, of which 1 is logged.

Across the last 20 years Houston has averaged 2.8 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 55 in total. 2017 was the busiest of them with 18, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Houston, TX had?
Since 1950, 300 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Houston. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Houston?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Houston was an F3 on February 5, 1986, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Houston?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Houston, with 40 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 Houston been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Houston, 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 Houston?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Houston was an EF1 on November 24, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Houston?
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

More Cities in Texas