Mission, TX Tornado History — 37 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Mission, TX had?
Mission has had 37 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Mission?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Mission was an EF0 on March 27, 2025.
When is tornado season in Mission?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Mission, with 12 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 Mission
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 4 total, averaging 0.2 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 Mission been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Mission from any of the 37 tornadoes since 1950, though 23 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Mission
About Tornadoes in Mission
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.
Mission, Texas, located in the Rio Grande Valley near the Mexican border, has experienced 37 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. While tornadoes can occur in any month, September stands out as the peak period for the area, accounting for 12 of the recorded events. This late-summer and early-fall pattern differs from the traditional spring peak seen in many other parts of the country, reflecting the influence of tropical systems and Gulf moisture on the region's severe weather.
The majority of tornadoes near Mission have been relatively weak, with 19 rated EF0 and 14 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage. Only two EF2 tornadoes and one EF3 tornado have been recorded in the area. Remarkably, no tornadoes on record have resulted in fatalities within the 25-mile search radius. The most significant event occurred on March 15, 1983, when an F3 tornado carved a 6.1-mile path with a maximum width of 900 yards, causing $2.75 million in property damage but no deaths. This tornado remains both the costliest and widest on record for the area.
Tornado activity near Mission has varied considerably by decade. The 1980s saw the highest frequency with 13 tornadoes, while the 2010s recorded only one event. The 1960s and 1990s each saw five tornadoes, and eight occurred during the 2000s. The longest-tracked tornado on record was an F2 that traveled 40.2 miles on April 27, 1967, though it caused relatively modest damage of $27,500. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on March 27, 2025, traveling just 0.3 miles with a 75-yard width and causing an estimated $500,000 in property damage.
The Enhanced Fujita scale, used since 2007 to replace the original Fujita scale, rates tornadoes from EF0 (65-85 mph winds) to EF5 (over 200 mph winds) based on the severity of damage to structures and vegetation. One tornado in the Mission area remains unrated in the historical record, likely due to limited damage surveys or documentation from earlier decades.