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Plainview, TX Tornado History — 216 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Plainview, TX had?

Plainview has had 216 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Plainview?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Plainview was an Unrated on April 24, 2025.

When is tornado season in Plainview?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Plainview, with 69 on record. April through June account for 171 of the 216 tornadoes on record near Plainview.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
216
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
5
2.3% of total
Peak Month
May
69 on record
Per Year Avg
2.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Plainview

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 1
2024 1
2023 0
2022 0
2021 3
2020 0
2019 4
2018 0
2017 1
2016 1
2015 1
2014 0
2013 2
2012 2
2011 1
2010 0
2009 5
2008 0
2007 9

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Plainview since December 29, 2025

These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary May 22, 2026
6 NNW Abernathy, Hale County, TX
Multiple reports of a dusty tornado. (LUB)
Preliminary May 22, 2026
Edmonson, Hale County, TX
[Landspout] Media report of landspout near Edmonson. (LUB)
Preliminary May 22, 2026
3 SE Plainview, Hale County, TX
[Landspout] Multiple reports on X from chasers of landspouts. (LUB)

Within 25 miles of Plainview. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Plainview

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

April 24, 2025
15 S Silverton, Floyd County, TX
Multiple reports confirmed via video feed. (LUB)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 15
1960s 37
1970s 42
1980s 36
1990s 44
2000s 25
2010s 12
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 128
EF1 51
EF2 22
EF3 3
EF4 2
Unrated 10

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 11
Apr 35
May 69
Jun 67
Jul 6
Aug 11
Sep 5
Oct 10
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Plainview

12 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Plainview since 1950, across 4 events. 163 injuries have been reported across all events. 1970 was the deadliest year on record near Plainview.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 17, 1970, which caused 5 fatalities along a 96.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Plainview

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 17, 1970 — 5 fatalities, 96.6 mi path, 880 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on April 17, 1970 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on May 31, 1968 — 3,000 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 17, 1970 — 96.6 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on April 24, 2025.

What the record shows near Plainview

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Plainview, with 44 of the 216 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 5 so far. The Plainview record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Plainview, 179 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Plainview is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 10 near Plainview are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Plainview has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 31 in total. 2007 was the busiest of them with 9, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Plainview, TX had?
Since 1950, 216 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Plainview. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Plainview?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Plainview was an F4 on April 17, 1970, which caused 5 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Plainview?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Plainview, with 69 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 Plainview been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Plainview, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes 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 Plainview?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Plainview was an Unrated on April 24, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Plainview?
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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