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Waco, TX Tornado History — 102 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Waco, TX had?

Waco has had 102 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Waco?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Waco was an EF0 on June 11, 2025.

When is tornado season in Waco?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Waco, with 23 on record. April through June account for 56 of the 102 tornadoes on record near Waco.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
102
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
6
5.9% of total
Peak Month
April
23 on record
Per Year Avg
1.3
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Waco

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 21 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.

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

What storm spotters reported near Waco

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Waco and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 11, 2025 and the most recent on June 11, 2025. It is already counted in the Waco totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° June 12, 2025
2 WSW Gholson, McLennan County, TX
A brief tornado was caught on video west of Gholson. Local officials found damage to a property near Mary Ware Dr and Hamilton Dr. This tornado was rated EF-0 with maxi (FWD)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 10
1960s 7
1970s 23
1980s 14
1990s 15
2000s 15
2010s 5
2020s 13

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 33
EF1 37
EF2 23
EF3 1
EF4 3
EF5 2
Unrated 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 2
Feb 4
Mar 10
Apr 23
May 18
Jun 15
Jul 0
Aug 3
Sep 3
Oct 19
Nov 1
Dec 4

Casualties on Record Near Waco

126 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Waco since 1950, across 3 events. 723 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record near Waco.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on May 11, 1953, which caused 114 fatalities along a 20.9-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Waco

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on May 11, 1953 — 114 fatalities, 20.9 mi path, 583 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on October 13, 1981 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on March 31, 1959 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on November 12, 1972 — 24.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on June 11, 2025.

What the record shows near Waco

The 1970s were the busiest decade near Waco, with 23 of the 102 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 13 so far. The Waco record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Waco, 70 reached EF0 or EF1 and 29 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Waco is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged. A further 3 near Waco are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Waco has averaged 1.1 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 21 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 12 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Waco, TX had?
Since 1950, 102 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Waco. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Waco?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Waco was an F5 on May 11, 1953, which caused 114 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Waco?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Waco, with 23 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 Waco been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Waco, there have been 2 EF5 and 3 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 Waco?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Waco was an EF0 on June 11, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Waco?
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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