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Wichita Falls, TX Tornado History — 122 Tornadoes Since 1950

Texas · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Wichita Falls, TX had?

Wichita Falls has had 122 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 12 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Wichita Falls?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Wichita Falls was an EF0 on August 28, 2025.

When is tornado season in Wichita Falls?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Wichita Falls, with 50 on record. April through June account for 100 of the 122 tornadoes on record near Wichita Falls.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
122
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
12
9.8% of total
Peak Month
May
50 on record
Per Year Avg
1.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Wichita Falls

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 2
2024 5
2023 1
2022 0
2021 0
2020 4
2019 2
2018 1
2017 1
2016 0
2015 7
2014 1
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 0
2007 1

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Wichita Falls since December 29, 2025

These are 2 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 April 25, 2026
5 NE Windthorst, Clay County, TX
(OUN)
Preliminary April 25, 2026
2 NW Scotland, Archer County, TX
Social media report with image. (OUN)

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

What storm spotters reported near Wichita Falls

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Wichita Falls and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 3, 2025 and the most recent on June 3, 2025. It is already counted in the Wichita Falls totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

June 3, 2025
5 NW Archer City, Archer County, TX
Brief touchdown via photo evidence. Time estimated. (OUN)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 19
1960s 16
1970s 14
1980s 7
1990s 30
2000s 12
2010s 12
2020s 12

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 61
EF1 33
EF2 12
EF3 8
EF4 3
EF5 1
Unrated 4

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 5
Apr 34
May 50
Jun 16
Jul 3
Aug 7
Sep 3
Oct 1
Nov 2
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Wichita Falls

58 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Wichita Falls since 1950, across 6 events. 1,901 injuries have been reported across all events. 1979 was the deadliest year on record near Wichita Falls.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 10, 1979, which caused 42 fatalities along a 46.9-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Wichita Falls

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 10, 1979 — 42 fatalities, 46.9 mi path, 1,320 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F4 on April 10, 1979 — est. ~$275.0M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F4 on April 10, 1979 — 1,320 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 10, 1979 — 46.9 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on August 28, 2025.

What the record shows near Wichita Falls

The 1990s were the busiest decade near Wichita Falls, with 30 of the 122 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 12 so far. The Wichita Falls record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Wichita Falls, 94 reached EF0 or EF1 and 24 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Wichita Falls is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 4 near Wichita Falls are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Wichita Falls has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2015 was the busiest of them with 7, and 10 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Wichita Falls, TX had?
Since 1950, 122 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Wichita Falls. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Wichita Falls?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Wichita Falls was an F4 on April 10, 1979, which caused 42 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Wichita Falls?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Wichita Falls, with 50 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 Wichita Falls been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Wichita Falls, there have been 1 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 Wichita Falls?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Wichita Falls was an EF0 on August 28, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Wichita Falls?
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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