Are There Tornadoes In Texas? (Full Details)

Texas is the second largest state in America and is an impressive 268,497 square miles or 171,902,080 acres.

The state is about 1.65 times larger than California and is home to more than 29.1 million residents. Joe Rogan, Matthew McConaughey, and Sandra Bullock are just a few famous names that reside there.

This glorious state is known for hot weather, BBQ as well as being the live music capital of the world.

But there are some interesting weather events that take place in this enormous state.

In this post, we’re going to answer a question that many Texas residents or potential residents often wonder about before moving to the state. “Are there tornadoes in Texas?“

YES. Tornadoes regularly form in Texas. Alongside Kansas, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, Texas is part of tornado alley which is a loosely defined area of the United States where tornadoes happen most frequently.

Let’s take a closer look…

What Part Of Texas Has Tornadoes?

Texas is the most tornado-prone state in the United States, averaging roughly 136 tornadoes each and every year.

But which part of texas has tornadoes?

Houston experiences the most tornadoes of any city in Texas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Houston has been hit by 242 tornadoes from 1950 – 2021.

Tornado Alley, the area with the highest tornado frequency, stretches from west Texas northeast through the western and central parts of Oklahoma and Kansas, as well as over the majority of Nebraska.

Every city in Texas is vulnerable to tornadoes, it’s not just Houston that gets hit. San Antonio, Dallas, Joshua, Keene, and Scottsville are all prone to tornadoes.

Along the east side of Texas along the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston county also sees a lot of tornadoes every year.

Galveston saw around 33 tornadoes per 100 square miles between the years 1950 – 2021. To put it simply, there are a LOT of tornadoes in Texas, and no area is safe from them.

Does Texas Normally Get Tornadoes?

Tornadoes happen in Texas every single year, with approximately 131 tornadoes touching down in Texas in any given year.

Texas has the most overall number of tornadoes of any state, it’s just a fact that Texas gets tornadoes, and one that residents have to get used to.

Since the year 1950, 8,754 tornadoes have been recorded in Texas. Truth is, the conditions in Texas during tornado season are perfect for them to form, but many are often shortlived and only last a matter of seconds.

No place on earth is entirely free from tornadoes, so don’t let this put you off from moving to Texas.

Just ensure that you are prepared for such an event and have a well-rehearsed plan for if a tornado strikes, as well as having a home insurance policy.

What Months Are Tornado Season In Texas?

Tornado season refers to the time of the year in which the United States sees the most tornadoes.

Tornado season in Texas falls during April, May, and June months, but it’s not unheard of to see tornadoes touch down at any point of the year in Texas.

These weather events are most common in Texas during the spring severe weather season. May in particular seems to be the month when conditions allow tornadoes to form in Texas.

Between 1950 – 2021 there have been 2,943 tornadoes in May, making an average of 40.9 tornadoes every single may.

That’s a lot of tornadoes!

Texas Tornadoes

Tornadoes in Texas are quite common, but there have been some outliers that resulted in massive death and destruction that left a scar on the Lone State.

Not all tornadoes are the same, the below tornadoes are some of the worst to ever hit Texas:

• The Waco Tornado, May 11, 1953
• The Goliad Tornado, May 18, 1902
• The Rocksprings Tornado, April 12, 1927
• The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornadoes, April 9, 1947
• The Wichita Falls Tornado, April 10, 1979
• The Frost Tornado, May 6, 1930
• The Jarrel Tornado, May 27, 1997

These were some of the deadliest tornadoes to ever hit Texas and ranged from EF1 to EF5 tornadoes that ripped through the state.

They caused millions in damage and hundreds of deaths combined. The largest tornado to ever hit Texas was the Waco tornado in May of 1953.

This one tornado alone killed 114 people and injured a further 597. It holds the title of the deadliest tornado to ever hit Texas since 1900, and for good reason!

What Part Of Texas Does Not Get Tornadoes?

Texas is a hotspot for tornadoes and finding a city in the state that does not get hit by tornadoes is not possible.

Tornadoes happen EVERYWHERE in Texas. No nook or cranny is safe!

However, there are areas of the state that are less prone than others.

Huntsville tops the list as the safest city in Texas when it comes to tornadoes. When it comes to the frequency of tornadoes, hail, lightning, and floods, it has the lowest overall score.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you now have a clear answer to “are there tornadoes in Texas” and a better understanding of when to expect tornadoes in this state.

Yes, there most certainly are tornadoes in Texas. The state of Texas is the most prone state in the U.S. to tornadoes, so there’s no escaping these weather events if you plan on living there.

That said, don’t let tornadoes put you off this amazing state. Texas is beautiful and has lots to offer, just be sure that you’re well prepared for the event of a tornado and have insurance in place.

Tornadoes can happen at any time of the year in Texas but are most likely during the early spring and warmer months of April, May, and June.

Most tornadoes are small and last a matter of seconds, but there have also been some EF4 and EF5 tornadoes that have formed in the state.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I’ll catch you in the next one.