Houston, Texas tornadoes

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61confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Houston since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: January 8, 2022, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Houston

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The record

At a glance

Total61within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.8average since 1950
Peak monthMay12 of 61
StrongestF4Nov 21, 1992
Deaths4whole paths, see note
Injuries106whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Houston.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

120 Jan: 3Feb: 3Mar: 5Apr: 8May: 12Jun: 6Jul: 1Aug: 8Sep: 3Oct: 4Nov: 5Dec: 3JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 12 of 61 tornadoes.

By time of day

80 12 AM: 1: 2: 13 AM: 2: 1: 06 AM: 0: 0: 49 AM: 5: 1: 412 PM: 7: 2: 83 PM: 8: 5: 56 PM: 3: 0: 19 PM: 0: 0: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 2:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

110 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 1: 0: 0: 11970: 5: 1: 4: 0: 1: 1: 0: 2: 1: 61980: 0: 1: 0: 11: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 5: 4: 3: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 12000: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 0: 1: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 2: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
32
EF1
18
EF2
9
EF3
1
EF4
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

F3, December 13, 1977

1 deaths, 40 injuries Strongest

F4, November 21, 1992

30 mile path Longest path

30 miles, F4

November 21, 1992, whole path Widest

1,800 yards, F4

November 21, 1992
Every tornado

All 61 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Jan 8, 2022EF01.1 mi40 yd00
Aug 27, 2017EF00.08 mi20 yd00
Mar 29, 2017EF00.27 mi50 yd00
Jun 28, 2014EF00.73 mi10 yd00
Feb 10, 2006F00.2 mi20 yd00
Nov 22, 2004F00.5 mi25 yd00
Nov 17, 2004F10.5 mi30 yd00
Aug 22, 2002F00.1 mi20 yd00
Jun 8, 1999F00.5 mi50 yd00
Oct 17, 1998F01 mi30 yd00
Apr 20, 1995F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nov 16, 1993F12 mi100 yd026
May 30, 1993F00.1 mi50 yd00
Apr 7, 1993F10.2 mi100 yd00
Nov 21, 1992F430 mi1,800 yd016
Nov 21, 1992F212 mi200 yd06
Jun 1, 1992F10.5 mi20 yd02
Apr 19, 1992F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 6, 1991F00.2 mi10 yd00
May 8, 1991F00.1 mi10 yd00
Apr 8, 1991F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jan 18, 1991F11.5 mi40 yd03
Jan 18, 1991F00.4 mi10 yd00
Dec 10, 1983F00.5 mi30 yd00
Aug 18, 1983F00.5 mi30 yd00
Nearby

Houston and its county

Houston spans 4 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Harris County (253 tornadoes), Fort Bend County (62), Montgomery County (54), and Waller County (22). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.