Richardson, Texas tornadoes

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29confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Richardson since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: May 16, 2021, EF1.

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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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Richardson

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The record

At a glance

Total29within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthMay6 of 29
StrongestF3Apr 2, 1957
Deaths11whole paths, see note
Injuries352whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

60 Jan: 1Feb: 0Mar: 3Apr: 5May: 6Jun: 3Jul: 2Aug: 1Sep: 1Oct: 4Nov: 1Dec: 2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May is the peak month, with 6 of 29 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 1: 03 AM: 1: 0: 26 AM: 1: 0: 09 AM: 1: 0: 112 PM: 1: 4: 23 PM: 0: 4: 06 PM: 2: 2: 49 PM: 1: 2: 012 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 1:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 01960: 1: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 21970: 1: 1: 0: 2: 1: 1: 2: 1: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01990: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 42020: 0: 2: 0: 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
9
EF1
8
EF2
7
EF3
5

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, April 2, 1957

10 deaths, 200 injuries Strongest

F3, April 2, 1957

17.2 mile path Longest path

45.9 miles, F3

October 12, 1969, whole path Widest

1,760 yards, F1

December 14, 1971
Every tornado

All 29 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
May 16, 2021EF10.6 mi90 yd00
May 16, 2021EF00.27 mi30 yd00
Oct 20, 2019EF15.77 mi500 yd00
Oct 20, 2019EF22.48 mi265 yd00
Oct 20, 2019EF315.76 mi1,300 yd00
Jun 16, 2019EF00.12 mi50 yd00
Apr 10, 2008EF17.17 mi175 yd00
Mar 30, 2007EF00.75 mi40 yd00
May 9, 1993F212 mi100 yd163
Jan 19, 1990F20.8 mi50 yd01
Mar 17, 1987F00.2 mi10 yd00
Dec 13, 1984F310 mi500 yd028
Jul 27, 1982F01 mi27 yd00
Sep 12, 1977F22.5 mi167 yd00
Jul 4, 1976F10.1 mi10 yd00
May 26, 1976F34.5 mi150 yd01
Jun 9, 1975F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jun 12, 1974F00.1 mi10 yd00
Nov 20, 1973F10.1 mi10 yd03
May 1, 1973F10.3 mi20 yd00
Dec 14, 1971F11.5 mi1,760 yd04
Apr 18, 1970F11 mi20 yd02
Oct 12, 1969F345.9 mi200 yd02
Apr 27, 1969F216.5 mi200 yd045
Apr 11, 1961F20.3 mi33 yd03
Nearby

Richardson and its county

Richardson spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Dallas County (108 tornadoes) and Collin County (56). 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.