Waco, Texas tornadoes

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24confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Waco since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 26, 2024, 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.

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Recent warnings near Waco

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The record

At a glance

Total24within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthApril6 of 24
StrongestF5May 11, 1953
Deaths114whole paths, see note
Injuries607whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

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

April is the peak month, with 6 of 24 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 03 AM: 0: 0: 06 AM: 0: 1: 09 AM: 0: 1: 312 PM: 0: 3: 23 PM: 1: 4: 26 PM: 1: 1: 09 PM: 3: 0: 212 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 4:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

30 1950: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01960: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01970: 1: 2: 3: 1: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 3: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 02010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 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
3
EF1
9
EF2
10
EF5
1
Unknown
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

F5, May 11, 1953

114 deaths, 597 injuries Strongest

F5, May 11, 1953

20.9 mile path Longest path

24 miles, F1

November 12, 1972, whole path Widest

583 yards, F5

May 11, 1953
Every tornado

All 24 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Apr 26, 2024EF10.88 mi100 yd00
Apr 26, 2024EF00.15 mi30 yd00
Apr 26, 2023EFU0.02 mi25 yd00
May 5, 2006F22.6 mi150 yd00
Apr 28, 2006F10.8 mi50 yd00
Oct 19, 1993F00.1 mi10 yd00
Sep 13, 1993F16 mi100 yd00
May 20, 1990F10.2 mi10 yd00
May 18, 1990F20.2 mi10 yd00
Feb 1, 1990F10.2 mi10 yd00
Apr 22, 1985F00.5 mi30 yd00
Oct 13, 1981F22 mi150 yd04
May 25, 1976F20.2 mi100 yd00
Apr 13, 1974F20.5 mi10 yd01
Mar 1, 1973F28 mi50 yd00
Nov 12, 1972F124 mi100 yd00
Oct 21, 1972F21.5 mi20 yd00
Oct 21, 1972F21 mi20 yd03
Dec 14, 1971F10.3 mi100 yd02
Feb 21, 1971F20.1 mi17 yd00
Aug 29, 1970F10.3 mi50 yd00
Aug 30, 1963F21 mi17 yd00
May 1, 1956F14.3 mi33 yd00
May 11, 1953F520.9 mi583 yd114597
Nearby

Waco and its county

Waco is in McLennan County, where NOAA has recorded 70 tornadoes since 1950. 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.