Tornadoes · United States · Texas

1976 tornadoes in Texas

178 tornadoes touched down in Texas in 1976, 41 percent above the average of the record for the state. They killed 2 people and injured 65. 2 were rated F4 or EF4 and above.

1975 1977 The whole country in 1976

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.

Every tornado in Texas in 1976

January 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
January 25	2:10 AM CST	F1	Nacogdoches	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

February 17 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
February 17	4:00 PM CST	F2	Shelby to LA	37.3	50		3	$50 to $500

March 5 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 5	1:15 AM CST	F0	Travis	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

March 8 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 8	1:01 PM CST	F3	Brazoria	12.7	200		18	$500,000 to $5 million
March 8	1:35 PM CST	F1	Brazoria	0.1	10			$50,000 to $500,000

March 26 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 26	2:30 PM CST	F1	Dallas	0.1	10			$50 to $500

March 28 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 28	5:10 PM CST	F1	Midland	0.1	10			$500 to $5,000

March 30 9 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
March 30	2:32 AM CST	F1	Kerr	1.0	100	8	$50,000 to $500,000
March 30	2:40 AM CST	F2	Kendall	15.2	200		$500,000 to $5 million
March 30	3:20 AM CST	F2	Hays	1.0	100		$5,000 to $50,000
March 30	3:30 AM CST	F2	Hays	2.5	200	1	$50,000 to $500,000
March 30	3:45 AM CST	F0	Travis	10.4	100	8	$50,000 to $500,000
March 30	5:00 AM CST	F1	Burleson	6.6	200		$500,000 to $5 million
March 30	1:00 PM CST	F2	Polk	22.1	1,300	1	$500,000 to $5 million
March 30	1:20 PM CST	F2	Polk	26.7	1,300		$50,000 to $500,000
March 30	1:45 PM CST	F1	Angelina	0.1	10

April 7 7 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
April 7	3:35 PM CST	F1	Jones	0.1	10
April 7	3:35 PM CST	F1	Jones	0.1	10
April 7	4:00 PM CST	F1	Callahan	0.1	10
April 7	4:30 PM CST	F0	Donley	0.1	10
April 7	4:35 PM CST	F0	Donley	0.1	10
April 7	5:30 PM CST	F0	Caldwell	0.1	10	$50 to $500
April 7	5:50 PM CST	F0	Collingsworth	0.1	10

April 14 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 14	5:55 PM CST	F0	Garza	2.0	30
April 14	8:20 PM CST	F1	Dickens	2.0	30			$50 to $500

April 15 17 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
April 15	12:25 PM CST	F1	Deaf Smith	0.5	30	$5,000 to $50,000
April 15	2:05 PM CST	F0	Lubbock	0.1	10	$50 to $500
April 15	2:30 PM CST	F0	Hansford	0.1	10
April 15	2:30 PM CST	F0	Hansford	0.1	10
April 15	2:47 PM CST	F0	Hansford	0.1	10
April 15	4:30 PM CST	F1	Stonewall	0.5	30	$500 to $5,000
April 15	5:00 PM CST	F3	Runnels	9.9	10	$5,000 to $50,000
April 15	5:12 PM CST	F2	Runnels	0.1	10
April 15	5:27 PM CST	F0	Jones	0.1	10
April 15	5:27 PM CST	F0	Jones	0.1	10
April 15	6:38 PM CST	F2	Baylor	0.1	10
April 15	7:00 PM CST	F2	Young	2.0	10	$50,000 to $500,000
April 15	7:00 PM CST	F2	Young	2.0	10	$50,000 to $500,000
April 15	8:15 PM CST	F1	Wise	8.8	50	$5,000 to $50,000
April 15	8:15 PM CST	F1	Wise	8.9	50	$5,000 to $50,000
April 15	8:30 PM CST	F1	Palo Pinto	0.2	33	$500 to $5,000
April 15	9:10 PM CST	F2	McLennan	5.9	10	$50 to $500

April 17 4 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
April 17	1:36 AM CST	F1	Dickens	0.5	30		$500 to $5,000
April 17	2:00 AM CST	F3	Foard	14.7	150	1	$50,000 to $500,000
April 17	2:00 AM CST	F2	Foard	3.8	150
April 17	6:45 PM CST	F0	Grayson	0.1	10

April 18 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 18	6:20 PM CST	F0	Goliad	0.1	10

April 19 12 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
April 19	12:45 PM CST	F2	Parker	0.3	10		$5,000 to $50,000
April 19	1:20 PM CST	F1	Tarrant	1.2	50		$5,000 to $50,000
April 19	2:55 PM CST	F0	Moore	0.1	10
April 19	5:20 PM CST	F1	Cooke	0.1	10		under $50
April 19	5:30 PM CST	F3	Montague	10.4	373	2	$50,000 to $500,000
April 19	5:30 PM CST	F5	Brownwood tornado	10.5	440	11	$500,000 to $5 million
April 19	6:15 PM CST	F3	Comanche	2.2	250
April 19	7:30 PM CST	F2	Erath	11.1	300		$5,000 to $50,000
April 19	8:28 PM CST	F2	Hood	0.2	10
April 19	8:55 PM CST	F2	Hood	0.2	10
April 19	10:55 PM CST	F2	Tarrant	0.1	10
April 19	11:00 PM CST	F1	Wise	0.1	10

April 20 5 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
April 20	12:20 AM CST	F1	Johnson	0.1	10
April 20	12:20 AM CST	F2	Coryell	0.1	10
April 20	1:30 AM CST	F1	Fannin	0.1	10
April 20	4:58 AM CST	F1	Angelina	0.1	10
April 20	7:55 AM CST	F1	Nueces	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000

April 22 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 22	6:00 PM CST	F0	Reeves	0.1	10

April 26 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 26	10:00 PM CDT	F1	Midland	0.1	10			$50,000 to $500,000

April 27 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 27	8:00 PM CDT	F0	Moore	0.1	10

April 28 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 28	7:44 AM CDT	F2	Nueces	0.5	30			$500 to $5,000
April 28	5:58 PM CDT	F0	Runnels	0.1	27

April 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 29	8:00 AM CDT	F3	Bee	1.0	33			$5,000 to $50,000

May 5 4 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
May 5	2:20 PM CDT	F0	Parmer	2.0	30
May 5	6:40 PM CDT	F1	Lampasas	0.1	10
May 5	8:50 PM CDT	F2	Bell	0.5	10	$500 to $5,000
May 5	9:20 PM CDT	F1	Young	0.1	10

May 7 6 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
May 7	10:40 AM CDT	F2	Jim Wells	0.1	10		$50 to $500
May 7	10:50 AM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10
May 7	11:50 AM CDT	F1	Victoria	20.9	50		$5,000 to $50,000
May 7	1:15 PM CDT	F0	Harris	0.1	10
May 7	2:15 PM CDT	F0	Harris	0.1	10
May 7	2:21 PM CDT	F1	Harris	13.1	77	1	$50,000 to $500,000

May 10 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 10	1:15 PM CDT	F0	Liberty	0.1	10
May 10	6:20 PM CDT	F1	Galveston	2.0	50			$5,000 to $50,000

May 12 6 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
May 12	3:15 PM CDT	F0	Liberty	0.1	10
May 12	6:00 PM CDT	F1	Parker	0.1	10
May 12	6:15 PM CDT	F2	Parker	2.0	100	$50,000 to $500,000
May 12	6:20 PM CDT	F2	Parker	2.0	100	$50,000 to $500,000
May 12	8:12 PM CDT	F1	Upshur	0.1	10
May 12	8:50 PM CDT	F1	Travis	1.2	50

May 14 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 14	1:50 PM CDT	F1	Rusk	0.1	10
May 14	2:05 PM CDT	F1	Rusk	0.1	10

May 23 5 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
May 23	6:15 PM CDT	F1	Mason	5.4	100	$5,000 to $50,000
May 23	6:20 PM CDT	F1	Llano	2.0	100	$50,000 to $500,000
May 23	7:15 PM CDT	F1	Gillespie	1.0	100	$500 to $5,000
May 23	7:45 PM CDT	F1	Blanco	13.7	200	$50,000 to $500,000
May 23	9:40 PM CDT	F2	Rockwall	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000

May 25 7 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
May 25	2:15 PM CDT	F2	McLennan	13.8	33		$5,000 to $50,000
May 25	2:30 PM CDT	F2	McLennan	0.2	100		$5,000 to $50,000
May 25	2:30 PM CDT	F3	Hill	0.1	10		$5,000 to $50,000
May 25	3:53 PM CDT	F3	Jones	20.3	300	1	$500,000 to $5 million
May 25	4:15 PM CDT	F2	Limestone	0.1	10		$5,000 to $50,000
May 25	7:30 PM CDT	F0	Llano	0.1	10
May 25	8:10 PM CDT	F1	Burnet	3.8	150		$50,000 to $500,000

May 26 19 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 26	5:15 AM CDT	F2	San Patricio	0.5	40		1	$5,000 to $50,000
May 26	2:25 PM CDT	F1	Denton	0.1	10
May 26	2:32 PM CDT	F1	Denton	0.1	10
May 26	3:30 PM CDT	F1	Johnson	0.1	50			$500 to $5,000
May 26	3:45 PM CDT	F1	Johnson	0.5	50			$50 to $500
May 26	4:00 PM CDT	F3	Jones	1.0	300			$50,000 to $500,000
May 26	4:12 PM CDT	F3	Johnson	3.8	100			$5,000 to $50,000
May 26	4:25 PM CDT	F1	Johnson	0.2	50			$50 to $500
May 26	4:35 PM CDT	F0	Tarrant	0.1	13
May 26	4:40 PM CDT	F2	Johnson	0.2	100			$50 to $500
May 26	5:17 PM CDT	F4	Johnson	18.8	300			$500,000 to $5 million
May 26	5:25 PM CDT	F3	Dallas	4.5	150		1	$500,000 to $5 million
May 26	5:50 PM CDT	F1	Burnet	20.4	200			$50,000 to $500,000
May 26	6:19 PM CDT	F2	Bell	0.1	10
May 26	6:25 PM CDT	F1	Burnet	3.6	100			$50,000 to $500,000
May 26	7:08 PM CDT	F3	Bell	2.0	100	2	7	$500,000 to $5 million
May 26	8:43 PM CDT	F2	Bell	0.1	10
May 26	8:50 PM CDT	F2	Bell	0.1	10
May 26	11:35 PM CDT	F0	Fort Bend	0.1	10

May 30 7 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
May 30	5:00 PM CDT	F1	Throckmorton	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000
May 30	8:15 PM CDT	F3	McCulloch	3.6	500	$50,000 to $500,000
May 30	9:30 PM CDT	F1	Fannin	0.1	10
May 30	9:55 PM CDT	F1	Rockwall	0.1	10
May 30	10:00 PM CDT	F1	Hardeman	0.1	10
May 30	11:17 PM CDT	F1	Hardeman	0.1	10
May 30	11:21 PM CDT	F1	Montague	0.1	10

May 31 6 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
May 31	4:34 PM CDT	F0	Blanco	0.1	10
May 31	4:55 PM CDT	F2	Erath	4.1	10
May 31	5:55 PM CDT	F1	Erath	0.1	10
May 31	6:00 PM CDT	F1	Bell	0.1	10
May 31	6:00 PM CDT	F1	Blanco	5.4	250	$5,000 to $50,000
May 31	10:00 PM CDT	F1	Nacogdoches	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000

June 4 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 4	10:35 AM CDT	F0	Cameron	0.1	10

June 6 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 6	7:50 PM CDT	F1	Jefferson	3.6	50			$5,000 to $50,000

June 13 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 13	4:15 PM CDT	F0	Reeves	0.1	10		1

June 18 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 18	7:15 PM CDT	F0	Ellis	0.1	10
June 18	9:34 PM CDT	F1	Bosque	0.1	10			$500 to $5,000

June 21 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 21	7:18 PM CDT	F0	Randall	0.3	10

June 23 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 23	9:30 PM CDT	F2	Knox	0.8	440			$5,000 to $50,000

June 24 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 24	8:34 PM CDT	F1	Kaufman	0.1	10

June 25 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
June 25	10:05 AM CDT	F0	Galveston	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000
June 25	12:00 PM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10
June 25	12:25 PM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10

July 4 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
July 4	7:30 PM CDT	F0	Tarrant	0.1	10
July 4	9:00 PM CDT	F1	Dallas	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000
July 4	9:12 PM CDT	F0	Tarrant	0.1	10

July 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 7	6:55 AM CDT	F0	Jefferson	0.1	10

July 8 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
July 8	12:36 PM CDT	F1	Nueces	1.0	50	$5,000 to $50,000
July 8	3:00 PM CDT	F1	Brooks	0.1	10
July 8	6:30 PM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10

July 9 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 9	9:05 AM CDT	F1	San Patricio	0.1	10
July 9	9:27 AM CDT	F1	San Patricio	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 14 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
July 14	2:25 PM CDT	F0	San Patricio	0.1	10
July 14	2:45 PM CDT	F1	Nueces	0.1	10	$500 to $5,000
July 14	3:35 PM CDT	F0	Wharton	0.1	10

July 15 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 15	12:12 PM CDT	F0	Brewster	0.2	10
July 15	1:09 PM CDT	F0	Jeff Davis	0.3	10

July 16 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 16	7:25 PM CDT	F0	Crosby	0.2	10

July 18 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 18	6:30 PM CDT	F1	Rusk	0.1	10			$500 to $5,000

August 17 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 17	1:05 PM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10

August 18 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 18	1:00 PM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10

August 24 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 24	2:00 PM CDT	F0	Cameron	1.5	10			$500 to $5,000

August 31 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 31	6:00 PM CDT	F0	Williamson	1.0	20			$5,000 to $50,000

September 1 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 1	6:45 PM CDT	F1	Harris	0.1	10			$500 to $5,000

September 2 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 2	5:53 PM CDT	F0	Fort Bend	0.1	10
September 2	6:35 PM CDT	F0	Johnson	0.1	10

September 3 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 3	7:00 PM CDT	F1	Cooke	0.1	10			$50 to $500

September 4 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 4	7:50 PM CDT	F1	Galveston	0.5	20

September 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 7	8:55 AM CDT	F0	Nueces	0.1	10

September 26 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
September 26	1:30 PM CDT	F1	Brazoria	0.5	20
September 26	4:18 PM CDT	F1	Coryell	0.1	10
September 26	11:30 PM CDT	F1	Matagorda	0.5	20	$5,000 to $50,000

September 27 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 27	9:00 PM CDT	F2	Runnels	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

October 4 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
October 4	7:20 PM CDT	F1	Zavala	2.0	30			$500 to $5,000

October 24 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
October 24	3:00 PM CDT	F0	Cooke	1.0	10
October 24	3:00 PM CDT	F0	Cooke	1.0	10

Nearby

Every tornado in Texas since 1950 Warnings in force in Texas The live radar over Texas

What this means

Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.