Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Bell County, Texas
72 tornadoes have crossed Bell County since 1950, 28th of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of one every 1.1 years. They have killed 3 people and injured 74. None was rated F4 or above.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale
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.
F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale
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.
Now
- Tornadoes
- 72
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 74
- F4 and above
- 0
- Worst on record
- F3, May 26, 1976
The deadliest in Bell County
The strongest
- EF3, Williamson and Bell counties, TexasApril 12, 2022
- F3, Bell County, TexasMarch 14, 1990
- F3, McLennan and Bell counties, TexasMay 27, 1997
- F3, Bell County, TexasMay 26, 1976
- F3, Bell County, TexasMay 27, 1997
- EF2, Travis, Williamson and Bell counties, TexasMarch 21, 2022
- F2, Bell County, TexasMay 6, 1955
- F2, Bell and McLennan counties, TexasOctober 21, 1972
- F2, Bell County, TexasApril 13, 1967
- F2, Bell County, TexasMarch 21, 1955
Every year with a tornado
The 35 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Bell County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 30 | EF2 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 | EF1 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 23 | EF3 | |
| 2021 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2008 | 3 | EF0 | ||
| 2007 | 3 | EF1 | ||
| 2004 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2003 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2001 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 2000 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1997 | 7 | F3 | ||
| 1996 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1994 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1992 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1990 | 1 | F3 | ||
| 1989 | 1 | 3 | F1 | |
| 1988 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1987 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1986 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1985 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1981 | 2 | 2 | F1 | |
| 1976 | 6 | 2 | 7 | F3 |
| 1975 | 2 | 2 | F2 | |
| 1973 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1972 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1971 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1969 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1967 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1965 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1963 | 1 | 3 | F2 | |
| 1960 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1958 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1957 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1956 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1955 | 3 | 1 | 2 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed Bell County
72 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2024 | 4:39 PM CDT | Unrated | Bell | 0.0 | 20 | |||
| May 22, 2024 | 6:33 PM CDT | EF1 | Bell | 2.2 | 100 | $550,000 | ||
| May 22, 2024 | 6:21 PM CDT | EF2 | Bell | 2.8 | 420 | 30 | $5.0 million | |
| April 28, 2023 | 2:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Bell | 14.8 | 1,400 | 2 | $2.0 million | |
| April 12, 2022 | 7:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 3.7 | 120 | |||
| April 12, 2022 | 5:29 PM CDT | EF3 | Williamson | 16.6 | 770 | 23 | $100,000 | |
| March 21, 2022 | 5:54 PM CDT | EF2 | Travis | 34.6 | 600 | $2,000 | ||
| March 21, 2022 | 5:51 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 9.3 | 300 | |||
| May 16, 2021 | 11:14 AM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 1.9 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| April 25, 2008 | 6:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 0.7 | 50 | |||
| April 25, 2008 | 6:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 1.4 | 50 | |||
| April 10, 2008 | 4:05 AM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 6.4 | 100 | $500,000 | ||
| May 25, 2007 | 5:00 PM CDT | EF1 | Bell | 1.5 | 30 | $50,000 | ||
| March 30, 2007 | 3:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Bell | 2.5 | 30 | |||
| January 12, 2007 | 4:35 PM CST | Unrated | Bell | 1.5 | 35 | $40,000 | ||
| November 23, 2004 | 7:32 PM CST | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| March 25, 2003 | 4:30 PM CST | F0 | Bell | 0.3 | 20 | $80,000 | ||
| May 6, 2001 | 6:00 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | $10,000 | ||
| May 6, 2001 | 5:12 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| March 10, 2000 | 6:35 PM CST | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| February 22, 2000 | 9:53 PM CST | F0 | Bell | 12.0 | 0 | $10,000 | ||
| September 22, 1997 | 8:30 AM CDT | F0 | Bell | 1.0 | 50 | $20,000 | ||
| May 27, 1997 | 3:07 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 2.4 | 100 | $20,000 | ||
| May 27, 1997 | 2:50 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 0.2 | 40 | |||
| May 27, 1997 | 2:27 PM CDT | F3 | Bell | 1.4 | 273 | $900,000 | ||
| May 27, 1997 | 2:16 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.2 | 40 | |||
| May 27, 1997 | 1:46 PM CDT | F3 | McLennan | 3.7 | 150 | $150,000 | ||
| March 1, 1997 | 10:30 PM CST | F1 | Bell | 2.5 | 73 | $40,000 | ||
| April 12, 1996 | 7:46 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 1.0 | 250 | $60,000 | ||
| April 12, 1996 | 7:41 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 26, 1994 | 5:49 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1992 | 7:46 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1992 | 7:30 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 11, 1992 | 7:15 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 1.0 | 200 | |||
| March 14, 1990 | 9:45 AM CST | F3 | Bell | 9.0 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| January 25, 1989 | 1:00 PM CST | F1 | Bell | 0.5 | 73 | 3 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| October 1, 1988 | 7:59 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 1.0 | 73 | |||
| November 15, 1987 | 12:08 PM CST | F1 | Bell | 3.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 3, 1986 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1986 | 10:45 AM CDT | F1 | Bell | 0.2 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 13, 1985 | 2:24 PM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| November 13, 1981 | 12:50 AM CST | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | 2 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| May 9, 1981 | 1:45 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 1.0 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 31, 1976 | 6:00 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 26, 1976 | 8:50 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 26, 1976 | 8:43 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 26, 1976 | 7:08 PM CDT | F3 | Bell | 2.0 | 100 | 2 | 7 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| May 26, 1976 | 6:19 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 5, 1976 | 8:50 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 0.5 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 20, 1975 | 8:35 AM CDT | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 7, 1975 | 6:30 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 23, 1973 | 7:46 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 3.3 | 150 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| October 21, 1972 | 10:00 PM CDT | F2 | Bell | 5.4 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 1, 1972 | 7:15 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| August 26, 1971 | 5:00 PM CDT | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| April 16, 1971 | 2:15 PM CST | F1 | Bell | 0.3 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| August 14, 1969 | 7:45 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Bell | 0.2 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 14, 1969 | 7:30 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 14, 1969 | 7:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| September 22, 1967 | 5:45 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 13, 1967 | 2:35 AM GMT-6 | F0 | Bell | 0.5 | 33 | |||
| April 13, 1967 | 2:30 AM GMT-6 | F2 | Bell | 5.4 | 90 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| August 9, 1965 | 6:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Bell | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| April 28, 1963 | 9:30 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Bell | 0.5 | 50 | 3 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| May 29, 1960 | 9:00 AM GMT-5 | F0 | Bell | 0.5 | 33 | |||
| August 3, 1958 | 7:10 AM GMT-5 | F1 | Bell | 1.0 | 50 | under $50 | ||
| April 24, 1957 | 4:12 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Bell | 0.2 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| March 21, 1956 | 3:25 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Bell | 0.1 | 33 | |||
| March 21, 1956 | 3:25 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Bell | 0.1 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 6, 1955 | 7:15 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Bell | 10.1 | 33 | 1 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| March 21, 1955 | 3:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Bell | 3.6 | 17 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| March 20, 1955 | 4:15 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Bell | 4.1 | 20 | 1 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Bell CountyThe forecast for Bell CountyThe live radar over Bell CountyEvery county in 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.