Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Castro County, Texas
88 tornadoes have crossed Castro County since 1950, 18th of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.2 a year. They have killed 3 people and injured 45. 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
- 88
- Deaths
- 3
- Injuries
- 45
- F4 and above
- 0
- Worst on record
- F3, April 12, 1960
The deadliest in Castro County
The strongest
- F3, Castro County, TexasApril 12, 1960
- EF3, Castro County, TexasApril 14, 2017
- F2, Parmer and Castro counties, TexasJune 17, 1980
- F2, Lamb and Castro counties, TexasOctober 17, 1971
- F2, Lamb, Hale and Castro counties, TexasOctober 17, 1971
- EF2, Lamb, Hale, Castro and Swisher counties, TexasApril 21, 2007
- F2, Lamb and Castro counties, TexasOctober 17, 1971
- F2, Castro County, TexasJune 2, 1995
- F2, Bailey, Parmer, Lamb and Castro counties, TexasApril 18, 1971
- F2, Bailey, Parmer, Lamb and Castro counties, TexasApril 18, 1971
Every year with a tornado
The 33 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Castro County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
Every tornado that crossed Castro County
88 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2025 | 1:28 AM CDT | Unrated | Lamb | 17.1 | 440 | |||
| September 21, 2024 | 6:45 PM CDT | Unrated | Castro | 1.3 | 50 | |||
| March 13, 2021 | 3:55 PM CST | Unrated | Castro | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| March 13, 2021 | 3:54 PM CST | EF0 | Castro | 1.4 | 30 | |||
| March 13, 2021 | 2:55 PM CST | Unrated | Castro | 0.9 | 20 | |||
| June 15, 2019 | 5:20 PM CDT | Unrated | Castro | 0.0 | 10 | |||
| May 26, 2019 | 10:26 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 12.8 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| October 7, 2018 | 2:31 PM CDT | Unrated | Castro | 8.7 | 200 | |||
| April 14, 2017 | 8:04 PM CDT | Unrated | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 14, 2017 | 7:45 PM CDT | Unrated | Castro | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| April 14, 2017 | 6:36 PM CDT | EF3 | Castro | 3.5 | 1,936 | $1.0 million | ||
| April 14, 2017 | 6:27 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 1.9 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| April 14, 2017 | 6:19 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.4 | 25 | $9,000 | ||
| April 14, 2017 | 5:59 PM CDT | Unrated | Parmer | 3.1 | 50 | |||
| May 25, 2010 | 8:14 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 25, 2010 | 8:11 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 25, 2010 | 7:52 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| September 7, 2007 | 3:43 PM CDT | EF1 | Castro | 1.5 | 75 | $75,000 | ||
| June 2, 2007 | 8:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 4.0 | 300 | |||
| June 2, 2007 | 7:55 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 30, 2007 | 12:20 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| April 21, 2007 | 6:57 PM CDT | EF2 | Lamb | 28.8 | 1,230 | 1 | $1.2 million | |
| March 25, 2007 | 5:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Castro | 1.3 | 20 | |||
| August 12, 2004 | 6:35 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| August 12, 2004 | 6:13 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 5, 2002 | 6:02 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| May 12, 2001 | 4:18 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| May 3, 2001 | 2:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| May 1, 1999 | 6:18 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| May 1, 1999 | 6:09 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 100 | |||
| October 30, 1998 | 7:16 PM CST | F0 | Castro | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 26, 1998 | 2:20 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| May 6, 1997 | 8:07 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| July 9, 1996 | 5:40 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | 3 | $50,000 | |
| June 4, 1995 | 3:12 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 3.0 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1995 | 2:50 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 2.0 | 50 | |||
| June 2, 1995 | 8:02 PM CDT | F2 | Castro | 6.0 | 100 | 3 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| June 2, 1995 | 8:00 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 1.0 | 100 | |||
| June 2, 1995 | 7:22 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.5 | 73 | |||
| June 2, 1995 | 6:45 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 1.0 | 200 | |||
| May 26, 1995 | 3:33 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| July 7, 1993 | 7:29 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.5 | 73 | |||
| June 27, 1992 | 9:35 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.5 | 13 | |||
| June 18, 1992 | 9:06 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 1.0 | 13 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| June 23, 1991 | 7:03 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| June 5, 1991 | 3:55 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 2.0 | 150 | |||
| May 11, 1991 | 7:47 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| May 10, 1991 | 7:48 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 29, 1987 | 10:42 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 1.0 | 30 | |||
| May 29, 1987 | 8:45 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 2.0 | 60 | |||
| May 25, 1987 | 6:55 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| August 2, 1986 | 9:30 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 0.2 | 40 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| September 24, 1981 | 6:03 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| July 27, 1980 | 1:30 AM CDT | F2 | Castro | 3.0 | 40 | 1 | $50 to $500 | |
| June 17, 1980 | 9:00 PM CDT | F2 | Parmer | 45.0 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 28, 1980 | 7:55 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 7.4 | 1,733 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 28, 1980 | 7:15 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| March 27, 1980 | 2:10 PM CST | F0 | Castro | 3.8 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| February 7, 1980 | 6:00 PM CST | F1 | Parmer | 31.1 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 23, 1977 | 6:20 PM CDT | F0 | Castro | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| June 10, 1972 | 6:00 PM CDT | F1 | Castro | 0.3 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| October 17, 1971 | 10:30 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| October 17, 1971 | 10:30 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| October 17, 1971 | 10:00 PM CDT | F1 | Lamb | 8.2 | 100 | |||
| October 17, 1971 | 8:30 PM CDT | F2 | Lamb | 31.0 | 100 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| October 17, 1971 | 8:00 PM CDT | F2 | Lamb | 28.6 | 400 | 4 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| October 17, 1971 | 7:45 PM CDT | F2 | Lamb | 31.1 | 100 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| April 18, 1971 | 8:45 PM CST | F2 | Bailey | 4.3 | 200 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 18, 1971 | 8:45 PM CST | F2 | Bailey | 4.3 | 200 | |||
| April 18, 1971 | 8:45 PM CST | F1 | Bailey | 4.3 | 200 | |||
| April 18, 1971 | 8:45 PM CST | F1 | Bailey | 4.3 | 200 | |||
| April 18, 1971 | 8:45 PM CST | F1 | Bailey | 4.3 | 200 | |||
| May 16, 1969 | 5:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Castro | 23.7 | 33 | |||
| September 3, 1967 | 11:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| July 2, 1967 | 11:20 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 33 | |||
| July 2, 1967 | 11:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Castro | 0.2 | 33 | |||
| May 28, 1966 | 6:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Castro | 1.5 | 67 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 25, 1965 | 8:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Castro | 13.9 | 10 | |||
| April 12, 1960 | 8:00 PM GMT-6 | F3 | Castro | 5.2 | 100 | 3 | 32 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| July 8, 1959 | 5:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Castro | 2.0 | 33 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 30, 1959 | 6:35 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 15, 1951 | 7:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Castro | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Castro CountyThe forecast for Castro CountyThe live radar over Castro 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.