Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Galveston County, Texas
126 tornadoes have crossed Galveston County since 1950, 3rd of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.7 a year. They have killed 9 people and injured 261. 1 was rated F4 or EF4 and 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
- 126
- Deaths
- 9
- Injuries
- 261
- F4 and above
- 1
- Worst on record
- F4, September 12, 1961
The deadliest in Galveston County
The strongest
- F4, Galveston County, TexasSeptember 12, 1961
- F3, Brazoria and Galveston counties, TexasMarch 8, 1976
- F3, Galveston County, TexasMay 21, 1959
- F3, Galveston County, TexasJune 18, 1961
- F3, Galveston County, TexasSeptember 12, 1961
- F3, Galveston County, TexasAugust 18, 1967
- F2, Galveston County, TexasMarch 17, 1957
- F2, Galveston County, TexasMarch 17, 1957
- EF2, Brazoria and Galveston counties, TexasOctober 31, 2015
- F2, Galveston County, TexasJune 5, 1981
Every year with a tornado
The 50 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Galveston County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2022 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2021 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2019 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2017 | 4 | EF0 | ||
| 2016 | 2 | EF0 | ||
| 2015 | 1 | EF2 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | 1 | EF0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2011 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2009 | 2 | 3 | EF1 | |
| 2008 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2007 | 2 | EF0 | ||
| 2006 | 4 | 1 | F0 | |
| 2004 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 2003 | 6 | F1 | ||
| 2002 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1999 | 4 | F1 | ||
| 1998 | 4 | 4 | F1 | |
| 1997 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1996 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1995 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1994 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1992 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1991 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1989 | 5 | 1 | F0 | |
| 1987 | 1 | 4 | F1 | |
| 1985 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1984 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1983 | 7 | F0 | ||
| 1982 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1981 | 5 | 5 | F2 | |
| 1980 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1979 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1978 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1977 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1976 | 4 | 18 | F3 | |
| 1975 | 4 | F1 | ||
| 1974 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1972 | 4 | 2 | F1 | |
| 1971 | 4 | F0 | ||
| 1970 | 2 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1969 | 3 | 1 | F1 | |
| 1968 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1967 | 3 | F3 | ||
| 1963 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1962 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1961 | 4 | 8 | 205 | F4 |
| 1959 | 1 | F3 | ||
| 1957 | 6 | 1 | 15 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed Galveston County
126 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 28, 2024 | 1:37 PM CST | EF1 | Galveston | 7.4 | 850 | |||
| July 8, 2024 | 1:57 AM CDT | EF1 | Galveston | 1.1 | 100 | |||
| March 14, 2022 | 11:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 30 | $15,000 | ||
| August 2, 2021 | 6:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.7 | 20 | |||
| January 6, 2021 | 6:14 PM CST | EF1 | Galveston | 2.0 | 50 | $500,000 | ||
| May 4, 2019 | 2:31 AM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| October 20, 2017 | 4:58 AM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 300 | $50,000 | ||
| August 27, 2017 | 4:03 AM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.7 | 30 | $200,000 | ||
| August 25, 2017 | 2:18 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $500 | ||
| May 22, 2017 | 11:45 AM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $20,000 | ||
| July 17, 2016 | 8:30 AM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.0 | 20 | |||
| April 24, 2016 | 6:29 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 1.4 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| October 31, 2015 | 5:28 AM CDT | EF2 | Brazoria | 4.2 | 50 | $3.0 million | ||
| July 21, 2014 | 1:35 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $15,000 | ||
| June 26, 2014 | 2:22 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.0 | 75 | 1 | ||
| January 9, 2012 | 12:56 PM CST | EF0 | Galveston | 0.6 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| November 8, 2011 | 6:00 PM CST | EF0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 25 | $50,000 | ||
| August 30, 2009 | 9:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Galveston | 0.3 | 50 | 3 | $500,000 | |
| April 18, 2009 | 4:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 1.1 | 30 | $50,000 | ||
| February 16, 2008 | 9:35 PM CST | EF0 | Galveston | 0.0 | 15 | |||
| July 6, 2007 | 5:50 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 35 | $15,000 | ||
| July 5, 2007 | 6:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Galveston | 2.0 | 30 | $30,000 | ||
| October 16, 2006 | 3:47 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $5,000 | ||
| October 16, 2006 | 5:08 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | 1 | $22,000 | |
| October 16, 2006 | 3:30 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 25 | $4,000 | ||
| May 22, 2006 | 7:45 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 20 | $10,000 | ||
| October 4, 2004 | 5:00 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 25 | $40,000 | ||
| August 28, 2004 | 11:50 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| November 17, 2003 | 9:15 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.2 | 50 | $280,000 | ||
| November 17, 2003 | 9:08 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.2 | 25 | $200,000 | ||
| November 17, 2003 | 8:55 PM CST | F0 | Harris | 1.4 | 20 | $10,000 | ||
| November 17, 2003 | 4:40 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 1.0 | 30 | $30,000 | ||
| November 17, 2003 | 4:25 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| June 17, 2003 | 1:09 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 1.0 | 20 | |||
| December 30, 2002 | 9:20 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 1.1 | 30 | $70,000 | ||
| October 8, 2002 | 4:30 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.7 | 50 | $100,000 | ||
| July 12, 1999 | 4:25 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 2.0 | 0 | $100,000 | ||
| June 7, 1999 | 9:30 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| January 2, 1999 | 12:26 AM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 0 | $30,000 | ||
| January 2, 1999 | 12:20 AM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.5 | 0 | $40,000 | ||
| September 10, 1998 | 8:09 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| August 22, 1998 | 5:30 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 30 | $20,000 | ||
| February 16, 1998 | 6:40 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| February 10, 1998 | 12:50 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 1.7 | 50 | 4 | $100,000 | |
| February 12, 1997 | 3:45 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 1.2 | 23 | $120,000 | ||
| September 27, 1996 | 10:25 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| September 1, 1996 | 6:10 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| December 17, 1995 | 9:45 AM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 30, 1995 | 6:30 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 16, 1994 | 1:00 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 13, 1994 | 8:00 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 4.0 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| November 21, 1992 | 4:45 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 4, 1992 | 1:56 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| February 22, 1992 | 7:30 AM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.2 | 13 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| January 14, 1991 | 9:40 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| October 15, 1989 | 9:20 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| October 15, 1989 | 9:15 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| October 15, 1989 | 7:55 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| August 1, 1989 | 9:20 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| June 26, 1989 | 12:00 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.2 | 10 | 1 | ||
| November 16, 1987 | 8:40 AM CST | F1 | Galveston | 15.0 | 100 | 4 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 18, 1985 | 3:47 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| September 21, 1984 | 6:00 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| February 12, 1984 | 7:00 AM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 33 | under $50 | ||
| December 13, 1983 | 9:05 AM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 20 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| November 30, 1983 | 5:25 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 40 | under $50 | ||
| November 30, 1983 | 5:25 PM CST | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 40 | under $50 | ||
| August 17, 1983 | 11:43 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| August 17, 1983 | 11:40 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| August 17, 1983 | 11:40 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| August 17, 1983 | 10:10 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| May 13, 1982 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.6 | 30 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 13, 1982 | 5:20 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.8 | 30 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 6, 1982 | 4:50 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.7 | 27 | under $50 | ||
| October 7, 1981 | 10:52 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 27 | |||
| August 31, 1981 | 7:05 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 12.9 | 83 | 2 | $5 million to $50 million | |
| June 5, 1981 | 4:00 AM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 1.2 | 60 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 5, 1981 | 2:40 AM CDT | F2 | Galveston | 2.7 | 100 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 9, 1981 | 7:15 PM CDT | F2 | Galveston | 1.5 | 50 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| September 6, 1980 | 12:00 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 300 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| August 28, 1980 | 11:10 AM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.3 | 30 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 11, 1979 | 2:55 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| October 5, 1978 | 1:45 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 27, 1978 | 4:08 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 20 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 14, 1977 | 1:50 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| September 4, 1976 | 7:50 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.5 | 20 | |||
| June 25, 1976 | 10:05 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 10, 1976 | 6:20 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 2.0 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| March 8, 1976 | 1:01 PM CST | F3 | Brazoria | 12.7 | 200 | 18 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| July 4, 1975 | 12:00 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 24, 1975 | 1:30 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 29, 1975 | 7:15 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| January 10, 1975 | 3:55 AM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| August 18, 1974 | 2:00 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.2 | 17 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| August 14, 1972 | 2:55 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| July 22, 1972 | 12:15 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 12, 1972 | 5:45 AM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 1.0 | 10 | 2 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| January 1, 1972 | 3:30 PM CST | F1 | Galveston | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| September 10, 1971 | 7:15 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 17 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| September 10, 1971 | 7:15 AM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.3 | 17 | |||
| June 25, 1971 | 7:12 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| June 16, 1971 | 12:15 PM CDT | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| October 11, 1970 | 11:30 AM CDT | F2 | Galveston | 1.0 | 100 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| July 21, 1970 | 3:45 PM CDT | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| October 30, 1969 | 1:10 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Galveston | 1.0 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| October 30, 1969 | 1:00 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Galveston | 1.0 | 10 | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| February 14, 1969 | 7:45 AM GMT-6 | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 12, 1968 | 8:05 AM GMT-5 | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 17 | $50 to $500 | ||
| May 11, 1968 | 1:15 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Galveston | 0.5 | 13 | |||
| October 29, 1967 | 2:40 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Galveston | 0.1 | 33 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| September 20, 1967 | 2:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| August 18, 1967 | 11:08 AM GMT-5 | F3 | Galveston | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| August 30, 1963 | 10:26 AM GMT-5 | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 1, 1962 | 11:00 AM GMT-5 | F0 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 27, 1962 | 9:45 AM GMT-6 | F1 | Galveston | 0.5 | 33 | |||
| September 12, 1961 | 7:00 AM GMT-5 | F3 | Galveston | 2.0 | 10 | |||
| September 12, 1961 | 4:15 AM GMT-5 | F4 | Galveston | 1.0 | 100 | 8 | 200 | |
| July 4, 1961 | 11:15 AM GMT-5 | F1 | Galveston | 15.4 | 10 | |||
| June 18, 1961 | 8:15 PM GMT-5 | F3 | Galveston | 2.5 | 50 | 5 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 21, 1959 | 7:00 AM GMT-5 | F3 | Galveston | 4.3 | 67 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 2, 1957 | 9:00 AM GMT-5 | F1 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| March 17, 1957 | 4:45 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Galveston | 7.1 | 67 | |||
| March 17, 1957 | 4:30 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Galveston | 7.1 | 67 | 4 | ||
| March 17, 1957 | 1:55 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 | 1 | 7 | |
| March 17, 1957 | 1:30 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Galveston | 11.6 | 67 | 4 | ||
| March 17, 1957 | 1:30 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Galveston | 0.1 | 10 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Galveston CountyThe forecast for Galveston CountyThe live radar over Galveston 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.