Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Hale County, Texas
137 tornadoes have crossed Hale County since 1950, 2nd of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.8 a year. They have killed 11 people and injured 156. 2 were 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
- 137
- Deaths
- 11
- Injuries
- 156
- F4 and above
- 2
- Worst on record
- F4, April 17, 1970
The deadliest in Hale County
The strongest
- F4, Hale, Floyd, Swisher and Briscoe counties, TexasApril 17, 1970
- F4, Lamb and Hale counties, TexasJune 2, 1965
- F3, Hale and Floyd counties, TexasJune 9, 2005
- F3, Hale County, TexasApril 15, 1973
- F2, Lamb, Hale and Castro counties, TexasOctober 17, 1971
- F2, Lubbock, Hale and Lamb counties, TexasApril 21, 1957
- F2, Lubbock, Hale and Lamb counties, TexasApril 21, 1957
- EF2, Lamb, Hale, Castro and Swisher counties, TexasApril 21, 2007
- F2, Hale County, TexasMay 22, 1955
- F2, Hale and Swisher counties, TexasMay 31, 1968
Every year with a tornado
The 40 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Hale County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | Unrated | ||
| 2021 | 3 | Unrated | ||
| 2019 | 3 | EF2 | ||
| 2013 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2012 | 2 | EF0 | ||
| 2011 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2009 | 3 | EF1 | ||
| 2007 | 4 | 1 | EF2 | |
| 2005 | 3 | F3 | ||
| 1999 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1998 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1997 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1995 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1992 | 11 | F1 | ||
| 1991 | 5 | 2 | F1 | |
| 1989 | 7 | F2 | ||
| 1988 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1987 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1986 | 4 | F0 | ||
| 1983 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1982 | 4 | F1 | ||
| 1980 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1979 | 5 | F1 | ||
| 1978 | 4 | F2 | ||
| 1977 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1974 | 7 | F1 | ||
| 1973 | 3 | 2 | 26 | F3 |
| 1972 | 2 | F0 | ||
| 1971 | 6 | F2 | ||
| 1970 | 5 | 5 | 51 | F4 |
| 1968 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1967 | 6 | F1 | ||
| 1966 | 6 | F2 | ||
| 1965 | 4 | 4 | 76 | F4 |
| 1964 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1963 | 5 | F1 | ||
| 1960 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1959 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1957 | 6 | F2 | ||
| 1955 | 1 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed Hale County
137 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 3, 2024 | 4:35 PM CDT | Unrated | Hale | 0.0 | 30 | |||
| May 26, 2021 | 9:32 PM CDT | Unrated | Hale | 1.0 | 30 | |||
| March 13, 2021 | 4:46 PM CST | Unrated | Hale | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| March 13, 2021 | 4:21 PM CST | Unrated | Hale | 0.0 | 20 | |||
| May 25, 2019 | 6:08 PM CDT | Unrated | Hale | 4.6 | 100 | |||
| May 25, 2019 | 5:39 PM CDT | EF2 | Hale | 1.7 | 100 | $250,000 | ||
| May 7, 2019 | 4:27 PM CDT | Unrated | Hale | 0.0 | 30 | |||
| August 14, 2013 | 10:58 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 0.1 | 25 | $250,000 | ||
| October 12, 2012 | 7:14 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| October 12, 2012 | 7:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 1.8 | 200 | |||
| March 19, 2011 | 7:03 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 0.1 | 75 | |||
| May 24, 2009 | 2:28 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| April 16, 2009 | 9:26 PM CDT | EF1 | Hale | 2.0 | 75 | $75,000 | ||
| April 16, 2009 | 8:56 PM CDT | EF1 | Lubbock | 7.6 | 125 | $130,000 | ||
| September 27, 2007 | 5:45 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 3.1 | 40 | |||
| May 31, 2007 | 8:18 PM CDT | EF0 | Hale | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| April 21, 2007 | 6:57 PM CDT | EF2 | Lamb | 28.8 | 1,230 | 1 | $1.2 million | |
| April 17, 2007 | 1:57 PM CDT | EF1 | Hale | 2.0 | 100 | $35,000 | ||
| June 9, 2005 | 6:25 PM CDT | F3 | Hale | 15.0 | 900 | $300,000 | ||
| May 12, 2005 | 5:41 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 50 | |||
| May 12, 2005 | 5:04 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 40 | |||
| May 25, 1999 | 4:22 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 30 | |||
| May 1, 1999 | 8:43 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| October 1, 1998 | 4:04 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| April 26, 1998 | 2:25 PM CDT | F2 | Hale | 0.3 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| May 30, 1997 | 3:50 AM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 10, 1997 | 8:55 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 50 | |||
| April 10, 1997 | 6:06 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.2 | 73 | $30,000 | ||
| June 2, 1995 | 7:00 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| June 2, 1995 | 6:43 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| June 11, 1992 | 8:30 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| June 11, 1992 | 8:06 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 40 | |||
| June 11, 1992 | 7:50 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 80 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 8, 1992 | 7:37 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 2.2 | 100 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 27, 1992 | 7:10 PM CDT | F1 | Lamb | 5.0 | 120 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 16, 1992 | 6:35 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.8 | 50 | |||
| April 16, 1992 | 5:29 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| April 15, 1992 | 6:06 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| April 9, 1992 | 7:02 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.8 | 50 | $50 to $500 | ||
| April 9, 1992 | 6:52 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 20 | |||
| April 9, 1992 | 6:47 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| June 5, 1991 | 7:33 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| May 13, 1991 | 5:06 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| May 11, 1991 | 10:50 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 1.2 | 70 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 11, 1991 | 9:52 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 3.5 | 80 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| May 7, 1991 | 5:08 PM CDT | F0 | Lubbock | 2.6 | 60 | |||
| June 6, 1989 | 4:49 PM CDT | F2 | Hale | 2.5 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| June 6, 1989 | 4:46 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 90 | |||
| June 6, 1989 | 4:45 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 2.0 | 120 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 6, 1989 | 4:10 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 60 | |||
| June 3, 1989 | 4:23 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 7.5 | 150 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 31, 1989 | 8:30 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 30 | |||
| May 15, 1989 | 4:35 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 5.5 | 80 | |||
| May 28, 1988 | 9:40 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 4.0 | 90 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| August 10, 1987 | 6:30 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 2.5 | 40 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 26, 1987 | 6:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| June 4, 1986 | 2:10 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 40 | |||
| June 2, 1986 | 2:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| June 2, 1986 | 2:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 30 | |||
| May 4, 1986 | 11:02 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 4.0 | 40 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 20, 1983 | 3:18 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 10.0 | 1,320 | under $50 | ||
| June 10, 1982 | 10:47 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| June 7, 1982 | 9:10 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 2.0 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| May 24, 1982 | 8:45 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| May 18, 1982 | 10:25 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.2 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| May 28, 1980 | 6:35 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.3 | 20 | |||
| May 27, 1980 | 6:35 PM CDT | F0 | Lubbock | 10.7 | 30 | |||
| August 21, 1979 | 6:05 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| June 5, 1979 | 4:35 PM CDT | F1 | Lamb | 24.5 | 167 | |||
| April 10, 1979 | 1:38 PM CST | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| March 18, 1979 | 12:45 AM CST | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 40 | |||
| March 18, 1979 | 12:40 AM CST | F0 | Hale | 0.3 | 10 | |||
| June 4, 1978 | 10:42 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 17 | |||
| May 19, 1978 | 5:23 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 2.0 | 30 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 8, 1978 | 7:40 PM CST | F2 | Hale | 2.0 | 100 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 8, 1978 | 6:20 PM CST | F0 | Hale | 2.0 | 30 | |||
| May 20, 1977 | 1:09 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 1.0 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| May 17, 1977 | 9:20 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 1.0 | 20 | under $50 | ||
| May 17, 1977 | 7:10 PM CDT | F2 | Hale | 0.5 | 60 | $50 to $500 | ||
| June 3, 1974 | 6:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 27 | |||
| June 3, 1974 | 4:30 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| June 2, 1974 | 9:45 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.8 | 27 | |||
| June 2, 1974 | 9:15 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.8 | 30 | |||
| May 28, 1974 | 6:05 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| May 24, 1974 | 7:05 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 8.5 | 30 | |||
| March 9, 1974 | 2:10 PM CDT | F1 | Lamb | 9.3 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 22, 1973 | 7:20 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 1.0 | 17 | |||
| April 24, 1973 | 9:40 PM CST | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 17 | |||
| April 15, 1973 | 4:15 AM CST | F3 | Hale | 7.6 | 200 | 2 | 26 | |
| July 2, 1972 | 11:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 2, 1972 | 11:20 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| 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 | ||
| August 13, 1971 | 2:43 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| August 13, 1971 | 2:43 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| June 17, 1970 | 8:00 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| May 14, 1970 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 4.9 | 33 | |||
| May 14, 1970 | 5:30 PM CDT | F1 | Hale | 4.9 | 27 | |||
| May 14, 1970 | 5:30 PM CDT | F0 | Hale | 4.3 | 17 | |||
| April 17, 1970 | 10:00 PM CST | F4 | Hale | 96.6 | 880 | 5 | 51 | $5 million to $50 million |
| November 1, 1968 | 8:16 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 17 | |||
| June 9, 1968 | 6:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 5.9 | 33 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 31, 1968 | 6:10 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Hale | 5.0 | 3,000 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| June 4, 1967 | 10:05 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| June 4, 1967 | 10:05 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| June 4, 1967 | 10:05 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| June 4, 1967 | 8:10 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 17 | |||
| June 1, 1967 | 7:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 17 | |||
| June 1, 1967 | 7:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 17 | |||
| August 6, 1966 | 8:45 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| June 17, 1966 | 9:45 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 2.0 | 23 | |||
| June 16, 1966 | 8:50 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 30 | |||
| May 28, 1966 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 0.8 | 27 | $50 to $500 | ||
| May 10, 1966 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Hale | 0.1 | 33 | |||
| May 10, 1966 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 0.1 | 27 | |||
| August 8, 1965 | 9:20 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.1 | 17 | |||
| June 10, 1965 | 10:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 17 | |||
| June 10, 1965 | 10:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Hale | 0.5 | 10 | |||
| June 2, 1965 | 10:00 PM GMT-5 | F4 | Lamb | 39.3 | 200 | 4 | 76 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| September 26, 1964 | 7:40 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 4.7 | 23 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 8, 1963 | 7:00 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 2.0 | 33 | |||
| June 2, 1963 | 10:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 6.1 | 67 | |||
| June 2, 1963 | 10:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 10 | |||
| June 2, 1963 | 6:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 17 | |||
| May 29, 1963 | 9:20 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 33 | |||
| May 17, 1960 | 7:15 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.6 | 17 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 23, 1959 | 6:04 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| June 22, 1959 | 5:30 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 1.0 | 17 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 22, 1957 | 11:18 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 0.5 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 24, 1957 | 3:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Hale | 0.5 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 24, 1957 | 2:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Hale | 10.5 | 10 | |||
| May 15, 1957 | 12:10 AM GMT-5 | F2 | Hale | 2.0 | 17 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 21, 1957 | 6:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Lubbock | 30.6 | 100 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| April 21, 1957 | 6:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Lubbock | 30.6 | 10 | $500,000 to $5 million | ||
| May 22, 1955 | 9:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Hale | 20.7 | 400 | $500 to $5,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Hale CountyThe forecast for Hale CountyThe live radar over Hale 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.