Tornadoes · United States · Texas

Tornadoes in Harris County, Texas

253 tornadoes have crossed Harris County since 1950, 1st of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 3.3 a year. They have killed 12 people and injured 321. 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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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
253
Deaths
12
Injuries
321
F4 and above
1
Worst on record
F4, November 21, 1992

The deadliest in Harris County

The strongest

Every year with a tornado

The 64 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Harris County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
20252EF2
20246EF1
20231EF3
20224EF1
20211EF0
20201EF0
20193EF1
2017122EF1
201641EF0
201554EF2
20141EF0
20111EF1
20101EF0
20091EF0
20081EF0
20062F0
200522F1
2004111F1
2003103F2
20026F3
20012F2
200031F1
19992F0
199874F1
19977F2
19961F0
19953F0
19941120F2
1993626F1
1992936F4
199164F1
19891F0
198714F1
1986425F3
1984453F2
198330319F2
1982212F1
198141F1
19805F1
197981F2
19783F2
19775140F3
197641F1
19752F0
1974718F3
197341F2
197287F1
1971732F2
197082F2
19692F3
19683F1
196733F2
19661F2
19651F0
1964312F2
19631F0
19621F1
1961122F3
196023F2
19592F1
19581F1
19541F1
19531F1
19501112F3

Every tornado that crossed Harris County

253 tornadoes, newest first.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
November 24, 20251:41 PM CSTEF2Harris3.8400
November 24, 20251:23 PM CSTEF1Harris2.6500
December 28, 202410:35 AM CSTEF1Waller10.9150
December 26, 20243:51 PM CSTEF0Harris2.125
December 26, 20243:30 PM CSTEF1Harris0.125
May 16, 20246:08 PM CDTEF1Harris1.4100$500,000
May 16, 20246:04 PM CDTEF1Harris0.675$750,000
April 10, 20242:47 AM CDTEF1Harris1.7300$500,000
January 24, 20232:15 PM CSTEF3Harris23.31,000$6.6 million
January 9, 20221:25 AM CSTEF1Harris2.275$200,000
January 9, 20221:17 AM CSTEF1Harris2.240$300,000
January 8, 202211:55 PM CSTEF0Harris1.140$70,000
January 8, 20223:55 PM CSTEF0Harris0.830$50,000
August 12, 20214:32 PM CDTEF0Harris0.310$5,000
May 27, 20204:50 PM CDTEF0Harris1.850$30,000
September 18, 20194:56 PM CDTEF1Harris3.030$300,000
May 3, 20192:00 PM CDTEF0Harris0.315
April 7, 201912:42 PM CDTEF1Harris0.750$150,000
August 27, 201710:15 AM CDTEF0Harris0.120$50,000
August 26, 201712:00 AM CDTEF0Harris0.030$50,000
August 26, 20174:20 PM CDTEF0Harris0.550$30,000
August 26, 20173:50 PM CDTEF1Harris0.950$500,000
August 26, 20174:30 AM CDTEF0Harris1.030$100,000
March 29, 20173:03 PM CDTEF1Harris2.72502$300,000
March 29, 20173:00 PM CDTEF0Harris2.0200$100,000
March 29, 20172:55 PM CDTEF1Harris0.450$27,000
March 29, 201710:34 AM CDTEF0Harris0.350$150,000
March 24, 201712:23 AM CDTEF0Harris0.030$15,000
January 16, 20178:35 AM CSTEF0Harris0.120
January 16, 20177:31 AM CSTEF0Harris0.120
April 27, 20164:43 AM CDTEF0Harris0.4401$200,000
April 18, 20165:14 AM CDTEF0Harris0.130$10,000
April 18, 20165:12 AM CDTEF0Harris0.230$30,000
April 17, 201612:10 PM CDTEF0Harris0.530$30,000
October 31, 20156:59 AM CDTEF0Harris3.350$200,000
October 31, 20155:47 AM CDTEF2Harris4.8150$12 million
October 31, 20155:30 AM CDTEF0Harris0.250$20,000
October 31, 20155:22 AM CDTEF0Harris0.830$75,000
May 24, 20156:33 AM CDTEF0Harris0.5504$200,000
June 28, 20142:25 PM CDTEF0Harris0.710$45,000
November 8, 20111:37 PM CSTEF1Harris0.3150$100,000
June 8, 201010:57 AM CDTEF0Harris0.110$250,000
June 3, 20092:14 PM CDTEF0Harris0.120$3,000
June 21, 20086:04 PM CDTEF0Harris1.050$110,000
April 29, 20069:20 AM CDTF0Harris0.220$30,000
February 10, 20064:30 PM CSTF0Harris0.220$40,000
December 14, 200511:19 AM CSTF0Harris0.125$10,000
May 29, 200510:45 PM CDTF1Harris2.0752$240,000
November 22, 20043:53 PM CSTF0Harris0.525$10,000
November 22, 20042:42 PM CSTF0Harris0.220
November 22, 200412:30 PM CSTF0Harris0.120$10,000
November 17, 20046:30 PM CSTF1Harris0.530$300,000
November 17, 20043:25 PM CSTF0Harris0.750$30,000
November 17, 200410:11 AM CSTF0Harris0.220$30,000
November 17, 20049:37 AM CSTF0Harris0.225$40,000
May 1, 200410:00 AM CDTF0Harris0.120
May 1, 20049:12 AM CDTF0Harris0.120
May 1, 20048:45 AM CDTF1Harris0.5451$280,000
April 10, 20047:45 PM CDTF1Harris0.550$250,000
November 17, 200310:30 PM CSTF1Harris1.5503$230,000
November 17, 20039:30 PM CSTF0Harris0.550$50,000
November 17, 20038:55 PM CSTF0Harris1.420$10,000
November 17, 20035:20 PM CSTF0Harris0.550$30,000
November 17, 20033:01 PM CSTF2Harris0.7100$550,000
November 17, 20031:00 PM CSTF0Harris0.250
November 17, 200312:15 PM CSTF2Fort Bend1.050$800,000
October 9, 20035:05 PM CDTF0Harris1.550$20,000
October 9, 20033:00 AM CDTF0Harris3.050$3,000
September 4, 20035:51 PM CDTF0Harris0.230
December 30, 20029:25 PM CSTF0Harris0.530$250,000
December 30, 20029:10 PM CSTF0Harris0.330$10,000
October 28, 20029:50 PM CSTF0Harris0.520$60,000
October 8, 20025:54 PM CDTF0Harris0.120
August 22, 20023:30 PM CDTF0Harris0.120$10,000
March 30, 20028:09 PM CSTF3Harris0.760$350,000
October 11, 20018:45 AM CDTF0Harris0.225
October 11, 20017:05 AM CDTF2Harris3.5100$3.8 million
November 24, 20002:35 AM CSTF1Harris1.0150$350,000
November 24, 20001:22 AM CSTF1Harris1.0501$250,000
November 12, 20004:20 PM CSTF0Harris0.550$10,000
June 8, 199912:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.550$30,000
March 19, 19994:25 AM CSTF0Harris0.30$30,000
October 18, 19985:00 AM CDTF0Harris1.030$10,000
October 18, 19984:45 AM CDTF0Harris1.030$30,000
October 17, 19981:00 AM CDTF0Harris1.030$20,000
September 11, 19984:32 AM CDTF1Harris0.250
February 10, 199812:57 PM CSTF1Harris0.5100$250,000
February 10, 199812:54 PM CSTF1Harris4.0440$750,000
February 10, 199812:49 PM CSTF1Harris3.04404$3.0 million
October 23, 19973:32 PM CDTF2Harris7.0440$150,000
May 30, 199711:22 PM CDTF1Harris0.520$10,000
January 27, 19977:15 PM CSTF0Harris0.220$10,000
January 27, 19973:53 PM CSTF0Harris0.110$20,000
January 27, 19973:49 PM CSTF0Harris0.110$10,000
January 27, 19973:40 PM CSTF0Harris0.110$10,000
January 27, 19973:39 PM CSTF1Harris1.530$12 million
April 22, 19964:46 PM CDTF0Harris0.550$40,000
April 20, 19953:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.110$50,000 to $500,000
April 20, 19953:10 PM CDTF0Harris0.110$50,000 to $500,000
March 13, 19958:50 AM CSTF0Harris0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 15, 19944:56 PM CDTF2Harris5.0300120$5,000 to $50,000
November 16, 199310:35 AM CSTF0Liberty2.0100
November 16, 199310:27 AM CSTF0Harris1.0100
November 16, 19939:49 AM CSTF1Harris2.010026$500,000 to $5 million
May 30, 19931:35 PM CDTF0Harris0.150
April 7, 19933:10 PM CDTF1Harris0.2100$500 to $5,000
February 25, 199312:10 PM CSTF0Harris1.0100$50,000 to $500,000
November 21, 19924:15 PM CSTF1Liberty4.0200$5,000 to $50,000
November 21, 19923:27 PM CSTF4Channelview tornado30.01,80016$50 million to $500 million
November 21, 19923:20 PM CSTF3Liberty32.03001$5 million to $50 million
November 21, 19923:20 PM CSTF2Harris12.02006$5 million to $50 million
November 21, 19923:10 PM CSTF1Harris2.5200$50,000 to $500,000
November 21, 19922:20 PM CSTF2Fort Bend25.020011$5 million to $50 million
June 1, 19923:00 PM CDTF1Harris0.5202$50,000 to $500,000
May 28, 19927:45 PM CDTF0Harris0.113
April 19, 19929:10 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
May 8, 199112:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.110$500 to $5,000
April 8, 19911:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.110$500 to $5,000
January 18, 19918:50 AM CSTF1Harris1.5403$5,000 to $50,000
January 18, 19918:30 AM CSTF0Harris0.510$500 to $5,000
January 18, 19918:15 AM CSTF0Harris0.410$500 to $5,000
January 18, 19917:45 AM CSTF0Harris0.5131$500 to $5,000
October 15, 198910:05 PM CDTF0Harris0.210
November 16, 19878:40 AM CSTF1Galveston15.01004$500,000 to $5 million
February 5, 19864:30 PM CSTF3Harris5.0702$5 million to $50 million
February 5, 19864:30 PM CSTF1Harris1.030$500,000 to $5 million
February 5, 19864:15 PM CSTF2Harris2.570$500,000 to $5 million
February 5, 19863:45 PM CSTF2Waller8.01705$50,000 to $500,000
December 31, 198411:40 AM CSTF1Harris0.550$50,000 to $500,000
December 31, 198411:30 AM CSTF2Harris4.020053$5 million to $50 million
October 22, 19841:30 AM CDTF1Harris5.0300$5 million to $50 million
February 12, 19847:25 AM CSTF0Harris0.333$50,000 to $500,000
December 10, 19836:25 PM CSTF0Harris1.050$50,000 to $500,000
December 10, 19836:05 PM CSTF0Harris0.530$500 to $5,000
August 18, 19838:20 PM CDTF0Harris1.050under $50
August 18, 19835:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.530under $50
August 18, 19837:20 AM CDTF0Harris1.040under $50
August 18, 19836:05 AM CDTF0Harris0.330under $50
August 18, 19835:20 AM CDTF0Harris0.540under $50
August 18, 19833:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.340under $50
August 18, 19833:02 AM CDTF0Harris0.330$500 to $5,000
August 18, 19832:45 AM CDTF0Harris0.530$50,000 to $500,000
August 18, 19832:15 AM CDTF1Harris0.540under $50
August 18, 19832:02 AM CDTF0Harris0.330under $50
August 17, 198310:59 PM CDTF0Harris0.320under $50
August 17, 198310:30 PM CDTF0Harris0.530under $50
July 15, 19834:10 PM CDTF1Harris0.560$5,000 to $50,000
May 21, 19831:20 PM CDTF0Harris0.350under $50
May 21, 19831:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.330under $50
May 21, 19831:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.330under $50
May 21, 198310:15 AM CDTF0Harris0.550under $50
May 20, 19836:00 PM CDTF0Harris0.320under $50
May 20, 19833:00 PM CDTF2Harris4.033312$50,000 to $500,000
May 20, 19831:31 PM CDTF0Harris0.320under $50
May 20, 19831:20 PM CDTF0Harris0.320under $50
May 20, 19832:30 AM CDTF2Harris12.033317$500,000 to $5 million
May 20, 19832:20 AM CDTF2Harris7.033315$500,000 to $5 million
May 20, 19832:15 AM CDTF1Harris1.5167under $50
March 30, 198310:02 AM CSTF1Harris0.3402$5,000 to $50,000
February 9, 19832:10 PM CSTF1Harris1.020$5,000 to $50,000
February 9, 19831:50 PM CSTF1Harris1.020$50,000 to $500,000
February 9, 19831:30 PM CSTF2Harris1.5503$50,000 to $500,000
September 3, 19824:30 PM CDTF1Harris1.020012$50,000 to $500,000
June 26, 19828:15 PM CDTF1Harris0.340$5,000 to $50,000
October 11, 19817:45 PM CDTF1Harris0.1271$5,000 to $50,000
August 4, 198110:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.117$5,000 to $50,000
May 3, 19812:15 PM CDTF1Harris0.533$50,000 to $500,000
April 23, 19812:15 PM CSTF1Harris0.250$5,000 to $50,000
October 18, 19801:50 PM CDTF1Harris0.217$5,000 to $50,000
September 8, 198010:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.1200
September 6, 198011:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.1200
June 22, 19801:30 PM CDTF1Harris0.117$5,000 to $50,000
May 17, 19802:00 AM CDTF1Harris0.117$50,000 to $500,000
October 30, 19794:50 PM CSTF1Harris0.240$50,000 to $500,000
September 18, 19795:00 PM CDTF1Harris0.110$50,000 to $500,000
September 18, 19794:50 PM CDTF2Harris1.03501$500,000 to $5 million
July 12, 197910:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.520
May 22, 19795:00 AM CDTF0Harris0.840under $50
May 22, 19794:18 AM CDTF0Harris0.540
April 19, 19795:40 PM CSTF0Harris0.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 18, 19792:45 PM CSTF1Harris0.110$5,000 to $50,000
July 16, 197810:00 PM CDTF0Harris0.213
June 6, 19785:52 PM CDTF1Harris7.010
May 29, 19785:20 PM CDTF2Harris0.220$50,000 to $500,000
December 13, 197711:40 AM CSTF0Harris0.110
December 13, 19778:05 AM CSTF3Harris25.1400140$5 million to $50 million
November 8, 197710:10 AM CSTF0Harris0.110
September 11, 19772:10 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
May 2, 19777:30 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
September 1, 19766:45 PM CDTF1Harris0.110$500 to $5,000
May 7, 19762:21 PM CDTF1Harris13.1771$50,000 to $500,000
May 7, 19762:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
May 7, 19761:15 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
June 30, 19756:30 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
June 10, 19759:30 AM CDTF0Harris0.110
November 1, 19746:45 AM CSTF0Harris0.110
October 31, 19743:30 PM CSTF2Harris4.3771$50,000 to $500,000
October 31, 197412:20 PM CSTF2Harris1.9167
October 28, 19744:40 PM CSTF3Harris3.35017$500,000 to $5 million
September 12, 197410:00 AM CDTF0Harris0.313under $50
August 29, 197412:05 PM CDTF2Harris1.067$50,000 to $500,000
July 14, 19744:30 PM CDTF2Harris0.8880$500,000 to $5 million
June 12, 19738:30 AM CDTF1Harris2.710$5,000 to $50,000
June 12, 19738:30 AM CDTF1Harris7.110$5,000 to $50,000
April 26, 197312:30 AM CSTF2Harris5.2100
February 13, 19731:00 PM CSTF2Harris3.3301$5,000 to $50,000
August 11, 19723:00 PM CDTF0Harris0.110
July 4, 19722:50 PM CDTF0Harris0.120
June 16, 19722:17 PM CDTF0Harris0.110$500 to $5,000
May 12, 19726:30 AM CDTF1Harris0.310$50,000 to $500,000
May 12, 19725:45 AM CDTF1Harris4.5207
March 20, 19726:45 PM CSTF0Harris0.110
March 20, 19725:00 PM CSTF1Harris0.110
March 20, 19723:00 PM CSTF1Harris0.110$5,000 to $50,000
August 25, 19716:30 PM CDTF1Harris0.110$5,000 to $50,000
August 8, 19716:14 PM CDTF1Harris0.110$500 to $5,000
July 29, 19714:17 PM CDTF2Harris0.3208$5,000 to $50,000
June 20, 19719:30 AM CDTF1Harris0.320
June 20, 19718:05 AM CDTF2Harris0.35020$50,000 to $500,000
May 11, 197112:40 PM CDTF1Harris0.110
March 9, 197110:20 PM CSTF2Harris1.04404$5,000 to $50,000
October 27, 19703:46 PM CSTF1Harris8.2401$50,000 to $500,000
October 27, 19703:46 PM CSTF2Harris2.040
October 11, 19704:55 PM CDTF0Harris0.517
September 17, 19701:30 PM CDTF0Harris0.517
August 4, 19701:12 AM CDTF0Harris0.110
July 4, 19707:25 PM CDTF1Harris1.0331$5,000 to $50,000
May 15, 197010:35 AM CDTF1Harris28.917
February 1, 19708:25 AM CSTF1Harris1.033$500 to $5,000
September 8, 19696:40 PM GMT-5F3Harris0.850$5,000 to $50,000
May 5, 196911:34 AM GMT-5F0Harris0.117
November 15, 196811:50 PM GMT-6F1Harris2.033$500 to $5,000
November 5, 196811:00 PM GMT-6F1Harris0.150$50,000 to $500,000
November 5, 196810:25 PM GMT-6F0Harris0.1100$50,000 to $500,000
December 2, 19678:45 AM GMT-6F0Harris0.133$500 to $5,000
September 21, 196710:25 AM GMT-5F2Harris2.0503$500 to $5,000
September 21, 19678:10 AM GMT-5F0Harris1.033$50 to $500
June 18, 19661:20 PM GMT-5F2Harris4.927
February 9, 19653:00 PM GMT-6F0Harris0.117
April 17, 19641:30 PM GMT-6F2Harris21.92712$500 to $5,000
March 19, 19643:05 AM GMT-6F2Harris2.5200$50,000 to $500,000
March 19, 19643:00 AM GMT-6F1Harris5.1400$50,000 to $500,000
June 22, 19635:00 PM GMT-5F0Harris0.733
June 12, 19626:25 PM GMT-5F1Harris1.050
September 11, 19616:50 PM GMT-5F3Harris1.08322
October 18, 19606:00 PM GMT-5F1Harris0.110
February 17, 19602:55 PM GMT-6F2Harris4.91003$5,000 to $50,000
April 8, 19596:30 AM GMT-6F1Harris4.967$5,000 to $50,000
April 1, 19592:45 AM GMT-6F1Harris0.517
May 29, 19588:00 PM GMT-5F1Harris0.6700$500 to $5,000
April 15, 195412:00 PM GMT-6F1Harris3.3167
August 15, 19533:50 PM GMT-5F1Harris0.133$500 to $5,000
February 11, 19501:50 PM GMT-6F3Harris12.01,000112$5,000 to $50,000

Nearby

Warnings in force in Harris CountyThe forecast for Harris CountyThe live radar over Harris 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.