Tornadoes · United States · Texas

Tornadoes in Jefferson County, Texas

111 tornadoes have crossed Jefferson County since 1950, 5th of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.5 a year. They have killed 4 people and injured 144. 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.

  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
111
Deaths
4
Injuries
144
F4 and above
0
Worst on record
F3, November 7, 1957

The deadliest in Jefferson County

  1. F3, Jefferson County, TexasNovember 7, 19572 killed, 59 injured
  2. F2, Jefferson County, TexasMay 20, 19831 killed, 9 injured
  3. F3, Chambers and Jefferson counties, TexasOctober 28, 19741 killed

The strongest

  1. EF3, Chambers, Jefferson and Cameron counties, Texas and LouisianaDecember 28, 2024EF3, 67.9 mi (109 km)
  2. F3, Chambers and Jefferson counties, TexasOctober 28, 1974F3, 9.6 mi (15 km)
  3. F3, Jefferson County, TexasJanuary 1, 1999F3, 5.5 mi (9 km)
  4. F3, Jefferson County, TexasOctober 11, 1970F3, 4.3 mi (7 km)
  5. F3, Jefferson County, TexasNovember 7, 1957F3, 3.6 mi (6 km)
  6. F3, Jefferson County, TexasNovember 7, 1957F3, 1.5 mi (2 km)
  7. F3, Jefferson County, TexasJanuary 31, 1983F3, 1.0 mi (2 km)
  8. F3, Jefferson County, TexasMarch 23, 1969F3, 0.5 mi (1 km)
  9. F2, Chambers, Jefferson and Hardin counties, TexasOctober 28, 1974F2, 20.5 mi (33 km)
  10. F2, Jefferson County, TexasMay 12, 1972F2, 19.9 mi (32 km)

Every year with a tornado

The 43 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Jefferson County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
202422EF3
20231EF1
20222EF1
20211EF0
20182EF0
20171EF0
20101EF1
2009110EF1
20061F1
20031F0
20012F1
200021F1
199915F3
199713F0
19952F0
19941F1
19927F0
19871F1
19841F0
19837113F3
19821F0
198112F2
19804F2
19792F2
19781F0
19762F1
19754F1
1974715F3
197393F2
197252F2
19712F1
1970921F3
196941F3
19681F2
196741F2
19651F1
196416F2
196311F1
196226F1
19602F1
19593F2
19574260F3
195632F2

Every tornado that crossed Jefferson County

111 tornadoes, newest first.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
December 28, 20242:26 PM CSTEF3Chambers to LA67.98802$500,000
April 10, 20245:55 AM CDTEF2Jefferson2.7300$500,000
January 24, 20234:05 PM CSTEF1Jefferson5.575$15,000
July 22, 202211:25 AM CDTEF0Jefferson1.710
May 25, 20225:21 AM CDTEF1Jefferson1.050$100,000
October 27, 20218:54 AM CDTEF0Jefferson0.3100$150,000
November 7, 20182:00 PM CSTEF0Jefferson0.250
August 7, 201811:30 AM CDTEF0Jefferson0.110
March 11, 20172:47 PM CSTEF0Jefferson0.510
June 9, 20105:32 AM CDTEF1Jefferson2.8100$100,000
August 18, 20091:57 PM CDTEF1Jefferson0.910010$20 million
October 16, 20066:00 AM CDTF1Jefferson2.820$300,000
November 18, 20031:00 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.210$100,000
October 13, 20014:55 AM CDTF1Jefferson2.015$1.0 million
October 12, 20013:00 PM CDTF0Hardin2.510
April 3, 20004:20 AM CDTF1Jefferson1.520$3.0 million
April 3, 20004:08 AM CDTF1Jefferson2.0201$100,000
January 1, 199911:45 PM CSTF3Jefferson5.54005$500,000
July 14, 19974:05 PM CDTF0Jefferson1.5203$50,000
September 21, 19953:15 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.220
April 10, 19951:49 PM CDTF0Jefferson2.0200
October 8, 19947:27 AM CDTF1Jefferson2.050
November 11, 19925:00 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.230$5,000 to $50,000
June 30, 19925:10 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
June 30, 19925:08 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
June 30, 19924:45 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.120$5,000 to $50,000
June 1, 19929:05 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.113$500 to $5,000
June 1, 19928:51 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
May 20, 19929:00 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
February 18, 19874:50 AM CSTF1Jefferson0.223$50,000 to $500,000
April 10, 198411:30 PM CSTF0Jefferson0.850$50,000 to $500,000
December 13, 198310:25 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.530under $50
May 20, 19833:01 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.7103$500,000 to $5 million
May 20, 19832:45 PM CDTF2Jefferson3.016719$500,000 to $5 million
May 20, 19832:40 PM CDTF0Jefferson1.0100$500,000 to $5 million
May 20, 19832:35 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.350$50 to $500
May 20, 19832:15 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.320$500,000 to $5 million
January 31, 19832:00 PM CSTF3Jefferson1.0401$500,000 to $5 million
July 7, 19823:10 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.227under $50
April 23, 198111:15 AM CSTF2Jefferson13.4502$50,000 to $500,000
September 6, 19805:00 AM CDTF2Jefferson0.1200$5,000 to $50,000
September 5, 19805:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson2.0300$50,000 to $500,000
June 20, 19802:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.120$5,000 to $50,000
June 20, 19802:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.120$5,000 to $50,000
October 22, 19795:44 AM CDTF2Jefferson1.050$500,000 to $5 million
May 22, 19796:30 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
July 5, 19782:58 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.120$500 to $5,000
July 7, 19766:55 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
June 6, 19767:50 PM CDTF1Jefferson3.650$5,000 to $50,000
June 10, 197510:00 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
May 14, 19755:20 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110under $50
April 29, 19759:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.110
April 10, 19751:42 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110$500 to $5,000
October 28, 19745:58 PM CSTF2Jefferson0.110
October 28, 19745:00 PM CSTF3Chambers9.6671
October 28, 19741:55 PM CSTF2Jefferson16.7503$50,000 to $500,000
October 28, 19741:30 PM CSTF2Jefferson0.1102$5,000 to $50,000
October 28, 197411:40 AM CSTF2Chambers20.510$50,000 to $500,000
June 21, 19741:20 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110$500 to $5,000
February 21, 19749:11 AM CDTF1Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
November 27, 19731:00 PM CSTF1Jefferson0.327$5,000 to $50,000
September 28, 19739:13 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.317
August 9, 19731:46 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.117$500 to $5,000
July 7, 19739:50 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.117
June 20, 19733:10 PM CDTF0Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
June 11, 197310:05 PM CDTF1Jefferson7.250$500,000 to $5 million
May 26, 19733:45 AM CDTF2Jefferson6.21673$50,000 to $500,000
April 17, 19736:10 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.110
March 24, 19735:45 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.110
November 13, 19725:25 AM CSTF2Jefferson2.350$500,000 to $5 million
September 5, 19726:20 PM CDTF1Jefferson4.323
July 29, 19724:00 PM CDTF1Jefferson2.530$50,000 to $500,000
July 13, 19721:15 PM CDTF1Jefferson0.120
May 12, 19728:23 AM CDTF2Jefferson19.9302$50,000 to $500,000
May 24, 197110:00 AM CDTF0Jefferson2.017$500 to $5,000
May 6, 19713:00 PM CDTF1Orange0.117$5,000 to $50,000
December 30, 197011:00 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.823
December 30, 197011:00 AM CSTF0Jefferson0.527
December 30, 197010:30 AM CSTF2Jefferson5.1200$5,000 to $50,000
October 11, 19704:30 PM CDTF3Jefferson4.310019$500,000 to $5 million
October 11, 19703:47 PM CDTF2Jefferson6.1100$500,000 to $5 million
October 6, 197011:45 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.523
August 24, 19705:45 PM CDTF1Jefferson1.033
July 13, 197011:45 AM CDTF0Jefferson0.110
February 1, 19709:30 AM CSTF2Jefferson0.1402$5,000 to $50,000
August 27, 19699:00 AM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.117
July 30, 19696:00 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.520$5,000 to $50,000
July 15, 19695:10 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson2.320$50,000 to $500,000
March 23, 196911:05 AM GMT-6F3Jefferson0.5671$5,000 to $50,000
February 1, 19686:05 PM GMT-6F2Jefferson1.320$5,000 to $50,000
September 21, 196712:39 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.133$50 to $500
September 21, 196711:47 AM GMT-5F1Jefferson1.0331$50 to $500
September 21, 19679:25 AM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.117
July 13, 19673:52 PM GMT-5F2Jefferson0.133$5,000 to $50,000
July 5, 196511:35 AM GMT-5F1Jefferson1.010$50 to $500
August 5, 19647:20 PM GMT-5F2Jefferson0.2336$50,000 to $500,000
July 23, 19634:00 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson1.2401
August 10, 19624:45 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.8176
August 10, 196211:15 AM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.817
August 19, 19602:07 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.217$500 to $5,000
January 28, 19609:40 AM GMT-6F1Jefferson2.033$500 to $5,000
July 20, 195912:18 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.110
July 2, 19592:15 PM GMT-5F2Jefferson0.133$5,000 to $50,000
June 14, 19595:32 PM GMT-5F0Jefferson0.110$500 to $5,000
November 7, 19579:23 PM GMT-6F3Jefferson1.5101$50,000 to $500,000
November 7, 19579:15 PM GMT-6F3Jefferson3.6200259$500,000 to $5 million
November 7, 19578:45 PM GMT-6F1Jefferson0.110$5,000 to $50,000
March 17, 19575:50 PM GMT-6F2Jefferson0.9100$500 to $5,000
November 5, 195611:50 AM GMT-6F2Jefferson0.217$500 to $5,000
October 4, 19564:25 PM GMT-5F1Jefferson0.5172$5,000 to $50,000
February 14, 195612:30 PM GMT-6F2Jefferson16.233$5,000 to $50,000

Nearby

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