Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Smith County, Texas
76 tornadoes have crossed Smith County since 1950, 1 of them surveyed so far this year and still preliminary, 23rd of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of 1.0 a year. They have killed 4 people and injured 108. 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
- 76
- Deaths
- 4
- Injuries
- 108
- F4 and above
- 0
- Worst on record
- F3, November 15, 1987
The deadliest in Smith County
The strongest
- F3, Cherokee and Smith counties, TexasNovember 15, 1987
- F3, Henderson and Smith counties, TexasFebruary 23, 1979
- EF2, Smith, Wood and Upshur counties, TexasApril 29, 2016
- F2, Smith County, TexasApril 13, 1967
- F2, Smith County, TexasNovember 19, 1991
- F2, Smith County, TexasApril 26, 1957
- F2, Smith County, TexasNovember 15, 1987
- F2, Smith County, TexasFebruary 11, 1950
- F2, Smith County, TexasJanuary 5, 1998
- F2, Smith County, TexasApril 1, 1979
Every year with a tornado
The 38 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Smith County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2025 | 3 | 1 | EF1 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 6 | EF1 | |
| 2023 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2022 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2021 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2019 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2017 | 3 | EF1 | ||
| 2016 | 2 | 2 | EF2 | |
| 2015 | 3 | EF2 | ||
| 2011 | 3 | 1 | EF1 | |
| 2010 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2009 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2008 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2006 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 2004 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1998 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1996 | 1 | 1 | F0 | |
| 1993 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1991 | 4 | F2 | ||
| 1990 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1989 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1988 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1987 | 3 | 4 | 81 | F3 |
| 1985 | 4 | F0 | ||
| 1983 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1981 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1980 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1979 | 5 | 4 | F3 | |
| 1978 | 5 | F1 | ||
| 1973 | 2 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1968 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1967 | 2 | F2 | ||
| 1965 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1962 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1958 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1957 | 1 | 6 | F2 | |
| 1950 | 1 | 5 | F2 |
Every tornado that crossed Smith County
76 tornadoes, newest first. The 1 at the top is this year's, from the surveying office rather than SPC's published database, and its rating is marked as preliminary.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2026 | 10:20 AM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 2.6 | 32 | |||
| October 28, 2025 | 2:12 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 4.4 | 137 | $125,000 | ||
| May 6, 2025 | 1:41 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 4.9 | 600 | $25,000 | ||
| April 4, 2025 | 4:24 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 25.5 | 1,420 | 1 | $325,000 | |
| May 23, 2024 | 7:06 PM CDT | EF1 | Henderson | 4.3 | 480 | 6 | $300,000 | |
| April 20, 2023 | 7:05 PM CDT | EF0 | Smith | 0.7 | 65 | $5,000 | ||
| August 22, 2022 | 10:26 AM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 3.8 | 200 | $25,000 | ||
| June 8, 2021 | 9:11 AM CDT | EF0 | Smith | 1.6 | 40 | $5,000 | ||
| May 18, 2019 | 5:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 0.7 | 200 | $30,000 | ||
| April 29, 2017 | 8:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 3.0 | 570 | $25,000 | ||
| April 10, 2017 | 7:35 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 1.8 | 250 | $25,000 | ||
| April 10, 2017 | 7:10 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 0.5 | 100 | |||
| April 29, 2016 | 5:55 PM CDT | EF2 | Smith | 25.9 | 3,221 | 2 | $375,000 | |
| April 29, 2016 | 5:50 PM CDT | EF2 | Smith | 1.0 | 400 | $500,000 | ||
| December 12, 2015 | 2:25 PM CST | EF2 | Smith | 1.8 | 150 | |||
| May 10, 2015 | 10:50 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 1.1 | 450 | $125,000 | ||
| May 10, 2015 | 9:19 PM CDT | EF1 | Smith | 1.4 | 440 | $125,000 | ||
| April 26, 2011 | 7:49 PM CDT | EF0 | Smith | 3.2 | 60 | |||
| April 26, 2011 | 7:49 PM CDT | EF0 | Smith | 3.2 | 60 | |||
| April 26, 2011 | 5:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Van Zandt | 13.9 | 880 | 1 | $200,000 | |
| January 20, 2010 | 7:09 PM CST | EF1 | Smith | 0.5 | 75 | $40,000 | ||
| January 20, 2010 | 6:58 PM CST | EF0 | Smith | 1.5 | 75 | $200,000 | ||
| February 10, 2009 | 11:16 PM CST | EF1 | Wood | 7.1 | 300 | $400,000 | ||
| February 5, 2008 | 4:50 PM CST | EF1 | Smith | 1.0 | 300 | $30,000 | ||
| December 29, 2006 | 3:45 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 1.5 | 100 | $100,000 | ||
| March 4, 2004 | 5:15 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 14.0 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| January 5, 1998 | 11:34 PM CST | F0 | Smith | 5.6 | 50 | |||
| January 5, 1998 | 10:52 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 4.2 | 80 | $120,000 | ||
| February 27, 1996 | 2:15 PM CST | F0 | Smith | 4.8 | 25 | 1 | $10,000 | |
| January 4, 1993 | 4:10 AM CST | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| November 19, 1991 | 11:37 AM CST | F2 | Smith | 2.5 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| November 19, 1991 | 11:20 AM CST | F2 | Smith | 7.0 | 150 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 4, 1991 | 6:50 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 26, 1991 | 7:40 PM CDT | F2 | Rusk | 3.0 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 30, 1990 | 6:13 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| May 30, 1990 | 6:09 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1989 | 4:55 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| May 17, 1989 | 10:23 AM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1989 | 9:25 AM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| November 19, 1988 | 12:50 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| November 15, 1987 | 4:45 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 6.0 | 300 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| November 15, 1987 | 3:45 PM CST | F3 | Cherokee | 33.0 | 500 | 4 | 81 | $5 million to $50 million |
| March 16, 1987 | 9:15 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 6.0 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| April 28, 1985 | 9:51 AM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| April 28, 1985 | 9:45 AM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| April 28, 1985 | 9:23 AM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| April 22, 1985 | 6:10 PM CST | F0 | Smith | 0.5 | 30 | |||
| March 4, 1983 | 10:45 AM CST | F1 | Smith | 0.1 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| March 3, 1983 | 6:15 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 0.5 | 33 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 3, 1981 | 2:55 PM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 13, 1981 | 9:55 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| March 29, 1980 | 6:40 AM CST | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 3, 1979 | 7:30 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 1, 1979 | 1:40 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 2.0 | 100 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 1, 1979 | 1:30 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 3.6 | 100 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| March 2, 1979 | 11:30 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 0.1 | 150 | 2 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| February 23, 1979 | 9:35 AM CST | F3 | Henderson | 10.3 | 33 | 1 | ||
| May 11, 1978 | 11:42 PM CDT | F1 | Smith | 1.0 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 11, 1978 | 8:15 PM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 11, 1978 | 8:10 PM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 11, 1978 | 7:50 PM CDT | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 22, 1978 | 4:00 PM CST | F0 | Smith | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| January 20, 1973 | 3:15 PM CST | F2 | Smith | 0.5 | 100 | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| January 20, 1973 | 2:30 PM CST | F1 | Smith | 0.3 | 200 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| December 27, 1968 | 11:47 AM GMT-6 | F1 | Smith | 0.3 | 67 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| June 24, 1968 | 6:30 AM GMT-5 | F2 | Smith | 0.5 | 33 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 17, 1968 | 10:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Smith | 1.0 | 13 | $50 to $500 | ||
| July 3, 1967 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Smith | 0.1 | 100 | $50 to $500 | ||
| April 13, 1967 | 7:00 AM GMT-6 | F2 | Smith | 14.9 | 40 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 9, 1965 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Smith | 0.3 | 33 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| March 24, 1962 | 4:20 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Smith | 1.0 | 33 | |||
| March 24, 1962 | 4:20 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Smith | 1.0 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| March 24, 1962 | 3:00 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Smith | 1.0 | 40 | |||
| July 6, 1958 | 6:30 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Smith | 1.0 | 33 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 26, 1957 | 8:00 AM GMT-6 | F2 | Smith | 6.1 | 100 | 6 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| February 11, 1950 | 9:00 PM GMT-6 | F2 | Smith | 4.6 | 100 | 5 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Smith CountyThe forecast for Smith CountyThe live radar over Smith 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.