Tornadoes · United States · Texas
Tornadoes in Williamson County, Texas
73 tornadoes have crossed Williamson County since 1950, 26th of the 254 counties in Texas with a tornado on record, an average of one every 1.0 years. They have killed 29 people and injured 97. 1 was rated F4 or EF4 and above, 1 at the top of the scale.
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
- 73
- Deaths
- 29
- Injuries
- 97
- F4 and above
- 1
- Worst on record
- F5, May 27, 1997
The deadliest in Williamson County
The strongest
- F5 Jarrell tornado, TexasMay 27, 1997
- F3, Williamson, Travis, Milam and Robertson counties, TexasApril 30, 1954
- F3, Williamson, Travis, Bastrop and Lee counties, TexasApril 7, 1980
- EF3 Salado tornado, TexasApril 12, 2022
- F3, Bastrop and Williamson counties, TexasApril 24, 1957
- F3, Williamson and Travis counties, TexasMay 27, 1997
- F3, Williamson County, TexasMay 17, 1989
- F2, Williamson and Lee counties, TexasSeptember 4, 1956
- F2, Travis and Williamson counties, TexasApril 14, 1977
- EF2, Travis, Williamson and Bell counties, TexasMarch 21, 2022
Every year with a tornado
The 41 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Williamson County. Each year links to every tornado in Texas that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 23 | EF3 | |
| 2019 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2018 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2017 | 4 | EF2 | ||
| 2016 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2015 | 4 | EF1 | ||
| 2011 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2009 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2006 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2004 | 4 | F0 | ||
| 2001 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 2000 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1998 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1997 | 4 | 27 | 27 | F5 |
| 1994 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1992 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1991 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1989 | 1 | 1 | 28 | F3 |
| 1985 | 2 | 3 | F2 | |
| 1983 | 3 | F1 | ||
| 1982 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1981 | 2 | 4 | F2 | |
| 1980 | 3 | 1 | 5 | F3 |
| 1978 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1977 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1976 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1975 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1974 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1972 | 5 | F1 | ||
| 1971 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1968 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1967 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1966 | 4 | F2 | ||
| 1964 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1963 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1961 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1958 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1957 | 2 | 1 | F3 | |
| 1956 | 1 | F2 | ||
| 1955 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1954 | 1 | 6 | F3 |
Every tornado that crossed Williamson County
73 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2022 | 8:46 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 3.9 | 150 | $500,000 | ||
| April 12, 2022 | 5:29 PM CDT | EF3 | Salado tornado | 16.6 | 770 | 23 | $100,000 | |
| March 21, 2022 | 5:54 PM CDT | EF2 | Travis | 34.6 | 600 | $2,000 | ||
| March 21, 2022 | 5:51 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 9.3 | 300 | |||
| June 9, 2019 | 6:34 PM CDT | EF0 | Williamson | 0.7 | 50 | $5,000 | ||
| July 4, 2018 | 2:25 PM CDT | EF0 | Williamson | 0.7 | 20 | $1,000 | ||
| May 20, 2018 | 8:22 AM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 5.1 | 50 | $50,000 | ||
| July 15, 2017 | 4:15 PM CDT | EF0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | $100,000 | ||
| February 20, 2017 | 12:28 AM CST | EF2 | Williamson | 4.2 | 100 | |||
| February 20, 2017 | 12:25 AM CST | EF2 | Williamson | 9.4 | 200 | |||
| January 13, 2017 | 9:33 AM CST | EF0 | Williamson | 1.2 | 25 | |||
| March 8, 2016 | 9:17 AM CST | EF0 | Williamson | 1.5 | 50 | |||
| May 25, 2015 | 2:45 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 0.3 | 100 | $50,000 | ||
| May 23, 2015 | 9:47 PM CDT | EF0 | Williamson | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| May 23, 2015 | 9:47 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 0.6 | 150 | |||
| May 23, 2015 | 9:22 PM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 3.1 | 200 | |||
| May 21, 2011 | 9:00 PM CDT | EF0 | Williamson | 1.6 | 30 | $100,000 | ||
| April 27, 2009 | 4:10 AM CDT | EF1 | Williamson | 2.1 | 50 | $1.0 million | ||
| May 14, 2006 | 3:50 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 0.2 | 70 | |||
| November 23, 2004 | 6:08 PM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.3 | 400 | |||
| November 23, 2004 | 11:05 AM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.3 | 30 | |||
| November 23, 2004 | 10:51 AM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| November 23, 2004 | 10:40 AM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| November 15, 2001 | 4:50 PM CST | F0 | Williamson | 3.5 | 30 | |||
| March 16, 2000 | 4:20 PM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| March 16, 2000 | 4:12 PM CST | F2 | Williamson | 1.5 | 200 | $300,000 | ||
| March 16, 2000 | 4:08 PM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| July 4, 1998 | 1:00 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.2 | 100 | $30,000 | ||
| May 27, 1997 | 4:05 PM CDT | F3 | Williamson | 9.2 | 200 | 15 | $70 million | |
| May 27, 1997 | 3:40 PM CDT | F5 | Jarrell tornado | 5.1 | 650 | 27 | 12 | $40 million |
| May 27, 1997 | 3:35 PM CDT | F2 | Williamson | 0.5 | 150 | |||
| May 27, 1997 | 3:25 PM CDT | F2 | Williamson | 2.0 | 200 | |||
| May 13, 1994 | 1:05 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 0.2 | 30 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| June 1, 1992 | 8:33 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 28, 1991 | 2:45 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 0.2 | 10 | |||
| May 17, 1989 | 4:02 AM CDT | F3 | Williamson | 3.0 | 1,700 | 1 | 28 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| December 10, 1985 | 4:40 PM CST | F2 | Williamson | 5.0 | 100 | 2 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| December 10, 1985 | 1:52 PM CST | F1 | Williamson | 23.0 | 100 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| September 19, 1983 | 2:07 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 0.5 | 30 | under $50 | ||
| June 4, 1983 | 10:30 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.5 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| May 18, 1983 | 12:15 PM CDT | F1 | Travis | 13.0 | 60 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| April 20, 1982 | 12:30 PM CST | F1 | Williamson | 0.1 | 20 | |||
| May 16, 1981 | 1:25 AM CDT | F1 | Burnet | 16.9 | 60 | 4 | ||
| February 10, 1981 | 1:13 AM CST | F2 | Williamson | 0.8 | 100 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 10, 1980 | 3:25 PM CDT | F0 | Travis | 30.7 | 50 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| April 7, 1980 | 4:48 PM CST | F3 | Williamson | 31.7 | 100 | 1 | 5 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| February 29, 1980 | 8:15 PM CST | F1 | Williamson | 11.0 | 43 | |||
| July 28, 1978 | 3:15 PM CDT | F2 | Williamson | 0.5 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 14, 1977 | 5:20 PM CST | F2 | Travis | 41.0 | 200 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 31, 1976 | 6:00 PM CDT | F0 | Williamson | 1.0 | 20 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 7, 1975 | 6:00 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 1.0 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| October 30, 1974 | 7:00 PM CST | F2 | Williamson | 1.8 | 200 | |||
| October 21, 1972 | 8:30 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.3 | 200 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 24, 1972 | 4:45 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| May 24, 1972 | 4:22 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| May 24, 1972 | 4:22 PM CDT | F1 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| April 27, 1972 | 5:56 PM CST | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | |||
| November 17, 1971 | 3:30 PM CST | F2 | Williamson | 31.7 | 33 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| April 8, 1968 | 4:00 PM GMT-6 | F0 | Williamson | 1.0 | 17 | |||
| September 4, 1967 | 8:35 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Williamson | 0.1 | 33 | |||
| May 18, 1966 | 4:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 7.1 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 18, 1966 | 4:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 1.9 | 27 | |||
| May 18, 1966 | 4:30 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Williamson | 0.1 | 27 | |||
| May 18, 1966 | 4:30 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 1.9 | 33 | |||
| April 26, 1964 | 7:00 AM GMT-5 | F2 | Williamson | 1.0 | 17 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| March 10, 1963 | 10:00 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Williamson | 0.5 | 200 | $50 to $500 | ||
| June 29, 1961 | 6:25 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 0.2 | 17 | |||
| May 2, 1958 | 4:50 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 11.5 | 440 | under $50 | ||
| April 24, 1957 | 2:20 PM GMT-6 | F3 | Bastrop | 14.7 | 880 | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| April 24, 1957 | 1:45 PM GMT-6 | F1 | Williamson | 0.1 | 10 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| September 4, 1956 | 5:00 PM GMT-5 | F2 | Williamson | 56.6 | 250 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 5, 1955 | 5:18 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Williamson | 7.8 | 1,760 | |||
| April 30, 1954 | 7:10 AM GMT-5 | F3 | Williamson | 139.9 | 880 | 6 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Williamson CountyThe forecast for Williamson CountyThe live radar over Williamson 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.