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Tornado in Gaines County, Texas
40 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Gaines County, Texas, has 40 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 9 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 10,090 tornado events recorded in Texas; its 2.7 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 26 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Gaines County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 40 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.7 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 18.3 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
10May
10Jun
9Jul
2Aug
2Sep
6Oct
0Nov
1Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 40 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Jun 2024 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 2015 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1984 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Sep 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 9 | County |
| 12 May 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 17 | County |
| 4 Sep 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1977 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1969 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1969 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1965 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 3 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Gaines County had?
40 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Gaines County?
10 Jun 2024 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Gaines County?
The tornado of 12 May 1982, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Gaines County compare with Texas for tornado?
2.7 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 40 of the state's 10,090 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.