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Tornado in Hamilton County, Texas
26 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.
NCEI records 26 tornado events in Hamilton County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 19 years.
May is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 4 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 10,090 tornado events recorded in Texas; its 3.1 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Hamilton County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 26 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.1 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 31.6 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
4Apr
7May
8Jun
4Jul
0Aug
1Sep
0Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Mar 2021 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $20K | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 May 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 12 May 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 31 Mar 1979 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 29 Aug 1955 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hamilton County had?
26 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 Hamilton County?
24 Mar 2021 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hamilton County?
The tornado of 11 Apr 1979, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Hamilton County compare with Texas for tornado?
3.1 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 26 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.