States › Texas › Harris County › Tornado
Tornado in Harris County, Texas
254 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.
Harris County, Texas, has 254 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 64 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 39 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 43 events against 82 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 10,090 tornado events recorded in Texas; its 14.9 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 13 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 127 at (E)F0, 79 at (E)F1, 35 at (E)F2, 9 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Harris County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 254 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 14.9 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 0.5 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 13 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
16Feb
17Mar
15Apr
25May
39Jun
19Jul
7Aug
26Sep
16Oct
26Nov
36Dec
12
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
The 165 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 254. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Nov 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF3 | $6.6M | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $70K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 29 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $27K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF2 | $12M | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $200K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 28 Jun 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $110K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $28K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $240K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 22 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $275K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $550K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $225K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Oct 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Oct 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 2002 | Tornado | F3 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F2 | $3.8M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Nov 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 Nov 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $3.0M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 23 Oct 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $12M | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $55K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $50K | — | 1 | 20 | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $50K | — | 1 | 20 | County |
| 16 Nov 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 16 Nov 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $5.0M | — | — | 26 | County |
| 30 May 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F4 | $250M | — | — | 15 | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 21 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 1 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 28 May 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jan 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Jan 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 16 Nov 1987 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 1986 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | 2 | — | County |
| 5 Feb 1986 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Dec 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | — | 53 | County |
| 22 Oct 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 7 | County |
| 20 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 20 May 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 30 Mar 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 9 Feb 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 9 Feb 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 11 Oct 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 May 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 18 Sep 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1978 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Dec 1977 | Tornado | F3 | $25M | — | 1 | 35 | County |
| 7 May 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 31 Oct 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 28 Oct 1974 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 7 | County |
| 29 Aug 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 12 May 1972 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 7 | County |
| 12 May 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 8 | County |
| 20 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 20 | County |
| 9 Mar 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 27 Oct 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Jul 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Nov 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1968 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 17 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | 1 | 2 | County |
| 19 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Sep 1961 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | 22 | County |
| 17 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 11 Feb 1950 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | 1 | 12 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Harris County had?
254 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 Harris County?
24 Nov 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Harris County?
The tornado of 21 Nov 1992, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250M.
How does Harris County compare with Texas for tornado?
14.9 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 254 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.