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Tornado in Karnes County, Texas
22 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 22 tornado events in Karnes County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 16 years.
May is the busiest month, with 5 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 1 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.2% of the 10,090 tornado events recorded in Texas; its 2.9 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Karnes County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.9 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.9 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
1May
5Jun
0Jul
1Aug
2Sep
4Oct
4Nov
3Dec
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 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Nov 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2001 | Tornado | F1 | $120K | $30K | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 1988 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Aug 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Sep 1967 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1967 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Sep 1967 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1966 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 18 Oct 1965 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 1965 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1965 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 1959 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1958 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 May 1955 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Karnes County had?
22 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 Karnes County?
20 Mar 2012 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Karnes County?
The tornado of 25 Apr 1966, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Karnes County compare with Texas for tornado?
2.9 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 22 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.