States › Texas › King County › Tornado
Tornado in King County, Texas
23 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.
King County, Texas, has 23 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 16 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 11 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 2.5 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 14 at (E)F0, 3 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 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 | King County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 23 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.5 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 891.5 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
1Apr
6May
9Jun
4Jul
0Aug
0Sep
3Oct
0Nov
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 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 May 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2022 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2017 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1990 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1987 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Sep 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1955 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has King County had?
23 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 King County?
4 May 2022 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in King County?
The tornado of 15 May 1989, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25K.
How does King County compare with Texas for tornado?
2.5 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 23 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.