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Tornado in Lee County, Texas
30 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 30 tornado events in Lee County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 20 years.
January is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 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 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Lee County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 30 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 16.9 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | January | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
3Mar
5Apr
5May
2Jun
0Jul
0Aug
2Sep
1Oct
1Nov
2Dec
1
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 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Apr 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 13 Oct 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $80K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $80K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 1995 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1994 | Tornado | F2 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1987 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 8 | County |
| 21 May 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Feb 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 1962 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 20 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 2 Dec 1953 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lee County had?
30 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 Lee County?
2 Apr 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lee County?
The tornado of 15 Nov 1987, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Lee County compare with Texas for tornado?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 30 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.