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Tornado in Madison County, Texas
17 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.
Madison County, Texas, has 17 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 15 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 8 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 3.6 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 9 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Madison County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 17 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.6 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.4 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
0Mar
1Apr
6May
3Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
1Nov
1Dec
2
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 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Apr 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $750K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 28 May 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F1 | $55K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | $50K | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 1987 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | 3 | 2 | County |
| 1 May 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1954 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Madison County had?
17 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 Madison County?
28 Apr 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Madison County?
The tornado of 15 Nov 1987, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 3 deaths recorded.
How does Madison County compare with Texas for tornado?
3.6 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 17 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.