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Tornado in Martin County, Texas
37 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.
Martin County, Texas, has 37 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 17 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 3 events against 18 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.4% of the 10,090 tornado events recorded in Texas; its 4.0 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 23 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Martin County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 37 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.0 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 71.0 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
0Apr
2May
17Jun
12Jul
0Aug
1Sep
2Oct
3Nov
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 37 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 May 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $7K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2006 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Sep 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 25 May 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 1991 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1991 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1979 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1977 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1970 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1969 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1957 | Tornado | F3 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 May 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Martin County had?
37 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 Martin County?
26 May 2014 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Martin County?
The tornado of 20 Aug 1979, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does Martin County compare with Texas for tornado?
4.0 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 37 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.