States › Texas › Upshur County › Tornado
Tornado in Upshur County, Texas
27 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.
Upshur County, Texas, has 27 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 6 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 4.6 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 13 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Upshur County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.6 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 6.5 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
2Apr
9May
5Jun
1Jul
0Aug
2Sep
1Oct
1Nov
2Dec
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 27 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 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | $2.2M | — | — | 7 | County |
| 11 May 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 2016 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $45K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Oct 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F2 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Aug 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1988 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 9 | County |
| 15 Nov 1987 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 9 | County |
| 22 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Feb 1981 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 1980 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1979 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 1977 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 1976 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1965 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Upshur County had?
27 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 Upshur County?
4 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Upshur County?
The tornado of 15 Nov 1987, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Upshur County compare with Texas for tornado?
4.6 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 27 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.