States › Texas › Walker County › Tornado
Tornado in Walker County, Texas
18 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 18 tornado events in Walker County, Texas, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 13 years.
January is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 7 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 2.3 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 4 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 | Walker County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 18 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.3 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.3 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | January | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
3Mar
1Apr
2May
2Jun
2Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
2Nov
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 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 May 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | $30K | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $125K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 1 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 21 Jan 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | $200K | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 8 | County |
| 4 Jun 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Oct 1971 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Walker County had?
18 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 Walker County?
10 May 2021 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Walker County?
The tornado of 21 Jan 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K and crop damage at $200K.
How does Walker County compare with Texas for tornado?
2.3 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 18 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.