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Tornado in Willacy County, Texas
22 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.
Willacy County, Texas, has 22 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 18 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 5 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 3.7 per 100 square miles compares with 3.9 statewide.
By rating: 15 at (E)F0, 3 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Texas
| Measure | Willacy County | Texas | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 22 | 10,090 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.7 | 3.9 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 10.8 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 595 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | May | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
2Apr
3May
2Jun
4Jul
2Aug
3Sep
3Oct
2Nov
1Dec
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 22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2023 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jul 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $250 | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Oct 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Apr 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Nov 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Aug 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | $4K | — | — | County |
| 20 Sep 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 4 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1962 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 24 Jul 1959 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Willacy County had?
22 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 Willacy County?
8 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF unrated). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Willacy County?
The tornado of 31 Aug 2005, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50K.
How does Willacy County compare with Texas for tornado?
3.7 events per 100 square miles against 3.9 statewide; the county holds 22 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.