Texas Tornado & Hail Guide

Texas leads the nation in annual tornado counts, averaging approximately 140 tornadoes per year according to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). The sheer size of the state — spanning five distinct climate zones — means tornado risk varies significantly by region, but no part of Texas is immune.

Texas Tornado Season

The primary tornado season in Texas runs from March through June, with peak activity in April and May. A secondary outbreak season occurs in October and November. The Panhandle and South Plains see tornadoes primarily in May and June, while Central and East Texas see the earliest spring activity. North Texas — the Dallas-Fort Worth area and surrounding counties — is among the highest-risk metro regions in the country.

Texas tornadoes can occur at night, which significantly increases fatality risk. The 1979 Red River tornado (Wichita Falls), 2013 Granbury EF4, and 2015 Garland EF4 are among the most impactful modern tornado events in the state.

Texas Hail Season

Texas is one of the most hail-prone states in the U.S., with major hail events possible from March through September. The region around San Antonio, Austin, and Dallas-Fort Worth regularly records baseball-sized or larger hail. Texas hail events are responsible for billions of dollars in annual insurance losses nationally — major hail events in the DFW metroplex routinely exceed $1 billion in combined losses.

Historical Significant Events

• 1953 Waco tornado (F5): 114 fatalities, one of the deadliest tornadoes in U.S. history.
• 1979 Red River Valley outbreak: Multiple violent tornadoes; Wichita Falls EF4 killed 42.
• 2013 Granbury EF4: 6 killed in Hood County.
• 2015 Garland/Rowlett EF4: 11 fatalities in the Dallas metro on December 26.
• 2019 Dallas EF3: Significant damage across Dallas County, no fatalities.

Regional NWS Offices for Texas

| Region | WFO | Website |

|——–|—–|———|

| North Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth) | NWS Fort Worth | weather.gov/fwd |

| South Texas (San Antonio) | NWS San Antonio | weather.gov/ewx |

| West Texas (Midland/Odessa) | NWS Midland | weather.gov/maf |

| Panhandle (Amarillo) | NWS Amarillo | weather.gov/ama |

| Southeast Texas (Houston) | NWS Houston | weather.gov/hgx |

| East Texas (Shreveport area) | NWS Shreveport | weather.gov/shv |

| Lubbock / South Plains | NWS Lubbock | weather.gov/lub |

| El Paso | NWS El Paso | weather.gov/epz |

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*FindTheTornado.com does not perform inspections, repairs, or insurance work. Data from NOAA NCEI and NWS.*