Top Ten Deadliest Texas Tornadoes
Since 1900
Between 1950 and 2018, over 8800 tornadoes are known to have occurred in the state of Texas, an average of around 130 per year. While official records from before 1950 are not available, reconstruction from local press reports indicate at least 500 tornadoes occurred during 1900-1949; undoubtedly the true number is far higher. Scroll down to read about the 10 deadliest tornadoes that occurred in Texas since 1900.
1) The Waco Tornado - May 11, 1953
The deadliest tornado in Texas history struck shortly after 4 pm on the day after Mother's Day in 1953.
It touched down somewhere near Lorena, destroying a home 3 miles NNW of town.
The tornado then passed near Hewitt. On a radar screen at Texas A&M University, the tornadic storm developed a hook shaped echo.
Nearly 1/3 of a mile wide, the massive tornado crossed Waco on a path that ran almost south to north, killing 114 persons and injuring 597. It destroyed around 600 homes and other buildings and damaged over 1000, including 2000 vehicles. Some of the survivors had to wait up to 14 hours for rescue.
More information on the Waco tornado can be found from WFO Fort Worth https://www.weather.gov/fwd/wacotormay1953
2) The Goliad Tornado - May 18, 1902
The second deadliest tornado in Texas killed 114 persons, the same as Waco, but is rated number two since with 250 injuries, it injured fewer people.
It is believed to have touched down just before 4 pm near Berclair, about 15 miles southwest of Goliad, and moved on a track toward the northeast.
About 1/8 of a mile wide, the tornado crossed the San Antonio River 4 miles southwest of Goliad and moved into the town.
Most of the deaths occurred in the west part of Goliad, where hundreds of buildings were destroyed. 85 of the deaths occurred as the tornado occurred or in the immediate aftermath - the remainder died over the next few weeks due to infections, including tetanus.
3) The Rocksprings Tornado - April 12, 1927
The third deadliest tornado in Texas history, like the first and second, occurred south of what is generally considered Tornado Alley.
This tornado touched down 3 miles to the northwest of Rocksprings, in Edwards County, and moved toward the southeast.
Nearly 1 mile wide as it crossed Rocksprings, it destroyed 235 of the 247 buildings in the town. It killed 74 people and injured 205, almost 1/3 of the population.
Clearing Rocksprings, it continued southeastward. Documentation of how far it went is unclear, but some suggest the tornado ended 65 miles southeast of Rocksprings, 2 miles northeast of Leakey.
4) The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward Tornadoes - April 9, 1947
This tornado was part of a family of deadly twisters.
The Glazier-Higgins-Woodward tornado formed 3 miles northwest of Canadian and traveled nearly parallel to US 60. It's funnel was reported at times to be between 1 and 2 miles wide.
The tornado destroyed the town of Glazier, killing 17 and injuring 40.
The tornado continued northeast, destroying most of the town of Higgins, killing 51 and injuring 232.
The tornado passed 4 miles southeast of Shattuck...
Two miles southeast of Gage...
And two miles southeast of Fargo.
The tornado then struck Woodward, Oklahoma. The tornado would kill 116 people in Oklahoma - in addition to causing the 4th most deaths in Texas history, this tornado is the deadliest in Oklahoma history.
See WFO Norman for more information about this tornado https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19470409
The tornado likely dissipated 10 miles west of Alva, Oklahoma.
5) The Wichita Falls Tornado - April 10, 1979
One of the most infamous of Texas tornadoes, this day would go on to be known as "Terrible Tuesday".
This huge F4 first touched down about 3 miles northeast of Holliday. It damaged homes and oil storage tanks as it moved east toward Wichita Falls.
Crossing into Wichita Falls, it severely damaged Memorial Stadium, followed by McNiel Junior High.
The tornado then heavily damaged residential areas and Milam Elementary School.
It damaged a shopping center and numerous vehicles, then proceeded across US 287 where it destroyed additional vehicles. 16 of the deaths in this tornado occurred when the tornado struck people attempting to flee the tornado in their cars. At times the tornado was a mile and a 1/2 wide.
It continued northeast from Wichita Falls, past the Red River and into Oklahoma where it dissipated north of Waurika. It killed 42 people in Wichita Falls; 25 of those deaths were vehicle related. It caused over 1700 injuries, destroyed over 3000 homes and left 20,000 homeless. This tornado was one of several in an outbreak that day.
Here is the approximate damage path of the Wichita Falls tornado of April 10th, 1979, overlaid on current day satellite imagery. See WFO Norman's write up for more. https://www.weather.gov/oun/events-19790410
6) The Frost Tornado - May 6th, 1930
This tornado touched down near Bynum, in Hill County.
The tornado crossed into Navarro County east of Mertens.
It then struck the town of Frost, where it killed at least 25 persons.
Continuing toward the northeast, it caused additional deaths south of Rankin.
(Note: There are two communities called Rankin. There is another and bigger Rankin, Texas in Upton County. )
It then crossed into Ellis County and killed citizens of Ennis. Its total death toll was 41, with over 200 persons injured.
7) The Karnes-Dewitt Tornado - May 6th, 1930
Tornado number 7 occurred on the same day as the Frost tornado.
It touched down 3 miles northwest of Kenedy in Karnes County.
Moving to the east-northeast, it crossed 3 miles south of Runge.
The tornado dissipated 3 miles south of Nordheim. Along its path, this tornado encountered numerous weakly constructed homes and shelters that provided little safety. This is the reason for a death toll as high as 36 with 60 injuries. These homes were reported as mostly belonging to tenant farmers.
8) The Zephyr Tornado - May 30th, 1909
Tornado number 8 formed somewhere close to the town of Zephyr, in Brown County, near midnight and destroyed large parts of the town during the early morning hours, leaving little to view except vacant lots. Not much is known of the tornado path, except that most deaths occurred in the residential areas on the south and east sides of the town. The tornado damaged nearly 50 homes, 6 businesses, 2 churches, and a high school. It killed 34 and injured 70.
9) The Saragosa Tornado - May 22, 1987
Tornado number 9 touched down 2 miles southwest of Saragosa in Reeves County, and moved northeastward for 3 miles.
1/2 mile wide as it crossed over Saragosa, the F4 tornado destroyed more than 85% of structures in the town, killed 30 residents and injured 121. Twenty-two (22) of the deaths occurred at the Guadalupe Hall where a group had gathered for a Head Start graduation ceremony. Most of these deaths were among the parents and grandparents who shielded children from the debris with their bodies; no Head Start children died. The tornado lifted soon after moving away to the northeast.
10) The Jarrell Tornado - May 27, 1997
This tornado is notable in that it occurred in an environment with extremely high instability but less wind shear than is usually present for large tornadoes.
The National Weather Service service assessment team, via photos and videos of the tornado, combined with ground and aerial survey of the damage, conclude that the tornado started in Bell County.
More on this part of the storm can be found from WFO Fort Worth https://www.weather.gov/fwd/Jarrell-Tornado-Anniversary
The tornado moved southwest, crossing into Williamson County near Williamson Road, roughly paralleling Interstate 35.
The tornado crossed County Road 308...
...County Road 305...
...and County Road 307. Asphalt was ripped off each of these roadways.
At 3:40 PM CDT, the tornado then moved into the Double Creek Estates subdivision, causing F5 level damage. Around 40 structures were destroyed, with most debris extremely small; it is theorized that this was due both to the extreme winds and slow forward movement of the tornado. All 27 deaths associated with this tornado occurred in Double Creek Estates.
The tornado then continued southwest, ending shortly after entering a wooded area.
More information can be found from WFO Austin / San Antonio https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-19970527