Tornadoes Near Waco, TX
138 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Waco, TX since 1950, 10 of them rated F3 or stronger. The closest came within 0.8 miles. Every track below is drawn from the National Weather Service damage survey record.
No recorded tornadoes within 30 miles. Try a wider radius.
Track data from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, covering every confirmed US tornado from 1950 onward. For the events with a full damage survey, see the storm archive.
Has a tornado ever hit Waco?
Yes. 138 tornadoes have been recorded within 30 miles of Waco, TX since 1950. The closest passed within 0.8 miles on October 21, 1972, rated F2.
What was the strongest tornado near Waco?
The strongest on record nearby was the F5 of May 11, 1953, which came within 2.4 miles and carved a track 20.9 miles long. 10 of the 138 tornadoes recorded near Waco were rated F3 or stronger.
What is the deadliest tornado near Waco?
The deadliest nearby was the F5 of May 11, 1953, which killed 114 people and passed within 2.4 miles. Across the whole 30 mile radius, recorded tornadoes have killed 129 and injured 790 since 1950.
When is tornado season in Waco?
The record does not describe a season so much as a pattern: the 1970s were the most active decade near Waco, TX, with 33 tornadoes recorded. Counts have risen across the country over time partly because detection and reporting improved, not only because more tornadoes occurred, so older decades are undercounted rather than genuinely quiet.
Tornadoes Near Waco by Decade
Nearby Towns
Counts cover a 30 mile radius around the centre of Waco, TX and come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database. This is a historical record and not a warning service.