Weather Research Centertm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 1997

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Houston - The recent tragedy in Jarrell, Texas prompts many questions about the frequency of such destructive tornadoes in the Texas. According to the meteorologists at Weather Research Center, Williamson County has had 40 tornadoes since 1954. Though this seems like a staggering number, Harris County has had 154 reported tornadoes between 1950 and 1994. Twelve other counties have had at least 53 tornadoes reported during this time period.

More than 30 lives were lost in Tuesday’s destructive twister. Prior to this storm, only two lives had been taken by tornadoes in Williamson County since 1954. The most recent being the May 1989 tornado which struck Jarrell injuring 28 and killing one. A list of the top 25 deadliest tornadoes in the United States indicates that Texas claims only two; the Waco tornado of 1953 (#10) and the Goliad tornado of 1902 (#11). Each storm claimed 114 lives.

The deadliest of all tornadoes on record is the Tri-State Tornado of March, 1925. This tornado took 689 lives across Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. At the bottom of the list is the Louisville, Kentucky twister which struck in 1890 taking 76 lives. Fortunately, the Jarrell tornado comes nowhere close to being one of the 25 deadliest in the United States.

Looking through the data, it becomes clear that May is by far the most active month for tornadoes to strike in Texas. Between 1950 and 1995, 1802 tornadoes were reported in Texas during the month of May. April is the next active month, reporting only half as many as May, with 923 tornadoes. The single most active month in Texas, though, was September of 1967 with 124 twisters reported. May of 1982 comes up a close second with 123 reported tornadoes.

For the entire U.S., May is also the leading month with 7334 tornadoes reported. The single most active month has been June of 1992 with 399 tornadoes. And again, May of 1991 is a close second with 335 twisters reported across the U.S.