The month of May is well known for its history of violent tornadoes and large outbreaks. Two of the most devastating tornadoes in Texas occurred in May, striking major cities within the state.
On May 12, 1953, a destructive tornado tore through Waco, Texas, claiming 114 lives and injuring 597 people. This catastrophic event left the city in ruins, with over 600 homes and businesses destroyed, resulting in damages exceeding $41 million. The recovery efforts faced significant challenges as downtown streets were buried under layers of rubble. The Waco tornado remains tied with another May tornado in Goliad from 1902 as the deadliest on record in Texas.
Seventeen years later, on May 11, 1970, another powerful F5 tornado struck Lubbock, Texas, causing 26 fatalities and injuring over 1,500 individuals. This tornado left a trail of destruction, destroying over 1,000 homes and apartments, damaging thousands of vehicles, and wreaking havoc at the Lubbock Airport and downtown area. The total estimated damage from the Lubbock tornado was $250 million, equivalent to $2 billion in today’s economy when adjusted for inflation.
These tragic events led to significant changes in tornado research and preparedness. The Waco tornado spurred the development of a national radar network, while the extensive survey conducted by researcher Theodore Fujita following the Lubbock tornado revealed important insights into multi-vortex tornadoes. Fujita’s findings were instrumental in the creation of the Fujita tornado damage scale in 1971, which was later revised and updated to the Enhanced Fujita scale. The National Wind Institute at Texas Tech University, established in the aftermath of the Lubbock tornado, played a crucial role in advancing tornado research and safety measures.
Jonathan Erdman, a senior meteorologist at weather.com, has been reporting on extreme weather events nationally and internationally since 1996. For more information and updates on weather-related topics, you can connect with him on Bluesky and Facebook.
