Tornado History
Polk Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Polk, Texas. The records below identify 30 tornadoes from 1959 through 2020, including a highest listed rating of EF3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $11.2M, with 3 deaths and 41 injuries recorded across the listed events.
Free address preview
Were any of these tornadoes close to your property?
Enter a street address in or near Polk, Texas to see the number of recorded tornadoes within 5 miles, the nearest track distance, and a property-centered preview.
No account or email required. Full detailed report: $15 one time.
Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Polk, Texas
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.5 tornadoes per year (0.2/yr in last decade)
April is the peak tornado month with 6 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: EF3 in Polk, Texas with 3 deaths
1976 was the most active year with 2 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (8 events)
Longest tornado: 28.51 miles in Polk, Texas
Widest tornado: 1,300.0 yards in Polk, Texas
Most tornadoes in one day: 2 on Mar 30, 1976
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Polk, Texas, April is the most active month with 6 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1976 was the most active year with 2 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 2020 with at least $5.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Polk, Texas.
Measure distance free
Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 22, 2020 | EF3 | Polk, Texas | 28.51 mi | 1100 yd | 3 | 36 | $5.0M |
| March 30, 1976 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 22.1 mi | 1300 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M |
| December 6, 1987 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 1 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M |
| March 30, 1976 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 26.7 mi | 1300 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| December 6, 1987 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 1 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| April 8, 1961 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 0.4 mi | 17 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K |
| May 1, 1967 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 8 mi | 67 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K |
| November 21, 1992 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 2 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| May 17, 1989 | F2 | Polk, Texas | 3 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
| April 25, 1980 | F1 | Polk, Texas | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| October 13, 2001 | F1 | Polk, Texas | 0.3 mi | 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| July 15, 1972 | F1 | Polk, Texas | 5.4 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 | N/A |
Did any of these records occur near a property you care about?Use an exact street address for a property-centered preview around Polk, Texas.
Check a Polk, Texas address
Related Location Pages
Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.