To find the date of the last verified tornado requires looking beyond the Houston city limits to the surrounding metropolitan area (MSA). Houston’s vast size means a single event can affect multiple suburbs and counties simultaneously. The most recent confirmed event within the Houston MSA provides clear context for the region’s ongoing vulnerability to severe weather. This analysis identifies the specific date and path of this latest confirmed tornado and assesses its strength.
Identifying the Most Recent Confirmed Event
The most recent confirmed tornadoes impacted the Houston Metropolitan Area on the afternoon of Monday, November 24, 2025, as a powerful cold front swept through. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed two separate tornadoes in Northwest Harris County. The first touchdown occurred around 1:23 p.m., tracking through the Cypress area.
The second, stronger tornado touched down shortly afterward near the Klein area, remaining on the ground for over three miles. Both events were part of a severe weather line, impacting suburban communities north and west of the city center, including Riata Ranch and Memorial Northwest.
Severity Rating and Damage Assessment
The two confirmed tornadoes from the November 24, 2025 event received distinct ratings on the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale, which meteorologists use to classify strength based on the damage they cause. The first tornado, which tracked through the Riata Ranch subdivision in Cypress, was rated an EF-1. This rating indicates estimated peak wind speeds reaching approximately 110 miles per hour.
The EF-1 tornado caused significant damage to homes, including roof tearing, broken windows, and widespread downing of mature trees and utility lines. The second tornado, which struck the Klein area, was classified as a stronger EF-2 event. This tornado exhibited estimated peak winds of 116 miles per hour and was on the ground for nearly four miles.
Damage from the EF-2 event was more severe, with reports of roofs being torn completely off structures, siding ripped away, and some garages shifted slightly off their foundations. Over 100 homes suffered structural damage across the affected subdivisions in the Spring and Klein areas. Fortunately, despite the structural damage and widespread power outages, neither of the tornadoes resulted in any reported injuries or fatalities. The NWS assigned the ratings based on detailed ground and aerial surveys of the observable destruction.
Historical Frequency and Seasonal Patterns
While the November 2025 event was the most recent, tornadoes are not a rare occurrence in Southeast Texas, though they are statistically infrequent compared to areas farther north. The Houston area averages approximately 0.4 to 0.6 confirmed tornadoes per year within the immediate vicinity, with a higher number when considering the entire 23-county forecast area. This region’s location near the Gulf of Mexico contributes to a distinct seasonal pattern for severe weather.
The primary severe weather season typically peaks in the spring months, particularly in May, when warm, moist air from the Gulf clashes with stronger upper-level winds. However, a less pronounced secondary season also occurs in the fall and early winter, which is when the November 2025 event took place. Tropical systems moving inland from the Gulf can also contribute to the tornado count, often causing brief, weaker tornadoes during the summer and early fall.
The general frequency of tornadoes in Texas overall is higher than in any other state, though the density per square mile is lower due to the state’s large size. The primary meteorological ingredients for severe storms—warm, unstable air, moisture, and wind shear—are frequently present in the Houston area, making the entire region susceptible to these events year-round.