West Texas Tornado Ranks Among The Largest In History

The National Weather Service has a little preliminary information out today about the monster tornado that ripped through West Texas last week, and it almost rivals Oklahoma's worldwide tornado record.

NWS has confirmed the supercell storm that swept through three West Texas counties -Cochran, Hockley, and Lubbock County - spat out eight different measurable tornadoes a week ago on June 5th, 2025.

While most of them were small and inconsequential, the tornado that roared close to Morton, Texas, came in at an impressive 2.2 miles wide.

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How does that stack up in the record books?

If the preliminary findings hold true, that would make the Morton tornado tied as the eighth-largest tornado on record.

You can see the records here, though the top two are still highly debated. The biggest was measured digitally in the atmosphere, not a damage path. And the second-largest happened in the 1940s, before a scientific measurement standard had been implemented.

That being said, it is officially the new Texas record tornado for the state.

While the entire weather event was somewhat traumatizing to many people in West Texas that day and into the night, you can't deny how photogenic the storm was. No matter what man creates, nothing seems to compare with what nature produces.

Tornado Records from Around the Country

With tornadoes on our minds the last few days, I started to wonder about many of the tornado records. How many in one day, biggest outbreak, strongest tornado in history, etc... While we all feel Oklahoma is the home of terrible tornadoes, the stats are somewhat surprising.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

10 Costliest Tornadoes in US History

When it comes to natural disasters in the United States, tornadoes are pretty spectacular. They're absolutely terrifying, deadlier than hurricanes and wildfires, and completely unpredictable. They're also some of the most awe-inspiring things to see in person. While they don't cost nearly as much as hurricanes and wildfires, they do get expensive in greatly localized areas. Here are the most expensive in US history.

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Odd and Unbelievable Tornado Facts

As far as we've come in the technology surrounding severe weather and tornadoes, there's still a massive amount science still doesn't understand. Yes, there is a generally agreed idea of how they begin, the conditions needed, and the usual atmospheric conditions, but twisters are still wildly unpredictable. Even more fascinating are the strange and almost terrifying facts about these powerful displays of nature.

Gallery Credit: Kelso