Waxahachie

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Every storm within 100 miles

1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Smoke overhead

1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Flood insurance figures are for Ellis County, the county that contains Waxahachie.

Claims by ZIP code

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Ellis County, the county that contains Waxahachie.

River gauges

1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

The drought index is for Ellis County, the county that contains Waxahachie.

1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Ellis County.

Mapped by NASA (1).

1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Apr 9, 2021Hail$20.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A strong spring storm system comprising of a pair of upper level disturbances, a dryline, and a cold front generated several instances of severe hail across North Texas. Hail stones up to 3 was recorded.

2. Oct 20, 2019Tornado$10.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The tornado began near Highway 67 and 9th Street on the north side of Midlothian and traveled east for approximately 2.8 miles. Several church and retail buildings experienced blown out windows and roof damage. One of the buildings connected to the Lighthouse Church was heavily damaged with the collapse of the southward facing wall and much of the roof removed. Just to the east of Highway 67, sheet metal was peeled on two buildings and metal roof purlins were bent on one. This damage was consistent with winds of 100 to 110 mph, and EF-1 intensity. The tornado weakened some as it headed east and crossed into a residential area south of Mockingbird Lane. Damage indicates the tornado…

3. Dec 26, 2015Tornado$8.4 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   This tornado produced a long and narrow damage path from just northeast of the Mid-Way Regional airport near Midlothian to the Ellis County line. The tornado then continued into Dallas County. Sixty-seven single family homes were affected, with 23 of these being completely destroyed. The strongest portion of the tornado occurred near the Ellis / Dallas County line, with EF3 damage observed in both counties.

4. Jul 29, 2004Flash Flood$5.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   There was widespread flash flooding in and around Waxahachie. There were numerous high water rescues, a trailer park near Red Oak was evacuated, several bridges were under water, and many roads were flooded and closed. Over 100 homes had flood damage.

5. May 3, 2021Tornado$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Damage started in the Five Points area along FM 876. The tornado continued northeast, and the first signs of EF-2 damage were observed near Johnston and Hollis Roads. The tornado then crossed I-35E where it struck 3 semis and one cargo van. Three injuries occurred in this location. Next, the tornado struck a scrap metal yard on the east side of I-35E and moved on to damage homes and electrical towers near and along HWY 77 and Butler Ln. EF-2 damage was also observed in this area, in particular to one home. Maximum estimated winds were 120 mph, and there were 5 additional injuries in this area. The tornado tracked farther east, did EF-2 damage to one home on FM 55, and then crossed…

6. Oct 20, 2019Tornado$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A tornado touched down briefly near Main Street and Highway 45/Central Street in Ferris. A silo near 7th and Main Street sustained damage and partially collapsed. There was roof damage to multiple business buildings south of 5th Street and along Main and Central Streets. A downed power pole and an uprooted tree were also noted in the same area. The damage was consistent with winds speeds between 75 and 85 mph, or EF-0 intensity. Sporadic wind damage was found across other potions of Ferris with damage mainly to trees and roofing.

7. Feb 11, 2010Heavy Snow, Ellis$1.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Much of the county reported 8-11 of snow with the highest amounts generally across the northern portions of the county. The COOP observer in Waxahachie reported 13 of snow and 13 of snow was also estimated in Ferris. In Ferris, several business awnings collapsed under the weight of the snow. In Red Oak, the roof of the Wayne Boze Funeral Home collapsed and the entire building was thought to be a loss. In Midlothian, it was reported that at least one awning at a boat and RV storage facility collapsed, and also the wood roof of a 6000-square foot chicken house collapsed. Only 10 vehicle accidents were reported in Ennis; most reports around the county were for assistance for vehicles…

8. May 15, 2013Tornado$650,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   National Weather Service storm survey crews determined a tornado produced EF-1 damage to downtown Ennis, before continuing to move northeast.

9. Apr 4, 2022Thunderstorm Wind$600,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The RFD of the supercell that produced the EF-0 tornado west of Midlothian caused considerable wind damage south of the path. Along Miller and S Weatherford Roads barns, sheds, trees and roofs were damaged. The LaSalle Corporation business building along Hwy 67 sustained significant roof damage to metal panels on the west side of the building. On the west side of Midlothian, an 18 wheeler was overturned at the Love's Truck Stop.

10. Apr 11, 2011Thunderstorm Wind$600,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Significant roof damage was reported in Waxahachie. The damage was surveyed by the NWS and straight-line winds around 80 mph were confirmed. A warehouse on the south side of town lost most of its roof. An apartment complex on Franklin Street sustained partial roof loss and damage to brick walls. Damage also occurred to the roof of the Comfort Suites near I-35E and Hwy 287 on the north side of the city. Along I-35E, the Stelco Industries building was nearly destroyed. Heavy machinery at the plant was moved. The awning at a gas station at the Walmart along I-35E also collapsed.

1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

All-time high

112°F3 times, most recently Jul 20, 2022

All-time low

−1°F3 times, most recently Feb 16, 2021

Warmest night

87°FJul 20, 2022

Coldest day

13°FDec 22, 1989

Wettest day

11.28 inOct 27, 2023

Snowiest day

4.7 inFeb 18, 1978

Hottest year

2022mean 69.2°F

Coldest year

1989mean 62.3°F

Wettest year

201563.03 in

Driest year

194314.93 in

Station Ferris (USC00413133), 470 ft elevation, 14.0 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1962 to September 30, 2026; 86.2% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Declarations for Ellis County.

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

• Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
• Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
• Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
• Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
• Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
• Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00413133.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
• Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
• Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.