Atascosa County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1851, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Atascosa County, Texas — about one every 8.8 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 7 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 7 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 94 kt (108 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFay (2002) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 20
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 16 Aug 2007 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 27.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 23 Aug 1998 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 35.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 30.0 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jun 1936 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 26 Jul 1934 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 29.3 mi | Cat 1 | 81 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 26.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Atascosa County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Atascosa County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Atascosa County, Texas ranks #799 — more exposed than 63.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #70 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 29 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 94 kt (108 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Celia (1970) passed 35 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 30 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1929) passed 29 miles away on 29 June 1929 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
17 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 26 years, between 1886 and 1912. It has been 15 years since the last one; 5 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Atascosa County, Texas?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Atascosa County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 20.
When was the last hurricane in Atascosa County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 35 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Atascosa County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 94 kt (108 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 29 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Atascosa County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.8 years — 20 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Atascosa County, Texas borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Karnes County, Texas has 28 on record.