Bexar County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1874, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bexar County, Texas — about one every 10.1 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 6 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 6 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1874) — 1.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 15
- Peak monthAugust — 5 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1874 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s, 1880s, 1960s and 2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 17 Aug 2007 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 5.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jun 1936 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 3.8 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 1.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Bexar County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Bexar County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Bexar County, Texas ranks #1,012 — more exposed than 54.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #94 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 4 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 6 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1929) passed 11 miles away on 29 June 1929 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Hermine (2010) passed 6 miles away on 7 September 2010 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles.
12 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 storms spread over the 152 years from 1874 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 23 years, between 1886 and 1909. It has been 15 years since the last one; 4 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Bexar County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bexar County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1874. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 15.
When was the last hurricane in Bexar County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1942), on 30 August 1942, passing 6 miles away — 84 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Bexar County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 4 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Bexar County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.1 years — 15 storms over the 152 years from 1874 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Bexar County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Wilson County, Texas has 22 on record.