Bowie County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bowie County, Texas — about one every 10.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 19 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 19 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1918) — 40 kt (46 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBonnie (1986) — 6.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 15
- Peak monthSeptember — 5 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year2008 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 15 Jul 2019 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 14 Sep 2008 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 3 Sep 2008 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 25 Sep 2005 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 10 Aug 1940 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Bowie County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Bowie County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Bowie County, Texas ranks #1,013 — more exposed than 54.1% of them. Within Texas it ranks #95 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 29 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 28 miles away on 14 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 37 kt (43 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Rita (2005) passed 40 miles away on 25 September 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 34 kt (39 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 15 miles away on 19 August 1915 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 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 44 years, between 1871 and 1915. It has been 1 year since the last one; 11 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Bowie County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Bowie County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 15 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1918).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Bowie County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 9 July 2024, passing 19 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Bowie County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Bowie County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1918), which reached 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 29 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Bowie County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.3 years — 15 storms over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Bowie County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Cass County, Texas has 19 on record.