Brooks County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 29 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Brooks County, Texas — about one every 5.9 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harold (2023), which passed 19 miles away on 22 August 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarold (2023) — 19 mi away, 22 August 2023
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1916) — 102 kt (117 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1936) — 2.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Bret (1999) — 10.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 29
- Peak monthSeptember — 12 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1958 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1854–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold (2023) | 22 Aug 2023 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2020) | 26 Jul 2020 | 31.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Don (2011) | 30 Jul 2011 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Dolly (2008) | 24 Jul 2008 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 9 Aug 2002 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bret (1999) | 23 Aug 1999 | 10.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Arlene (1993) | 21 Jun 1993 | 4.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Allen (1980) | 10 Aug 1980 | 14.7 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Jul 1971 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Beulah (1967) | 21 Sep 1967 | 4.6 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 20 Sep 1963 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 24 Jun 1960 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 20 Sep 1958 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ella (1958) | 6 Sep 1958 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 13 Sep 1936 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 28 Jun 1931 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 15 Sep 1919 | 28.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 24.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 16 Oct 1912 | 49.4 mi | Cat 1 | 79 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 15 Sep 1910 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Sep 1886 | 44.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 13 Aug 1880 | 40.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 30 Sep 1857 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 26 Jun 1854 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Brooks County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Brooks County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Brooks County, Texas ranks #549 — more exposed than 75.1% of them. Within Texas it ranks #41 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 24 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 102 kt (117 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Bret (1999) passed 11 miles away on 23 August 1999 as a hurricane, reaching 96 kt (110 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1919) passed 28 miles away on 15 September 1919 as a hurricane, reaching 91 kt (105 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Allen (1980) passed 15 miles away on 10 August 1980 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 29 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 29 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 24 years, between 1886 and 1910. It has been 2 years since the last one; 20 of the 26 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Brooks County, Texas?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Brooks County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 29.
When was the last hurricane in Brooks County, Texas?
Hanna (2020), on 26 July 2020, passing 32 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harold (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Brooks County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1916), which reached 102 kt (117 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Brooks County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.9 years — 29 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Brooks County, Texas borders or sits close to 10 other counties with a published storm record. Kenedy County, Texas has 34 on record.