Caldwell County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1874, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Caldwell County, Texas — about one every 8.9 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harvey (2017), which passed 37 miles away on 27 August 2017.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarvey (2017) — 37 mi away, 27 August 2017
- Strongest stormCarla (1961) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1901) — 2.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1874 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1900s and 1960s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2017
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey (2017) | 27 Aug 2017 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 18 Oct 1912 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 13.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Caldwell County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Caldwell County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Caldwell County, Texas ranks #916 — more exposed than 58.5% of them. Within Texas it ranks #83 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Carla (1961) passed 18 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1875) passed 44 miles away on 17 September 1875 as a tropical storm, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Candy (1968) passed 10 miles away on 24 June 1968 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 14 miles away on 22 July 1909 as a tropical depression, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 152 years from 1874 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 46 years, between 1912 and 1958. It has been 8 years since the last one; 4 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Caldwell County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Caldwell County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1874. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in Caldwell County, Texas?
Carla (1961), on 12 September 1961, passing 18 miles away — 65 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harvey (2017) in 2017.
What was the strongest storm to affect Caldwell County, Texas?
Carla (1961), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 18 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Caldwell County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.9 years — 17 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
Caldwell County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Fayette County, Texas has 29 on record.