Cherokee County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Texas — about one every 7.4 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 8 miles away on 8 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 8 mi away, 8 July 2024
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 61 kt (70 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1957) — 3.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 21
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1955 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 5 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 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 8 Jul 2024 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 16 Sep 1882 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 1 Jul 1989 | 4.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 21.2 mi | 25 kt |
How Cherokee County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Cherokee County, Texas ranks #771 — more exposed than 65.1% of them. Within Texas it ranks #69 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 12 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 44 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 40 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1941) passed 28 miles away on 24 September 1941 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 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 27 years, between 1959 and 1986. It has been 1 year since the last one; 17 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Cherokee County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 21 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Ike (2008).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Cherokee County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 8 July 2024, passing 8 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Cherokee County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Cherokee County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.4 years — 21 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
Cherokee County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Angelina County, Texas has 26 on record.