Duval County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1869, 25 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Duval County, Texas — about one every 6.3 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harold (2023), which passed 23 miles away on 22 August 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarold (2023) — 23 mi away, 22 August 2023
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1916) — 3.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 25
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1971 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1869–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold (2023) | 22 Aug 2023 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Dolly (2008) | 24 Jul 2008 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bret (1999) | 23 Aug 1999 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 22 Aug 1998 | 48.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Arlene (1993) | 21 Jun 1993 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1986) | 5 Aug 1986 | 48.0 mi | TD | — |
| Allen (1980) | 10 Aug 1980 | 39.7 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Jul 1971 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 42.2 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Beulah (1967) | 21 Sep 1967 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 20 Sep 1963 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ella (1958) | 6 Sep 1958 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 14 Sep 1936 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 26 Jul 1934 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 28 Jun 1931 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 15 Sep 1919 | 10.2 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 3.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 15 Sep 1910 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don (2011) | Remnant low | 30 Jul 2011 | 25.6 mi | 25 kt |
How Duval County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Duval County, Texas ranks #642 — more exposed than 70.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #57 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Celia (1970) passed 42 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 4 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Allen (1980) passed 40 miles away on 10 August 1980 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Beulah (1967) passed 17 miles away on 21 September 1967 as a tropical storm, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
18 of the 25 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 25 storms spread over the 157 years from 1869 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 36 years, between 1874 and 1910. It has been 2 years since the last one; 17 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Duval County, Texas?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Duval County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1869. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 25.
When was the last hurricane in Duval County, Texas?
Allen (1980), on 10 August 1980, passing 40 miles away — 46 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harold (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Duval County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 42 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Duval County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.3 years — 25 storms over the 157 years from 1869 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Duval County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Brooks County, Texas has 29 on record.