Erath County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1874, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Erath County, Texas — about one every 11.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 44 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 44 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 52 kt (60 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1874) — 6.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 13
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1874 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 1 Aug 1995 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 17 Sep 1970 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 26 Aug 1947 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 29 Aug 1945 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 29 Jul 1943 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 15 Aug 1932 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 7 Sep 1874 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edouard (2008) | Remnant low | 6 Aug 2008 | 0.8 mi | 20 kt |
How Erath County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Erath County, Texas ranks #1,120 — more exposed than 49.3% of them. Within Texas it ranks #111 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 36 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 41 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a tropical storm, reaching 39 kt (45 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Alicia (1983) passed 47 miles away on 19 August 1983 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Felice (1970) passed 42 miles away on 17 September 1970 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
12 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 11.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 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 32 years, between 1900 and 1932. It has been 10 years since the last one; 6 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Erath County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Erath County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1874, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1900).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Erath County, Texas?
Bill (2015), on 17 June 2015, passing 44 miles away — 11 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Erath County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Erath County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 36 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Erath County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 11.7 years — 13 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
Erath County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Bosque County, Texas has 18 on record.