Freestone County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Freestone County, Texas — about one every 8.2 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ike (2008), which passed 50 miles away on 13 September 2008.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIke (2008) — 50 mi away, 13 September 2008
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1921) — 1.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 19
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1888 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2008
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 6 Aug 2008 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 26 Jul 1979 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 10 Sep 1974 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Jul 1933 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 1.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 18 Jun 1888 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Freestone County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Freestone County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Freestone County, Texas ranks #827 — more exposed than 62.5% of them. Within Texas it ranks #73 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 50 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 3 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 1 miles away on 23 June 1921 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 3 miles away on 18 August 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
17 of the 19 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 19 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 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 27 years, between 1888 and 1915. It has been 17 years since the last one; 1 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Freestone County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Freestone County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 19 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 Freestone County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 50 miles away — 18 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Freestone County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Freestone County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 50 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Freestone County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.2 years — 19 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
Freestone County, Texas borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Leon County, Texas has 28 on record.