Frio County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Frio County, Texas — about one every 9.7 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 40 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 40 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1851) — 5.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 18
- Peak monthAugust — 7 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1910s, 1930s, 1960s, 1970s and 2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 17 Aug 2007 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 23 Aug 1998 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 21.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 47.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jun 1936 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 26 Jul 1934 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2002) | Remnant low | 8 Sep 2002 | 2.2 mi | 10 kt |
How Frio County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Frio County, Texas ranks #877 — more exposed than 60.3% of them. Within Texas it ranks #81 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Celia (1970) passed 22 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 48 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 49 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 5 miles away on 26 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 18 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 18 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 39 years, between 1874 and 1913. It has been 15 years since the last one; 4 of the 17 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Frio County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Frio County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 18.
When was the last hurricane in Frio County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 22 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Frio County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 22 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Frio County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.7 years — 18 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Frio County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Atascosa County, Texas has 20 on record.