Galveston County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 48 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Galveston County, Texas — about one every 3.6 years. Of those, 21 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicholas (2021), which passed 21 miles away on 14 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicholas (2021) — 21 mi away, 14 September 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1932) — 130 kt (150 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1863) — 0.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1915) — 13.0 miles
- Passes within 25 miles26 of 48
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s and 1980s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi6
- Record span1854–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas (2021) | 14 Sep 2021 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Imelda (2019) | 17 Sep 2019 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 12.2 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 5 Aug 2008 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 13 Sep 2007 | 18.3 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 31 Aug 2003 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 6 Jun 2001 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 31 Jul 1995 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 7.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 1 Aug 1989 | 38.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 10 Aug 1987 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 26 Jun 1986 | 48.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 18 Aug 1983 | 15.8 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 20 Jul 1980 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1974) | 26 Aug 1974 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1974) | 17 Jul 1974 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 12 Sep 1973 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 5 Sep 1973 | 16.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 7 Aug 1964 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 17 Sep 1963 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 25 Jul 1959 | 17.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 4 Oct 1949 | 37.5 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 24 Aug 1947 | 2.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 27 Jul 1943 | 24.1 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 21 Aug 1942 | 25.3 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 43.0 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 15 Sep 1941 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 23 Sep 1940 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 17 Oct 1938 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 27 Aug 1934 | 14.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 14 Aug 1932 | 24.8 mi | Cat 4 | 130 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 17 Aug 1915 | 13.0 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Jul 1909 | 31.2 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 15.8 mi | Cat 4 | 120 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 27 Jun 1899 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Sep 1898 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 29.7 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 5 Jul 1888 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 14 Jun 1886 | 21.9 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 29.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 9 Jun 1871 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 4 Jun 1871 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 3 Oct 1867 | 47.1 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 29 Sep 1863 | 0.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 18 Sep 1854 | 32.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 2020 | 29.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 30 Jun 1989 | 35.4 mi | 20 kt |
How Galveston County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Galveston County, Texas ranks #225 — more exposed than 89.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #3 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 25 miles away on 14 August 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 16 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 13 miles away on 17 August 1915 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Alicia (1983) passed 16 miles away on 18 August 1983 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
40 of the 48 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 48 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 7 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 17 years, between 1915 and 1932. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 40 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Galveston County, Texas?
21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Galveston County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 48.
When was the last hurricane in Galveston County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 12 miles away — 18 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Nicholas (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Galveston County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1932), which reached 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 25 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Galveston County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.6 years — 48 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Galveston County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Brazoria County, Texas has 51 on record.