Gonzales County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1874, 25 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gonzales County, Texas — about one every 6.1 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harvey (2017), which passed 13 miles away on 27 August 2017.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarvey (2017) — 13 mi away, 27 August 2017
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 94 kt (108 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCandy (1968) — 2.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 25
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2017
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey (2017) | 27 Aug 2017 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 16 Aug 2007 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 17.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 33.6 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 44.2 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Gonzales County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Gonzales County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Gonzales County, Texas ranks #643 — more exposed than 70.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #58 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 44 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 94 kt (108 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Carla (1961) passed 18 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 34 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1875) passed 27 miles away on 17 September 1875 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 25 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 25 storms spread over the 152 years from 1874 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 18 years, between 1980 and 1998. It has been 8 years since the last one; 5 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Gonzales County, Texas?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Gonzales County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1874. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 25.
When was the last hurricane in Gonzales County, Texas?
Carla (1961), on 12 September 1961, passing 18 miles away — 65 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harvey (2017) in 2017.
What was the strongest storm to affect Gonzales County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 94 kt (108 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Gonzales County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.1 years — 25 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
Gonzales County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Lavaca County, Texas has 30 on record.