Hardin County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1863, 44 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hardin County, Texas — about one every 3.7 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicholas (2021), which passed 26 miles away on 15 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicholas (2021) — 26 mi away, 15 September 2021
- Strongest stormAudrey (1957) — 102 kt (117 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordClaudette (1979) — 0.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Audrey (1957) — 48.2 miles
- Passes within 25 miles16 of 44
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1863–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas (2021) | 15 Sep 2021 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Imelda (2019) | 18 Sep 2019 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 45.1 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 5 Aug 2008 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 13 Sep 2007 | 37.4 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 21.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 24 Sep 2004 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 6 Jun 2001 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2000) | 9 Sep 2000 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 1 Aug 1989 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 10 Aug 1987 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 26 Jun 1986 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 11 Sep 1982 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 21 Jul 1980 | 38.0 mi | TD | — |
| Claudette (1979) | 25 Jul 1979 | 0.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 9 Sep 1974 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 12 Sep 1973 | 42.8 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 8 Jul 1971 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 18 Sep 1963 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 25 Jul 1959 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 10 Aug 1957 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 27 Jun 1957 | 48.2 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 29 Jul 1954 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 4 Oct 1949 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 16 Jun 1946 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 21 Aug 1942 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 15 Sep 1941 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 8 Aug 1940 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 6 Aug 1918 | 43.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 19 Sep 1914 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Sep 1898 | 4.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 28.9 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 45.9 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 14 Jun 1886 | 37.9 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 15 Sep 1882 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 10.5 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | 29 Sep 1863 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 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 | 16.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 29 Jun 1989 | 4.9 mi | 25 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Hardin County, Texas more than once.
- Cindy — 2 passes (1963, 2017)
How Hardin County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hardin County, Texas ranks #264 — more exposed than 88.0% of them. Within Texas it ranks #6 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Audrey (1957) passed 48 miles away on 27 June 1957 as a hurricane, reaching 102 kt (117 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Rita (2005) passed 21 miles away on 24 September 2005 as a hurricane, reaching 91 kt (105 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Ike (2008) passed 45 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a hurricane, reaching 89 kt (102 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1940) passed 7 miles away on 8 August 1940 as a tropical storm, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
36 of the 44 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 44 storms spread over the 163 years from 1863 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1918 and 1940. It has been 4 years since the last one; 9 of the 39 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Hardin County, Texas?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hardin County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1863. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 44.
When was the last hurricane in Hardin County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 45 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 Hardin County, Texas?
Audrey (1957), which reached 102 kt (117 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 48 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Hardin County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.7 years — 44 storms over the 163 years from 1863 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Hardin County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Jefferson County, Texas has 46 on record.