Harrison County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Harrison County, Texas — about one every 7.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 15 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 15 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 53 kt (61 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJerry (1989) — 7.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 6 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year2008 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 18.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 1 Jul 1989 | 8.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 3.4 mi | 25 kt |
How Harrison County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Harrison County, Texas ranks #800 — more exposed than 63.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #71 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 38 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 29 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 18 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 42 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 29 years, between 1957 and 1986. It has been 1 year since the last one; 16 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Harrison County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Harrison County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 20 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1879).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Harrison County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 9 July 2024, passing 15 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Harrison County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Harrison County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 38 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Harrison County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.8 years — 20 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
Harrison County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Caddo Parish, Louisiana has 22 on record.