Hays County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1874, 14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hays County, Texas — about one every 10.9 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 48 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 48 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 72 kt (83 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1901) — 14.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles3 of 14
- Peak monthSeptember — 6 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year1874 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1900s and 1960s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Lidia (1993) | 14 Sep 1993 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 46.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Hays County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Hays County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hays County, Texas ranks #1,061 — more exposed than 51.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #106 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 47 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 34 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Candy (1968) passed 26 miles away on 24 June 1968 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 38 miles away on 27 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles.
11 of the 14 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 14 storms spread over the 152 years from 1874 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 51 years, between 1909 and 1960. It has been 15 years since the last one; 3 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Hays County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hays County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1874. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 14.
When was the last hurricane in Hays County, Texas?
Carla (1961), on 12 September 1961, passing 34 miles away — 65 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Hays County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 72 kt (83 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 47 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Hays County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.9 years — 14 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
Hays County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Guadalupe County, Texas has 22 on record.