Hidalgo County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 27 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hidalgo County, Texas — about one every 6.4 years. Of those, 11 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hanna (2020), which passed 12 miles away on 26 July 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHanna (2020) — 12 mi away, 26 July 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1880) — 114 kt (131 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1880) — 2.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1880) — 2.4 miles
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 27
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1958 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1930s and 1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1854–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanna (2020) | 26 Jul 2020 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Two (2010) | 8 Jul 2010 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Dolly (2008) | 24 Jul 2008 | 16.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bret (1999) | 23 Aug 1999 | 45.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Arlene (1993) | 21 Jun 1993 | 48.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Cosme (1989) | 23 Jun 1989 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allen (1980) | 10 Aug 1980 | 20.1 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Jul 1971 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Beulah (1967) | 20 Sep 1967 | 24.0 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 20 Sep 1958 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alma (1958) | 15 Jun 1958 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Alice (1954) | 25 Jun 1954 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 2 Aug 1947 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 13 Sep 1936 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 5 Sep 1933 | 30.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 28 Jun 1931 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1925) | 7 Sep 1925 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 15 Sep 1910 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 30 Jun 1909 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 22 Sep 1887 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Sep 1886 | 48.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 13 Aug 1880 | 2.4 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 30 Sep 1857 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 26 Jun 1854 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Hidalgo County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Hidalgo County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hidalgo County, Texas ranks #598 — more exposed than 72.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #48 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1880) passed 2 miles away on 13 August 1880 as a hurricane, reaching 114 kt (131 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Beulah (1967) passed 24 miles away on 20 September 1967 as a hurricane, reaching 97 kt (112 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Allen (1980) passed 20 miles away on 10 August 1980 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1933) passed 30 miles away on 5 September 1933 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 27 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 27 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 2 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 1887 and 1909. It has been 5 years since the last one; 14 of the 24 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Hidalgo County, Texas?
11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hidalgo County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 27.
When was the last hurricane in Hidalgo County, Texas?
Hanna (2020), on 26 July 2020, passing 12 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hanna (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Hidalgo County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1880), which reached 114 kt (131 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 2 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Hidalgo County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.4 years — 27 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
Hidalgo County, Texas borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Kenedy County, Texas has 34 on record.