Hunt County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Hunt County, Texas — about one every 15.5 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Grace (2003), which passed 2 miles away on 1 September 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentGrace (2003) — 2 mi away, 1 September 2003
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1902) — 35 kt (40 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordGrace (2003) — 1.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 10
- Peak monthJune — 4 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 1.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 27 Jul 1979 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 28 Jun 1902 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Hunt County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Hunt County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Hunt County, Texas ranks #1,290 — more exposed than 41.6% of them. Within Texas it ranks #131 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 19 miles away on 28 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 16 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 29 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 34 kt (39 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 5 miles away on 23 June 1921 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
9 of the 10 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 15.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 10 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 31 years, between 1871 and 1902. It has been 22 years since the last one; 2 of the 9 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Hunt County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Hunt County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 10 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1902).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Hunt County, Texas?
Grace (2003), on 1 September 2003, passing 2 miles away — 23 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Hunt County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Hunt County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1902), which reached 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 19 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Hunt County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 15.5 years — 10 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
Hunt County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Van Zandt County, Texas has 15 on record.