Jackson County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 33 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, Texas — about one every 5.2 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 36 miles away on 8 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 36 mi away, 8 July 2024
- Strongest stormCarla (1961) — 125 kt (144 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBeta (2020) — 5.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Carla (1961) — 14.6 miles
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 33
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year1854 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1960s and 1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi3
- Record span1854–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 8 Jul 2024 | 36.4 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Beta (2020) | 22 Sep 2020 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 28 Aug 2017 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Bill (2015) | 16 Jun 2015 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 15 Jul 2003 | 31.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 11 Sep 1998 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 5 Jun 1981 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Elena (1979) | 1 Sep 1979 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 14 Jun 1977 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 5 Sep 1973 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 10 Sep 1971 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 14.6 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 27 Aug 1945 | 27.6 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 33.6 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Jul 1933 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 28 Jun 1929 | 28.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 22 Jun 1921 | 39.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 24.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 17 Jun 1888 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 25 Jun 1880 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 36.3 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 4 Jul 1874 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | 15 Jul 1866 | 30.2 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 19 Sep 1854 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Jackson County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Jackson County, Texas ranks #458 — more exposed than 79.3% of them. Within Texas it ranks #28 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Carla (1961) passed 15 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 125 kt (144 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 34 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1945) passed 28 miles away on 27 August 1945 as a hurricane, reaching 98 kt (113 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1866) passed 30 miles away on 15 July 1866 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 33 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 33 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 17 years, between 1981 and 1998. It has been 1 year since the last one; 26 of the 32 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Jackson County, Texas?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jackson County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 33.
When was the last hurricane in Jackson County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 8 July 2024, passing 36 miles away — 2 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jackson County, Texas?
Carla (1961), which reached 125 kt (144 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Jackson County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.2 years — 33 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
Jackson County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Wharton County, Texas has 44 on record.