Jim Wells County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1851, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jim Wells County, Texas — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harold (2023), which passed 33 miles away on 22 August 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarold (2023) — 33 mi away, 22 August 2023
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 111 kt (128 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAmelia (1978) — 1.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Celia (1970) — 30.9 miles
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1958 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1851–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold (2023) | 22 Aug 2023 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 2.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 9 Aug 2002 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bret (1999) | 23 Aug 1999 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 22 Aug 1998 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Arlene (1993) | 20 Jun 1993 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1986) | 5 Aug 1986 | 25.6 mi | TD | — |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 1.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 1 Sep 1970 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 30.9 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Beulah (1967) | 21 Sep 1967 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 24 Jun 1960 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 20 Sep 1958 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ella (1958) | 6 Sep 1958 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 13 Sep 1936 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 25 Jul 1934 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 15 Sep 1919 | 20.9 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 20.6 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 23 Sep 1886 | 36.3 mi | Cat 1 | 71 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don (2011) | Remnant low | 30 Jul 2011 | 4.6 mi | 25 kt |
How Jim Wells County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Jim Wells County, Texas ranks #623 — more exposed than 71.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #50 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Celia (1970) passed 31 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 111 kt (128 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1919) passed 21 miles away on 15 September 1919 as a hurricane, reaching 91 kt (105 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 21 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Bret (1999) passed 32 miles away on 23 August 1999 as a tropical storm, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 26 years, between 1886 and 1912. It has been 2 years since the last one; 18 of the 23 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Jim Wells County, Texas?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jim Wells County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 26.
When was the last hurricane in Jim Wells County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 31 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harold (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jim Wells County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 111 kt (128 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 31 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Jim Wells County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 26 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Jim Wells County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Kleberg County, Texas has 34 on record.