Johnson County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1900, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Johnson County, Texas — about one every 7.9 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 8 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 8 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAlicia (1983) — 2.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 16
- Peak monthAugust and September — 6 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1970 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1900–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 1 Aug 1995 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 17 Sep 1970 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 26 Aug 1947 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 29 Aug 1945 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 29 Jul 1943 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edouard (2008) | Remnant low | 6 Aug 2008 | 43.0 mi | 21 kt |
How Johnson County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Johnson County, Texas ranks #964 — more exposed than 56.3% of them. Within Texas it ranks #90 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 16 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 10 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 31 miles away on 27 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Alicia (1983) passed 2 miles away on 19 August 1983 as a tropical depression, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 storms spread over the 126 years from 1900 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 24 years, between 1902 and 1926. It has been 10 years since the last one; 5 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Johnson County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Johnson County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 16 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1900, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1900).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Johnson County, Texas?
Bill (2015), on 17 June 2015, passing 8 miles away — 11 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Johnson County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Johnson County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 16 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Johnson County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.9 years — 16 storms over the 126 years from 1900 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Johnson County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Hill County, Texas has 19 on record.