Kerr County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 10 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kerr County, Texas — about one every 17.5 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 27 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 27 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 68 kt (78 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordLidia (1993) — 7.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 10
- Peak monthAugust — 4 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 17 Aug 2007 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Lidia (1993) | 14 Sep 1993 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 21 Aug 1886 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 27 Jun 1851 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Kerr County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Kerr County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Kerr County, Texas ranks #1,294 — more exposed than 41.4% of them. Within Texas it ranks #135 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 17 miles away on 21 August 1886 as a tropical storm, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 14 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1929) passed 32 miles away on 29 June 1929 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 38 miles away on 27 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 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 17.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 10 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 1942 and 1973. It has been 15 years since the last one; 5 of the 9 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Kerr County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kerr County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 10.
When was the last hurricane in Kerr County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1942), on 30 August 1942, passing 14 miles away — 84 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Kerr County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Kerr County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 17.5 years — 10 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
Kerr County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Medina County, Texas has 13 on record.