Kinney County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kinney County, Texas — about one every 13.5 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2003), which passed 42 miles away on 16 July 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2003) — 42 mi away, 16 July 2003
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1913) — 5.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 13
- Peak monthJune — 5 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1910s, 1950s, 1970s and 1990s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 23 Aug 1998 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Lidia (1993) | 14 Sep 1993 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 7 Sep 1973 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Alma (1958) | 16 Jun 1958 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alice (1954) | 26 Jun 1954 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 14 Sep 1936 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 27 Jun 1851 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Kinney County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Kinney County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Kinney County, Texas ranks #1,123 — more exposed than 49.1% of them. Within Texas it ranks #114 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Celia (1970) passed 24 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1929) passed 33 miles away on 29 June 1929 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 24 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 39 miles away on 27 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 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 62 years, between 1851 and 1913. It has been 22 years since the last one; 1 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Kinney County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Kinney County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 13.
When was the last hurricane in Kinney County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 24 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2003) in 2003.
What was the strongest storm to affect Kinney County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Kinney County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.5 years — 13 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
Kinney County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Dimmit County, Texas has 16 on record.