Lamar County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Texas — about one every 11.9 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ike (2008), which passed 40 miles away on 14 September 2008.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIke (2008) — 40 mi away, 14 September 2008
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 37 kt (43 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordGrace (2003) — 1.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 13
- Peak monthJune — 5 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s, 1910s, 1940s and 2000s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2008
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 14 Sep 2008 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 1.3 mi | TS / TD | 19 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 27 Jul 1979 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 16 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 27 Jun 1960 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 28 Jun 1902 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Lamar County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lamar County, Texas ranks #1,124 — more exposed than 49.1% of them. Within Texas it ranks #115 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 40 miles away on 14 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 37 kt (43 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 33 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 36 kt (41 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 33 miles away on 28 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 15 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
12 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 11.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 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 31 years, between 1871 and 1902. It has been 17 years since the last one; 4 of the 11 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Lamar County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Ike (2008).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Lamar County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 14 September 2008, passing 40 miles away — 18 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lamar County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 37 kt (43 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Lamar County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 11.9 years — 13 storms over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Lamar County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Franklin County, Texas has 15 on record.