Lavaca County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 30 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lavaca County, Texas — about one every 5.7 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beta (2020), which passed 40 miles away on 22 September 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeta (2020) — 40 mi away, 22 September 2020
- Strongest stormCarla (1961) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1909) — 3.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Carla (1961) — 11.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 30
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year1854 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1854–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 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 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | 22 Sep 2020 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 27 Aug 2017 | 31.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 14 Jun 1977 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 30.8 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 11.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 43.6 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 16 Sep 1941 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Jul 1933 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 14 Aug 1932 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 61 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 41.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 18 Oct 1912 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 3.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 17 Jun 1888 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 25 Jun 1880 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 19 Sep 1854 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Lavaca County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Lavaca County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lavaca County, Texas ranks #531 — more exposed than 75.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #39 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Carla (1961) passed 12 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 44 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 4 miles away on 22 July 1909 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 43 miles away on 14 August 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
24 of the 30 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 30 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 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 20 years, between 1854 and 1874. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 29 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lavaca County, Texas?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lavaca County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 30.
When was the last hurricane in Lavaca County, Texas?
Carla (1961), on 12 September 1961, passing 12 miles away — 65 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lavaca County, Texas?
Carla (1961), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lavaca County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.7 years — 30 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Lavaca County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Colorado County, Texas has 35 on record.