Lee County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, Texas — about one every 6.6 years. Of those, 3 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
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 8 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 81 kt (93 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1932) — 3.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1970 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1854–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 8 Jun 2001 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 31 Jul 1995 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 14 Jun 1977 | 41.0 mi | TD | — |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 25 Aug 1947 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 28 Aug 1945 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 28 Jul 1943 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 23 Jul 1933 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 14 Aug 1932 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 17 Aug 1915 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 31.1 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 27 Jun 1899 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 18 Jun 1888 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 20 Sep 1854 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Lee County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Lee County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lee County, Texas ranks #624 — more exposed than 71.7% of them. Within Texas it ranks #51 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 31 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Carla (1961) passed 31 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 3 miles away on 14 August 1932 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 41 miles away on 20 September 1854 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 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 21 years, between 1854 and 1875. It has been 10 years since the last one; 7 of the 24 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lee County, Texas?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 26.
When was the last hurricane in Lee County, Texas?
Carla (1961), on 12 September 1961, passing 31 miles away — 65 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Bill (2015) in 2015.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lee County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 31 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lee County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.6 years — 26 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
Lee County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Washington County, Texas has 34 on record.