Leon County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 28 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Leon County, Texas — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 38 miles away on 8 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 38 mi away, 8 July 2024
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 67 kt (77 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1933) — 6.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 28
- Peak monthAugust — 9 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1888 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 8 Jul 2024 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 6 Aug 2008 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 8 Jun 2001 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 31 Jul 1995 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 18 Aug 1983 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 26 Jul 1979 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 9 Sep 1974 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 10 Aug 1957 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 29 Aug 1945 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Jul 1933 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 18 Jun 1888 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 16 Sep 1882 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 30 Jun 1989 | 32.4 mi | 20 kt |
How Leon County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Leon County, Texas ranks #573 — more exposed than 74.0% of them. Within Texas it ranks #45 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Ike (2008) passed 43 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a hurricane, reaching 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Beryl (2024) passed 38 miles away on 8 July 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 8 miles away on 23 June 1921 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Chantal (1989) passed 29 miles away on 2 August 1989 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 28 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 28 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 27 years, between 1888 and 1915. It has been 1 year since the last one; 21 of the 25 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Leon County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Leon County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1871. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 28.
When was the last hurricane in Leon County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 43 miles away — 18 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Leon County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 43 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Leon County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.5 years — 28 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
Leon County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Madison County, Texas has 34 on record.