Liberty County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1871, 40 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Liberty County, Texas — about one every 3.9 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicholas (2021), which passed 30 miles away on 14 September 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicholas (2021) — 30 mi away, 14 September 2021
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 93 kt (107 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1971) — 1.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles23 of 40
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1941 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s and 1980s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas (2021) | 14 Sep 2021 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Imelda (2019) | 18 Sep 2019 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 15.8 mi | Cat 2 | 87 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 5 Aug 2008 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 24 Sep 2004 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 31 Aug 2003 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 6 Jun 2001 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 1 Aug 1989 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 10 Aug 1987 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 26 Jun 1986 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 18 Aug 1983 | 49.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 5 Jun 1981 | 28.9 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 21 Jul 1980 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 25 Jul 1979 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1974) | 17 Jul 1974 | 50.0 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1973) | 12 Sep 1973 | 14.4 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 8 Jul 1971 | 1.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 18 Sep 1963 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 25 Jul 1959 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 10 Aug 1957 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 4 Oct 1949 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 16 Jun 1946 | 4.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 28 Jul 1943 | 35.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 21 Aug 1942 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 15 Sep 1941 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 8 Aug 1940 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Sep 1898 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 15 Sep 1882 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 32.6 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 9 Jun 1871 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 systems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 2020 | 18.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 29 Jun 1989 | 1.5 mi | 25 kt |
How Liberty County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Liberty County, Texas ranks #327 — more exposed than 85.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #12 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Ike (2008) passed 16 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a hurricane, reaching 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1943) passed 35 miles away on 28 July 1943 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 33 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Alicia (1983) passed 50 miles away on 18 August 1983 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
32 of the 40 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 40 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 42 years, between 1898 and 1940. It has been 4 years since the last one; 7 of the 36 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Liberty County, Texas?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Liberty County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1871. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 40.
When was the last hurricane in Liberty County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 16 miles away — 18 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Nicholas (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Liberty County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 93 kt (107 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 16 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Liberty County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.9 years — 40 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
Liberty County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Chambers County, Texas has 49 on record.