Limestone County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Limestone County, Texas — about one every 6.0 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 45 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 45 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordGrace (2003) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 26
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year1970 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s and 1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Edouard (2008) | 6 Aug 2008 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 31 Jul 1995 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 26 Jul 1979 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 10 Sep 1974 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 26 Aug 1947 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 29 Aug 1945 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 29 Jul 1943 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 24 Jul 1933 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 26.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 18 Jun 1888 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Limestone County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Limestone County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Limestone County, Texas ranks #625 — more exposed than 71.7% of them. Within Texas it ranks #52 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 33 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1897) passed 48 miles away on 13 September 1897 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 19 miles away on 18 August 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 29 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 17 years, between 1871 and 1888. It has been 10 years since the last one; 2 of the 24 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Limestone County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Limestone County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1871. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 26.
When was the last hurricane in Limestone County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), on 9 September 1900, passing 33 miles away — 126 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Bill (2015) in 2015.
What was the strongest storm to affect Limestone County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 33 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Limestone County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.0 years — 26 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
Limestone County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Robertson County, Texas has 29 on record.