Live Oak County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1851, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Live Oak County, Texas — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 10 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 10 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 103 kt (119 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1851) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Celia (1970) — 12.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1960s, 1970s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1851–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 16 Aug 2007 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 11 Sep 1998 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 22 Aug 1998 | 3.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1986) | 5 Aug 1986 | 31.4 mi | TD | — |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 12.1 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 24 Jun 1960 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 20 Sep 1958 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 27 Jun 1936 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 25 Jul 1934 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 42.6 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 39.3 mi | Cat 2 | 94 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | 16 Jul 1866 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don (2011) | Remnant low | 30 Jul 2011 | 38.1 mi | 25 kt |
How Live Oak County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Live Oak County, Texas ranks #626 — more exposed than 71.6% of them. Within Texas it ranks #53 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Celia (1970) passed 12 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 103 kt (119 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed (August 1886) passed 39 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 103 kt (119 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed (September 1886) passed 43 miles away on 24 September 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 69 kt (79 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1934) passed 12 miles away on 25 July 1934 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 26 years, between 1886 and 1912. It has been 15 years since the last one; 3 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Live Oak County, Texas?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Live Oak County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 26.
When was the last hurricane in Live Oak County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 12 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Live Oak County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 103 kt (119 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Live Oak County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 26 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Live Oak County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. San Patricio County, Texas has 33 on record.