McLennan County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1888, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McLennan County, Texas — about one every 5.8 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 10 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 10 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1945) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 24
- Peak monthAugust and September — 8 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1970 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1888–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 20.4 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 1 Aug 1995 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 27 Jul 1979 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 10 Sep 1974 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 26 Aug 1947 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 29 Aug 1945 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 29 Jul 1943 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 14 Aug 1932 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 33.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 18 Jun 1888 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 26 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edouard (2008) | Remnant low | 6 Aug 2008 | 4.0 mi | 24 kt |
How McLennan County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, McLennan County, Texas ranks #666 — more exposed than 69.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #62 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 4 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 24 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1897) passed 30 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 50 miles away on 18 August 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 37 kt (43 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 138 years from 1888 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 13 years, between 1902 and 1915. It has been 10 years since the last one; 4 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit McLennan County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McLennan County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1888. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in McLennan County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), on 9 September 1900, passing 4 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 McLennan County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 4 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit McLennan County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.8 years — 24 storms over the 138 years from 1888 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
McLennan County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Falls County, Texas has 27 on record.