McMullen County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McMullen County, Texas — about one every 10.3 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 18 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 18 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAmelia (1978) — 3.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 17
- Peak monthAugust and September — 5 storms (29% of all)
- Most active year1936 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2010
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 22 Aug 1998 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 3.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 14 Sep 1936 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jun 1936 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 26 Jul 1934 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 41.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 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 | 49.9 mi | 25 kt |
How McMullen County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, McMullen County, Texas ranks #918 — more exposed than 58.4% of them. Within Texas it ranks #85 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Celia (1970) passed 3 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 42 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1934) passed 12 miles away on 26 July 1934 as a tropical storm, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 7 miles away on 26 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 39 years, between 1874 and 1913. It has been 15 years since the last one; 5 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit McMullen County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McMullen County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 17.
When was the last hurricane in McMullen County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 3 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 McMullen County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 3 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit McMullen County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.3 years — 17 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
McMullen County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Live Oak County, Texas has 26 on record.