Medina County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Medina County, Texas — about one every 13.5 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hermine (2010), which passed 31 miles away on 7 September 2010.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHermine (2010) — 31 mi away, 7 September 2010
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 76 kt (87 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAmelia (1978) — 6.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 13
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1960s — 2 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 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 17 Aug 2007 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 23 Aug 1998 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 1 Aug 1978 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 25 Jun 1960 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jun 1936 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 34.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 6 Sep 1874 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 27 Jun 1851 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2002) | Remnant low | 8 Sep 2002 | 30.0 mi | 10 kt |
How Medina County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Medina County, Texas ranks #1,126 — more exposed than 49.0% of them. Within Texas it ranks #117 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 34 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1942) passed 21 miles away on 30 August 1942 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1929) passed 10 miles away on 29 June 1929 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 28 miles away on 27 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
10 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 13.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 43 years, between 1886 and 1929. It has been 15 years since the last one; 4 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Medina County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Medina County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 13.
When was the last hurricane in Medina County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1942), on 30 August 1942, passing 21 miles away — 84 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hermine (2010) in 2010.
What was the strongest storm to affect Medina County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Medina County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 13.5 years — 13 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
Medina County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Atascosa County, Texas has 20 on record.