Morris County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Morris County, Texas — about one every 9.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 24 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 24 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1918) — 43 kt (49 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1918) — 9.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 16
- Peak monthAugust and September — 5 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year2008 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s, 1980s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 3 Sep 2008 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 25 Sep 2005 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 15.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 42.6 mi | 25 kt |
How Morris County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Morris County, Texas ranks #965 — more exposed than 56.3% of them. Within Texas it ranks #91 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 10 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 15 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 38 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Rita (2005) passed 49 miles away on 25 September 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 34 kt (39 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 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 44 years, between 1871 and 1915. It has been 1 year since the last one; 13 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Morris County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Morris County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 16 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1918).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Morris County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 9 July 2024, passing 24 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Morris County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Morris County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1918), which reached 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 10 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Morris County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.7 years — 16 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
Morris County, Texas borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Marion County, Texas has 22 on record.