Navarro County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Navarro County, Texas — about one every 9.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Grace (2003), which passed 7 miles away on 1 September 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentGrace (2003) — 7 mi away, 1 September 2003
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1871) — 40 kt (46 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordClaudette (1979) — 4.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 16
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1970 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 1 Aug 1995 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 27 Jul 1979 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 16 Sep 1970 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 30.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 30 Jul 1954 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 18 Aug 1915 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Navarro County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Navarro County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Navarro County, Texas ranks #966 — more exposed than 56.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #92 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 22 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Alicia (1983) passed 32 miles away on 19 August 1983 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 17 miles away on 23 June 1921 as a tropical depression, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 30 miles away on 18 August 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 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 31 years, between 1871 and 1902. It has been 22 years since the last one; 1 of the 14 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Navarro County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Navarro 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 (1871).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Navarro County, Texas?
Grace (2003), on 1 September 2003, passing 7 miles away — 23 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Navarro County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Navarro County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1871), which reached 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 22 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Navarro 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
Navarro County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Limestone County, Texas has 26 on record.