Panola County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Panola County, Texas — about one every 8.6 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 29 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 29 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1941) — 1.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 18
- Peak monthJune, August and September — 4 storms (22% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 4 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 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 42.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 19 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 1.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 systems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 1 Jul 1989 | 14.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 23.2 mi | 25 kt |
How Panola County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Panola County, Texas ranks #878 — more exposed than 60.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #82 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 27 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 45 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 16 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 11 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
18 of the 18 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 18 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 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 31 years, between 1955 and 1986. It has been 1 year since the last one; 16 of the 17 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Panola County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Panola County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1871. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 18.
When was the last hurricane in Panola County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), on 13 October 1886, passing 45 miles away — 140 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Panola County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 27 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Panola County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.6 years — 18 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
Panola County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. De Soto Parish, Louisiana has 25 on record.