Rains County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rains County, Texas — about one every 11.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ike (2008), which passed 44 miles away on 13 September 2008.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIke (2008) — 44 mi away, 13 September 2008
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 42 kt (48 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1942) — 4.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 14
- Peak monthJune — 5 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1871–2008
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Claudette (1979) | 27 Jul 1979 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 19 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 28 Jun 1902 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 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 | 47.5 mi | 25 kt |
How Rains County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Rains County, Texas ranks #1,062 — more exposed than 51.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #107 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 44 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 8 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 24 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 41 miles away on 28 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 14 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 11.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 14 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 17 years since the last one; 4 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Rains County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Rains County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 14 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Ike (2008).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Rains County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 13 September 2008, passing 44 miles away — 18 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Rains County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Rains County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Rains County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 11.1 years — 14 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
Rains County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Hopkins County, Texas has 15 on record.