Red River County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Red River County, Texas — about one every 10.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ike (2008), which passed 12 miles away on 14 September 2008.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIke (2008) — 12 mi away, 14 September 2008
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 40 kt (46 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1918) — 6.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles6 of 15
- Peak monthJune — 5 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s and 2000s — 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ike (2008) | 14 Sep 2008 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 3 Sep 2008 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 27 Jun 1960 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 10 Aug 1940 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 23 Jun 1921 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Red River County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Red River County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Red River County, Texas ranks #1,017 — more exposed than 53.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #99 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 12 miles away on 14 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 6 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 40 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 50 miles away on 23 June 1921 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 15 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 15 storms spread over the 155 years from 1871 to 2025. 2 separate years 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 17 years since the last one; 2 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Red River County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Red River County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 15 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 Red River County, Texas?
Ike (2008), on 14 September 2008, passing 12 miles away — 18 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Red River County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Red River County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Red River County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.3 years — 15 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
Red River County, Texas borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Morris County, Texas has 16 on record.