Rusk County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Rusk County, Texas — about one every 9.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 8 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 8 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1891) — 53 kt (61 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBonnie (1986) — 3.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 17
- Peak monthJuly, August and September — 4 storms (24% 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 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 26.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 16.9 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 | 3.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 25.5 mi | 25 kt |
How Rusk County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Rusk County, Texas ranks #919 — more exposed than 58.4% of them. Within Texas it ranks #86 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 30 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 11 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 27 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Rita (2005) passed 41 miles away on 24 September 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
17 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 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 27 years, between 1891 and 1918. It has been 1 year since the last one; 15 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Rusk County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Rusk County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 17 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1871, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1891).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Rusk County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 9 July 2024, passing 8 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Rusk County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Rusk County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1891), which reached 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 30 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Rusk County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.1 years — 17 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
Rusk County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Nacogdoches County, Texas has 26 on record.