San Augustine County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1865, 25 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Augustine County, Texas — about one every 6.4 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Imelda (2019), which passed 42 miles away on 19 September 2019.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentImelda (2019) — 42 mi away, 19 September 2019
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1918) — 2.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 25
- Peak monthAugust and September — 8 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1955 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1865–2019
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imelda (2019) | 19 Sep 2019 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 10 Aug 1987 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 26 Jun 1986 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 9 Sep 1974 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 28 Aug 1955 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 28 Sep 1898 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 28 Jun 1989 | 19.5 mi | 30 kt |
How San Augustine County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, San Augustine County, Texas ranks #645 — more exposed than 70.8% of them. Within Texas it ranks #60 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 8 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 2 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 67 kt (77 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 30 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Rita (2005) passed 4 miles away on 24 September 2005 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
24 of the 25 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 25 storms spread over the 161 years from 1865 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 20 years, between 1898 and 1918. It has been 6 years since the last one; 9 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit San Augustine County, Texas?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Augustine County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1865. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 25.
When was the last hurricane in San Augustine County, Texas?
Rita (2005), on 24 September 2005, passing 4 miles away — 21 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Imelda (2019) in 2019.
What was the strongest storm to affect San Augustine County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit San Augustine County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.4 years — 25 storms over the 161 years from 1865 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
San Augustine County, Texas borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Jasper County, Texas has 30 on record.