San Patricio County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1851, 33 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Patricio County, Texas — about one every 5.3 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harvey (2017), which passed 29 miles away on 26 August 2017.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarvey (2017) — 29 mi away, 26 August 2017
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 130 kt (150 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1970) — 1.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Celia (1970) — 3.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 33
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi5
- Record span1851–2017
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey (2017) | 26 Aug 2017 | 28.6 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Don (2011) | 30 Jul 2011 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Hermine (2010) | 7 Sep 2010 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 16 Aug 2007 | 23.1 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 15 Jul 2003 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 9 Aug 2002 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 11 Sep 1998 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 22 Aug 1998 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1986) | 5 Aug 1986 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 1.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 3 Aug 1970 | 3.1 mi | Cat 3 | 103 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 23 Jun 1968 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 24 Jun 1960 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 20 Sep 1958 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ella (1958) | 6 Sep 1958 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 27 Aug 1945 | 34.8 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 27 Jun 1936 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 25 Jul 1934 | 8.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 14 Sep 1919 | 49.3 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 26 Jun 1902 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 3.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 34.2 mi | Cat 3 | 112 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 13.3 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 12.5 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | 15 Jul 1866 | 40.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of San Patricio County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How San Patricio 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 Patricio County, Texas ranks #460 — more exposed than 79.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #30 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 34 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Celia (1970) passed 3 miles away on 3 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Harvey (2017) passed 29 miles away on 26 August 2017 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1945) passed 35 miles away on 27 August 1945 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
27 of the 33 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 33 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 16 years, between 1886 and 1902. It has been 8 years since the last one; 7 of the 28 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit San Patricio County, Texas?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of San Patricio County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 33.
When was the last hurricane in San Patricio County, Texas?
Harvey (2017), on 26 August 2017, passing 29 miles away — 9 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harvey (2017) in 2017.
What was the strongest storm to affect San Patricio County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit San Patricio County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.3 years — 33 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
San Patricio County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Nueces County, Texas has 34 on record.