Shelby County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1865, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Shelby County, Texas — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 49 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 49 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1879) — 63 kt (72 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordRita (2005) — 3.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 22
- Peak monthAugust — 7 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1865 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1940s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1865–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1989) | 16 Oct 1989 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 10 Aug 1987 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 40.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 27 Aug 1926 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 12.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 | 39.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 25 Jul 1933 | 47.5 mi | 25 kt |
How Shelby County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Shelby County, Texas ranks #736 — more exposed than 66.7% of them. Within Texas it ranks #66 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 12 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 32 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 15 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1891) passed 12 miles away on 6 July 1891 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 161 years from 1865 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 28 years, between 1958 and 1986. It has been 1 year since the last one; 19 of the 21 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Shelby County, Texas?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Shelby County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1865. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Shelby County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), on 13 October 1886, passing 32 miles away — 140 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beryl (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Shelby County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1879), which reached 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Shelby County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 22 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
Shelby County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Sabine County, Texas has 26 on record.