Smith County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1871, 15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Smith County, Texas — about one every 10.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beryl (2024), which passed 29 miles away on 9 July 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBeryl (2024) — 29 mi away, 9 July 2024
- Strongest stormIke (2008) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (1957) — 4.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 15
- Peak monthAugust — 6 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1940s and 1950s — 3 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 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beryl (2024) | 9 Jul 2024 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Ike (2008) | 13 Sep 2008 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 7 Jun 2001 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bonnie (1986) | 27 Jun 1986 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Debra (1959) | 26 Jul 1959 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 11 Aug 1957 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 3 Aug 1955 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 22 Aug 1942 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 9 Aug 1940 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 7 Aug 1918 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 19 Aug 1915 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 6 Jul 1888 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 10 Jun 1871 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 5 Jun 1871 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 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 | 35.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 24 Jul 1933 | 4.4 mi | 25 kt |
How Smith County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Smith County, Texas ranks #1,018 — more exposed than 53.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #100 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Ike (2008) passed 8 miles away on 13 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 36 miles away on 7 August 1918 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1871) passed 43 miles away on 5 June 1871 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 21 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 36 kt (41 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. 1 separate year 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 1888 and 1915. It has been 1 year since the last one; 13 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Smith County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Smith 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 Smith County, Texas?
Beryl (2024), on 9 July 2024, passing 29 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Smith County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Smith County, Texas?
Ike (2008), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Smith 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
Smith County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Cherokee County, Texas has 21 on record.