Starr County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Starr County, Texas — about one every 7.8 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Hanna (2020), which passed 9 miles away on 26 July 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHanna (2020) — 9 mi away, 26 July 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1880) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1854) — 4.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1971 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1854–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanna (2020) | 26 Jul 2020 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Two (2010) | 8 Jul 2010 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Dolly (2008) | 24 Jul 2008 | 27.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Arlene (1993) | 21 Jun 1993 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 29 Aug 1981 | 40.1 mi | TD | — |
| Allen (1980) | 10 Aug 1980 | 33.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 12 Sep 1971 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Jul 1971 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Beulah (1967) | 22 Sep 1967 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1958) | 15 Jun 1958 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alice (1954) | 25 Jun 1954 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 2 Aug 1947 | 33.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 13 Sep 1936 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 5 Sep 1933 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 28 Jun 1931 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1925) | 7 Sep 1925 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 15 Sep 1910 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 30 Jun 1909 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 13 Aug 1880 | 6.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Sep 1874 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 30 Sep 1857 | 14.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 26 Jun 1854 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2002) | Remnant low | 10 Sep 2002 | 47.4 mi | 10 kt |
How Starr County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Starr County, Texas ranks #737 — more exposed than 66.6% of them. Within Texas it ranks #67 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1880) passed 7 miles away on 13 August 1880 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Allen (1980) passed 33 miles away on 10 August 1980 as a hurricane, reaching 87 kt (100 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Beulah (1967) passed 46 miles away on 22 September 1967 as a tropical depression, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Hanna (2020) passed 9 miles away on 26 July 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 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 29 years, between 1880 and 1909. It has been 5 years since the last one; 12 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Starr County, Texas?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Starr County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Starr County, Texas?
Allen (1980), on 10 August 1980, passing 33 miles away — 46 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Hanna (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Starr County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1880), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 7 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Starr County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.8 years — 22 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Starr County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Brooks County, Texas has 29 on record.