Tarrant County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1900, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Tarrant County, Texas — about one every 9.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 10 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 10 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCandy (1968) — 3.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 13
- Peak monthSeptember — 5 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1900 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1900s, 1940s, 1960s, 1980s and 1990s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1900–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Grace (2003) | 1 Sep 2003 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 13 Sep 1998 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Dean (1995) | 1 Aug 1995 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chantal (1989) | 2 Aug 1989 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alicia (1983) | 19 Aug 1983 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Felice (1970) | 17 Sep 1970 | 16.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 27 Aug 1947 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 29 Jul 1943 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Tarrant County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Tarrant County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Tarrant County, Texas ranks #1,128 — more exposed than 48.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #119 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 24 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 10 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1902) passed 37 miles away on 27 June 1902 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Alicia (1983) passed 19 miles away on 19 August 1983 as a tropical depression, reaching 31 kt (36 mph) while within 50 miles.
13 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 126 years from 1900 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 41 years, between 1902 and 1943. It has been 10 years since the last one; 4 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Tarrant County, Texas?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Tarrant County, Texas while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1900, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1900).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Tarrant County, Texas?
Bill (2015), on 17 June 2015, passing 10 miles away — 11 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Tarrant County, Texas at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Tarrant County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Tarrant County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.7 years — 13 storms over the 126 years from 1900 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Tarrant County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Ellis County, Texas has 18 on record.