Victoria County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1851, 32 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Victoria County, Texas — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 13 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Beta (2020), which passed 10 miles away on 22 September 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBeta (2020) — 10 mi away, 22 September 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1886) — 130 kt (150 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFrances (1998) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Harvey (2017) — 5.4 miles
- Passes within 25 miles19 of 32
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 1960s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi5
- Record span1851–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | 22 Sep 2020 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 27 Aug 2017 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bill (2015) | 16 Jun 2015 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Erin (2007) | 16 Aug 2007 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Claudette (2003) | 15 Jul 2003 | 14.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Fay (2002) | 7 Sep 2002 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 11 Sep 1998 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 6 Sep 1980 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 10 Sep 1971 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Abby (1964) | 8 Aug 1964 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Cindy (1963) | 19 Sep 1963 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 11.7 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 21 Sep 1958 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 27 Aug 1945 | 39.6 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1942) | 30 Aug 1942 | 11.4 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 25 Jul 1934 | 48.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | 29 Jun 1929 | 7.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Oct 1912 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 22 Jul 1909 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 24 Sep 1886 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 20 Aug 1886 | 29.9 mi | Cat 3 | 112 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 14 Aug 1881 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 25 Jun 1880 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 17 Sep 1875 | 18.8 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 5 Jul 1874 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1869) | 17 Aug 1869 | 46.2 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1866) | 15 Jul 1866 | 14.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 26 Jun 1851 | 40.8 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Victoria County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Victoria County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Victoria County, Texas ranks #481 — more exposed than 78.2% of them. Within Texas it ranks #33 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 30 miles away on 20 August 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 4 Carla (1961) passed 12 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a hurricane, reaching 125 kt (144 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Harvey (2017) passed 5 miles away on 27 August 2017 as a tropical storm, reaching 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1945) passed 40 miles away on 27 August 1945 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
28 of the 32 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 32 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 18 years, between 1980 and 1998. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 30 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Victoria County, Texas?
13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Victoria County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 32.
When was the last hurricane in Victoria County, Texas?
Claudette (2003), on 15 July 2003, passing 14 miles away — 23 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Beta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Victoria County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1886), which reached 130 kt (150 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 30 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Victoria County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.5 years — 32 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
Victoria County, Texas borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Calhoun County, Texas has 37 on record.