Williamson County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1874, 14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Williamson County, Texas — about one every 10.9 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Bill (2015), which passed 25 miles away on 17 June 2015.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBill (2015) — 25 mi away, 17 June 2015
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1900) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCarla (1961) — 3.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles5 of 14
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1874 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1900s and 1960s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1874–2015
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill (2015) | 17 Jun 2015 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frances (1998) | 12 Sep 1998 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Delia (1973) | 6 Sep 1973 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1970) | 2 Sep 1970 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Candy (1968) | 24 Jun 1968 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Carla (1961) | 12 Sep 1961 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1960) | 26 Jun 1960 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 26 Aug 1947 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 14 Aug 1932 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 27 Jun 1902 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 10 Jul 1901 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 9 Sep 1900 | 48.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 7 Sep 1874 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
No system on record passed within 50 miles of Williamson County, Texas after losing tropical characteristics, so every storm listed above was still a tropical or subtropical cyclone at its closest approach.
How Williamson County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Williamson County, Texas ranks #1,063 — more exposed than 51.9% of them. Within Texas it ranks #108 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1900) passed 48 miles away on 9 September 1900 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Carla (1961) passed 4 miles away on 12 September 1961 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1932) passed 18 miles away on 14 August 1932 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1897) passed 37 miles away on 13 September 1897 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
11 of the 14 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 14 storms spread over the 152 years from 1874 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 30 years, between 1902 and 1932. It has been 10 years since the last one; 6 of the 13 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Williamson County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Williamson County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1874. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 14.
When was the last hurricane in Williamson County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), on 9 September 1900, passing 48 miles away — 126 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Bill (2015) in 2015.
What was the strongest storm to affect Williamson County, Texas?
Unnamed Storm (1900), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 48 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Williamson County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.9 years — 14 storms over the 152 years from 1874 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Williamson County, Texas borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Lee County, Texas has 26 on record.