Zapata County, Texas Hurricane History
Since 1854, 19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Zapata County, Texas — about one every 9.1 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harold (2023), which passed 35 miles away on 22 August 2023.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHarold (2023) — 35 mi away, 22 August 2023
- Strongest stormAllen (1980) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFern (1971) — 1.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 19
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1958 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1854–2023
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 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 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harold (2023) | 22 Aug 2023 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Hanna (2020) | 26 Jul 2020 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Dolly (2008) | 24 Jul 2008 | 22.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bret (1999) | 23 Aug 1999 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Allen (1980) | 10 Aug 1980 | 23.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 12 Sep 1971 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Jul 1971 | 11.2 mi | TD | — |
| Beulah (1967) | 21 Sep 1967 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Ella (1958) | 6 Sep 1958 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alma (1958) | 15 Jun 1958 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Alice (1954) | 26 Jun 1954 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 13 Sep 1936 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 28 Jun 1931 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1925) | 7 Sep 1925 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 15 Sep 1919 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 15 Sep 1910 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 13 Aug 1880 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1857) | 30 Sep 1857 | 5.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 26 Jun 1854 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 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 | 7.2 mi | 10 kt |
How Zapata County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Zapata County, Texas ranks #830 — more exposed than 62.4% of them. Within Texas it ranks #76 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Allen (1980) passed 24 miles away on 10 August 1980 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1880) passed 7 miles away on 13 August 1880 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1919) passed 48 miles away on 15 September 1919 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Beulah (1967) passed 6 miles away on 21 September 1967 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 19 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 19 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 2 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 1880 and 1910. It has been 2 years since the last one; 16 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Zapata County, Texas?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Zapata County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 19.
When was the last hurricane in Zapata County, Texas?
Allen (1980), on 10 August 1980, passing 24 miles away — 46 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Harold (2023) in 2023.
What was the strongest storm to affect Zapata County, Texas?
Allen (1980), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Zapata County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.1 years — 19 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
Zapata County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Brooks County, Texas has 29 on record.