Zavala County, Texas Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Zavala County, Texas — about one every 15.9 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2003), which passed 19 miles away on 16 July 2003.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2003) — 19 mi away, 16 July 2003
- Strongest stormCelia (1970) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordCharley (1998) — 6.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 11
- Peak monthJune, July and August — 3 storms (27% of all)
- Most active year1851 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1910s, 1930s and 1970s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2003
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2003) | 16 Jul 2003 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Charley (1998) | 23 Aug 1998 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danielle (1980) | 7 Sep 1980 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Amelia (1978) | 31 Jul 1978 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Celia (1970) | 4 Aug 1970 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Alice (1954) | 26 Jun 1954 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 14 Sep 1936 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 26 Jul 1934 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Aug 1916 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 28 Jun 1913 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 27 Jun 1851 | 23.3 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 | 8 Sep 2002 | 18.3 mi | 10 kt |
How Zavala County, Texas compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Zavala County, Texas ranks #1,224 — more exposed than 44.6% of them. Within Texas it ranks #129 of 223, against a state average of 15.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Celia (1970) passed 7 miles away on 4 August 1970 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 23 miles away on 19 August 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 23 miles away on 27 June 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1934) passed 39 miles away on 26 July 1934 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
8 of the 11 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 15.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 11 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 62 years, between 1851 and 1913. It has been 22 years since the last one; 1 of the 10 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Zavala County, Texas?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Zavala County, Texas at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 11.
When was the last hurricane in Zavala County, Texas?
Celia (1970), on 4 August 1970, passing 7 miles away — 56 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2003) in 2003.
What was the strongest storm to affect Zavala County, Texas?
Celia (1970), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 7 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Zavala County, Texas?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 15.9 years — 11 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
Zavala County, Texas borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Frio County, Texas has 18 on record.