NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Alton, TX
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
35 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Alton, Texas since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 43 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 43
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Alton
The strongest storm to pass near Alton was an unnamed storm in 1916, a Category 2 hurricane with 107 mph winds when its centre passed 60 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1880, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Alton begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 59 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 6 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 35 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Alton has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 43 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on April 19, 1965; its path came within 21 miles. Of the 43, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 15 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on March 27, 2025. Of the 753 Texas cities, 91% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Alton. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 26 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 88% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Alton.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Alton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | HannaJul 26 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | DollyJul 24 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 45 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1993 | ArleneJun 20 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | BarryAug 28 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1980 | AllenAug 10 | 21 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 31 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1975 | CarolineSep 1 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | FernSep 12 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1967 | BeulahSep 20 | 26 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1960 | Unnamed 1960 stormJun 24 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | GerdaSep 20 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | AlmaJun 15 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | AliceJun 25 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 2 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 13 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 32 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 5 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJun 28 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormSep 7 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 14 | 69 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 18 | 60 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormJun 28 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormOct 16 | 68 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 15 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormAug 31 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormSep 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 23 | 51 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 13 | 2 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 5 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 30 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormJun 26 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Alton: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Alton
By decade
- 2020s3
- 2010s1
- 2000s11
- 1990s6
- 1980s12
- 1970s3
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1965 | F3 | 21 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 5, 1991 | F2 | 18 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1967 | F2 | 9 mi | 40.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 2011 | EF1 | 20 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 16, 2007 | EF1 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 2003 | F1 | 19 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 11 |
| May 21, 2001 | F1 | 14 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 2001 | F1 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1994 | F1 | 12 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 1983 | F1 | 18 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 1981 | F1 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F1 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 43, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Alton
The Storm Prediction Center has 26 hail reports within 10 miles of Alton since 1960, made on 20 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently May 13, 2024. The most recent report is from May 8, 2025. May has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Alton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is La Joya, TX, 9 miles southwest of Alton at 213 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 97°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 69°F and 47°F. September is the wettest at 3.5 inches of precipitation on average and January the driest at 0.8 inches; the year adds up to 20.3 inches over 31 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 60% of the year's precipitation (12.2 of 20.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 35 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 92°F and 3.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 183 days a year, almost all from February to November. Lows fall below freezing on about 2 nights a year. That 20.3 inches is more than at 40 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (13%). Weslaco, 12 miles southeast, has its own station (Weslaco, TX): 25.8 inches a year, 5.5 more than here, and the same August average high, 97°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69 | 47 | 0.8 | 2 |
| Feb | 74 | 51 | 0.9 | 2 |
| Mar | 79 | 57 | 1.4 | 2 |
| Apr | 85 | 63 | 1.7 | 2 |
| May | 90 | 70 | 1.9 | 2 |
| Jun | 95 | 74 | 2.0 | 3 |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Aug | 97 | 75 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Sep | 92 | 71 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Oct | 87 | 64 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Nov | 78 | 55 | 1.1 | 2 |
| Dec | 71 | 48 | 1.4 | 2 |
| Year | 84 | 63 | 20.3 | 31 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at La Joya, TX (213 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Alton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 45 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Alton: 27 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 floods, 5 flash floods, 4 heavy rain events and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $53.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 85 mph, on May 8, 2025. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 68 have had fewer than Alton.
May 23, 2022: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Alton — 2 injured, $110,000 damage.
NWS: “A manufactured home resting on cinder blocks was blown off of the cinder blocks. The metal roof of another manufactured home was completely lifted up and torn off.”
March 27, 2025: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Alton — $52.0 million damage.
May 28, 2009: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Alton — $1.0 million damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Alton's ZIP code 78573 have filed 81 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $2.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Hanna in 2020: 15 claims (19% of all) and $261,000. The year with the most claims was 2018, with 24. 26% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 433 Texas cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 213 have fewer than Alton.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hanna2020 | 15 | $261,000 |
Hidalgo County, which includes Alton, has been named in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 5 floods, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on May 21, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Hidalgo County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and hail; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $309.8 million a year, the 9th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $126.7 million (41%), is from hurricanes.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Alton
- Edinburg, TX7 mi
- Weslaco, TX12 mi
- Mcallen, TX13 mi
- Mission, TX13 mi
- Pharr, TX15 mi
- San Juan, TX16 mi
- Elsa, TX16 mi
- Edcouch, TX16 mi
- Alamo, TX17 mi
- Penitas, TX18 mi
- Donna, TX20 mi
- La Villa, TX20 mi
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