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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bay City, 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

60 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bay City, Texas since 1851, 27 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 75 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
27

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
33

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
75

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
2

4 deaths in all

What the records show for Bay City

The strongest storm to pass near Bay City was an unnamed storm in 1900, a Category 3 hurricane with 124 mph winds when its centre passed 43 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1921, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Bay City begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 4 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 7 systems, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 60 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Bay City has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 98% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 75 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 11, 1969, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on September 20, 1967, killed 4 people. Of the 75, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 23 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on August 25, 2017. Of the 753 Texas cities, 73% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bay City. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 17 times since 1981, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 96% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bay City.

Compare Bay City's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bay City

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Bay City, Texas, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2024BerylJul 84 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 5
2021NicholasSep 1417 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 1
2020BetaSep 2246 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
2019ImeldaSep 1732 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
2017HarveyAug 2834 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
2015BillJun 1655 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
2007HumbertoSep 1268 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
2003GraceAug 3150 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2003ClaudetteJul 1545 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 1
2002FaySep 737 miTropical storm (54 mph)Tropical storm
2001AllisonJun 538 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1998FrancesSep 1171 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1995DeanJul 3142 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1989JerryOct 1658 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1989AllisonJun 2614 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1983AliciaAug 1849 miCategory 2 (107 mph)Category 3
1980DanielleSep 626 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1979ElenaSep 132 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1973DeliaSep 515 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1971FernSep 1038 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1970FeliceSep 1671 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
1964AbbyAug 710 miTropical storm (61 mph)Tropical storm
1961CarlaSep 1148 miCategory 3 (124 mph)Category 4
1959DebraJul 2544 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 1
1949Unnamed 1949 stormOct 420 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 2
1947Unnamed 1947 stormAug 2552 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 1
1945Unnamed 1945 stormAug 289 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 3
1943Unnamed 1943 stormJul 2868 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 2
1942Unnamed 1942 stormAug 3060 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1941Unnamed 1941 stormSep 2320 miCategory 2 (106 mph)Category 3
1940Unnamed 1940 stormSep 2357 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1938Unnamed 1938 stormOct 1754 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1934Unnamed 1934 stormAug 2842 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJul 2563 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1933Unnamed 1933 stormJul 2310 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormAug 1425 miCategory 2 (107 mph)Category 4
1929Unnamed 1929 stormJun 2852 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 1
1921Unnamed 1921 stormJun 22overheadCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 1
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 1740 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 4
1909Unnamed 1909 stormJul 2112 miCategory 1 (93 mph)Category 3
1901Unnamed 1901 stormJul 1022 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1900Unnamed 1900 stormSep 943 miCategory 3 (124 mph)Category 4
1899Unnamed 1899 stormJun 2752 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1898Unnamed 1898 stormSep 2871 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1895Unnamed 1895 stormOct 753 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1891Unnamed 1891 stormJul 528 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormJul 520 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormJun 17overheadTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJun 1468 miCategory 1 (82 mph)Category 2
1880Unnamed 1880 stormJun 246 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1875Unnamed 1875 stormSep 1769 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
1874Unnamed 1874 stormJul 435 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1871Unnamed 1871 stormJun 959 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1871Unnamed 1871 stormJun 447 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
1869Unnamed 1869 stormAug 1766 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1867Unnamed 1867 stormOct 369 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1866Unnamed 1866 stormJul 1531 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 2931 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
1854Unnamed 1854 stormSep 1912 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 2
1851Unnamed 1851 stormJun 2564 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 1

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bay City: 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 Bay City

By decade

  • 2010s7
  • 2000s16
  • 1990s14
  • 1980s6
  • 1970s12
  • 1960s14(2 EF3+)
  • 1950s6
Strongest tornadoes near Bay City, Texas
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Sep 20, 1967F324 mi1 mi4 / 7
Apr 11, 1969F320 mi2 mi0 / 13
Oct 23, 1970F225 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Oct 23, 1970F225 mi1.2 mi0 / 0
Sep 11, 1961F24 mi0.4 mi0 / 0
May 18, 1955F225 mi2.5 mi0 / 0
Dec 2, 1953F219 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Aug 25, 2017EF120 mi2.18 mi0 / 0
Feb 14, 2017EF16 mi1.72 mi0 / 6
Jul 15, 2003F124 mi0.3 mi0 / 0
Dec 12, 2001F118 mi1.5 mi0 / 0
Apr 14, 1993F123 mi0.2 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 75, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Bay City

The Storm Prediction Center has 17 hail reports within 10 miles of Bay City since 1981, made on 14 separate days. Of these, 10 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 14, 2006. The most recent report is from May 9, 2019. May has the most reports, 7.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Radar-estimated hail days in Bay City since 2019 →

Weather by month in Bay City

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bay City Wtr Wks, TX, 3 miles northwest of Bay City at 52 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 63°F and 43°F. September is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 49.0 inches over 62 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (28.5 of 49.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 60 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 88 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 7 nights a year. That 49.0 inches is more than at 261 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (84%). Sweeny, 15 miles northeast, has its own station (Angleton Brazoria Airport, TX): 45.8 inches a year, 3.2 less than here, and an August average high of 93°F against 91°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Matagorda City, TX, 16 miles south, averaged 89°F in August and 57°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to September. Sea level at the Freeport Harbor tide gauge, 39 miles from Bay City, has risen 1.38 ± 0.12 inches per decade from 1972 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 13.8 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 82 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Bay City Wtr Wks, TX
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan63433.8657
Feb67472.5458
Mar72533.0468
Apr78593.2374
May84664.4581
Jun89725.7687
Jul91734.5688
Aug91734.3689
Sep88695.8785
Oct81604.2578
Nov72514.0569
Dec65453.6663
Year785949.06275

Averages for 1991–2020 at Bay City Wtr Wks, TX (52 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Matagorda City, TX, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Texas weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Bay City

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 15 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bay City: 13 thunderstorm wind reports and 2 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $163,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on April 16, 2015.

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 Bay City's ZIP code 77414 have filed 1,270 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $13.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1984: 508 claims (40% of all) and $3.4 million, then Hurricane Harvey in 2017 with 196 and Hurricane Beryl in 2024 with 86. The year with the most claims was 2017, with 202. 83% 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, 383 have fewer than Bay City.

Flood insurance claims in Bay City by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Flooding1984508$3.4 million
Hurricane Harvey2017196$4.8 million
Hurricane Beryl202486$925,000
Tropical Storm Claudette197982$219,000
Hurricane Ike200869$525,000
Hurricane Claudette200363$525,000

Matagorda County, which includes Bay City, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 14 hurricanes, 5 floods, 3 fires, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Matagorda County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.3 million a year, the 54th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $20.1 million (60%), 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 Bay City