NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Brenham, 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
29 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Brenham, Texas since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 81 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 81
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Brenham
The strongest storm to pass near Brenham was Ike in 2008, a Category 2 hurricane with 98 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1900, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Brenham begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a tropical storm 38 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 6 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 29 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Brenham has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 69% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 81 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on March 10, 2000, came within 15 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on December 2, 1953, killed 2 people. Of the 81, 11 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 24 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 29. The most recent tornado was on June 19, 2024. Of the 753 Texas cities, 68% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Brenham. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 33 times since 1955, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 81% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Brenham.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Brenham
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2008 | IkeSep 13 | 72 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1989 | ChantalAug 1 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | AllisonJun 27 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | AliciaAug 18 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1980 | DanielleSep 6 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | DeliaSep 6 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | FeliceSep 16 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | CandyJun 24 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | CarlaSep 12 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 70 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 25 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 28 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormJul 28 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 21 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormAug 14 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormJun 23 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 17 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJul 22 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 27 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 9 | 9 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 13 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 6 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 6 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJun 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 4 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 20 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Brenham: 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 Brenham
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s8
- 2000s11(1 EF3+)
- 1990s22
- 1980s10
- 1970s6
- 1960s9
- 1950s10(4 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 10, 2000 | F3 | 15 mi | 21 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 14, 1957 | F3 | 24 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1957 | F3 | 25 mi | 16.9 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 20, 1957 | F3 | 22 mi | 7.2 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 5, 1950 | F3 | in town | 23.9 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Dec 2, 1953 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 2 / 5 |
| May 26, 2016 | EF2 | 23 mi | 1.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 3, 2012 | EF2 | 23 mi | 0.51 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 1994 | F2 | 7 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 19, 1983 | F2 | 18 mi | 1.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1981 | F2 | 21 mi | 9.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 25, 1971 | F2 | 2 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 81, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Brenham
The Storm Prediction Center has 33 hail reports within 10 miles of Brenham since 1955, made on 27 separate days. Of these, 19 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently July 25, 1996. The most recent report is from April 25, 2023. April has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Brenham
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Brenham, TX, 2 miles south of Brenham at 313 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 95°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 40°F. May is the wettest at 5.4 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 48.2 inches over 68 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (24.8 of 48.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 29 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (10); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 112 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 18 nights a year. That 48.2 inches is more than at 259 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (83%). Chappell Hill, 10 miles east, has its own station (Bellville 6NNE, TX): 44.1 inches a year, 4.1 less than here, and the same August average high, 95°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 40 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 3.4 | 7 |
| Mar | 71 | 49 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 57 | 3.6 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 65 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Jul | 94 | 74 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Aug | 95 | 74 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Sep | 90 | 68 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 59 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Nov | 70 | 48 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 41 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Year | 79 | 57 | 48.2 | 68 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Brenham, TX (313 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 Brenham
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 69 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Brenham: 52 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 2 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 17, 2009. May has had the most flash floods, 7 of 14. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 298 have had fewer than Brenham.
May 16, 2024: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Brenham — $700,000 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 Brenham's ZIP code 77833 have filed 63 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $1.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Early summer severe storms in 2016: 34 claims (54% of all) and $1.4 million. 71% 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, 190 have fewer than Brenham.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Early summer severe storms2016 | 34 | $1.4 million |
Washington County, which includes Brenham, has been named in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1993, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 4 floods, 3 fires, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Washington County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $21.3 million a year, the 88th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $10.2 million (48%), is from inland flooding.
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 Brenham
- Chappell Hill, TX10 mi
- Burton, TX13 mi
- Somerville, TX15 mi
- Washington, TX15 mi
- Bellville, TX16 mi
- New Ulm, TX20 mi
- Hempstead, TX21 mi
- Navasota, TX23 mi
- Prairie View, TX26 mi
- Caldwell, TX28 mi
- College Station, TX29 mi
- Waller, TX30 mi
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