NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Dale, 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
16 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Dale, Texas since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harvey in 2017. Since 1950, 84 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 14
- Tornadoes
- 84
- 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 Dale
The strongest storm to pass near Dale was an unnamed storm in 1886, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1942, whose centre came within 60 miles. The record near Dale begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Harvey in 2017, a tropical storm 43 miles away. The 1880s and the 2010s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 16 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Dale has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 62% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 84 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on April 28, 1953; its path came within 24 miles. Of the 84, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 28 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on October 26, 2023. Of the 753 Texas cities, 66% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Dale. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 44 times since 1968, with stones up to 3.5 inches. Of the 753 Texas cities, 73% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Dale.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Dale
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | HarveyAug 27 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2015 | BillJun 17 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | DeliaSep 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 24 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | CarlaSep 12 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 30 | 60 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormAug 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormJun 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 17 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 27 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJun 18 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormAug 20 | 62 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 19 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Dale: 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 Dale
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s8
- 2000s14
- 1990s9
- 1980s10
- 1970s13
- 1960s16
- 1950s8(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28, 1953 | F3 | 24 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 21, 2022 | EF2 | 23 mi | 11.97 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 21, 2022 | EF2 | 17 mi | 7.93 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 14, 1991 | F2 | 22 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 1985 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F2 | 19 mi | 47.7 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F2 | 23 mi | 5.4 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F2 | 12 mi | 18.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 2, 1977 | F2 | 23 mi | 17.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F2 | 23 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 11, 1973 | F2 | 22 mi | 8.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 25, 1971 | F2 | in town | 11.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 84, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Dale
The Storm Prediction Center has 44 hail reports within 10 miles of Dale since 1968, made on 35 separate days. Of these, 33 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.5 inches, fell on May 26, 1976. The most recent report is from March 21, 2022. May has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Dale
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cedar Creek 5 S, TX, 8 miles northeast of Dale at 436 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 97°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 37°F. October is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.2 inches; the year adds up to 37.8 inches over 54 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (19.5 of 37.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 16 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (6); a normal September there has highs of 91°F and 3.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 122 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 38 nights a year. That 37.8 inches is more than at 190 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (61%). Lockhart, 8 miles southwest, has its own station (Luling, TX): 35.5 inches a year, 2.3 less than here, and an August average high of 98°F against 97°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 37 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Feb | 66 | 42 | 2.2 | 5 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Apr | 79 | 55 | 2.7 | 4 |
| May | 85 | 64 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Jun | 92 | 71 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Jul | 96 | 73 | 2.4 | 4 |
| Aug | 97 | 73 | 2.6 | 3 |
| Sep | 91 | 67 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Oct | 82 | 56 | 5.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 72 | 46 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Dec | 64 | 39 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Year | 80 | 56 | 37.8 | 54 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cedar Creek 5 S, TX (436 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 Dale
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 66 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Dale: 36 flash floods, 29 thunderstorm wind reports and 1 flood. They killed 2 people and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $15.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on October 13, 2004. May has had the most flash floods, 10 of 36. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 607 have had fewer than Dale.
October 31, 2013: flash flood in Dale — 1 killed.
NWS: “Caldwell County reported several flooded roads during the morning hours including FM 1979 at the San Marcos River, Old Colony Line Road, and FM 86. A flash flood fatality occurred near Track Road and FM 20 East when a 51 year old teacher at Smithville Junior High was driving to work and his car was swept off the road.”
May 27, 2014: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Dale — 1 killed.
August 26, 2017: flood 9 miles from the centre of Dale — $12.8 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
Caldwell County, which includes Dale, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 fires, 5 floods, 4 hurricanes, 4 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, on May 17, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Caldwell County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.0 million a year, the 55th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.5 million (71%), 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 Dale
- Lockhart, TX8 mi
- Red Rock, TX8 mi
- Cedar Creek, TX15 mi
- Maxwell, TX17 mi
- Del Valle, TX17 mi
- Luling, TX17 mi
- Kyle, TX18 mi
- Martindale, TX18 mi
- Buda, TX18 mi
- Bastrop, TX20 mi
- Manchaca, TX22 mi
- Kingsbury, TX23 mi
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