NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Harlingen, 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
41 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Harlingen, Texas since 1851, 21 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 83 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 21
- Tropical storms
- 20
- Tornadoes
- 83
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Harlingen
The strongest storm to pass near Harlingen was an unnamed storm in 1916, a Category 4 hurricane with 132 mph winds when its centre passed 57 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1880, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Harlingen begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 65 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 6 systems, 5 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 41 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Harlingen has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 93% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 83 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 12, 1969, came within 3 miles. Of the 83, 15 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 37 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on March 27, 2025. Of the 753 Texas cities, 67% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Harlingen. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 46 times since 1956, with stones up to 3.01 inches. Of the 753 Texas cities, 71% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Harlingen.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Harlingen
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | NicholasSep 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | HannaJul 26 | 32 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | DonJul 30 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | overhead | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | DollyJul 23 | 18 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2003 | ErikaAug 16 | 65 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 51 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1993 | ArleneJun 20 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | BarryAug 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1980 | AllenAug 10 | 13 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 30 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | FernSep 12 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 23 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1967 | BeulahSep 20 | 10 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1960 | Unnamed 1960 stormJun 24 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | GerdaSep 20 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | AlmaJun 15 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | AliceJun 25 | 45 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 2 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 26 | 72 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 13 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 10 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 5 | 39 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJun 27 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormSep 7 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 14 | 73 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 18 | 57 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormJun 28 | 64 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormOct 16 | 49 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 15 | 49 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormAug 31 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 11 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 26 | 46 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormSep 21 | 12 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 23 | 25 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 13 | 3 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 5 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 2 | 43 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 30 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormJun 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Harlingen: 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 Harlingen
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s8
- 2000s23
- 1990s15
- 1980s9
- 1970s9
- 1960s9(2 EF3+)
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 12, 1969 | F3 | 10 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1969 | F3 | 3 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1980 | F2 | 19 mi | 4.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 24, 1970 | F2 | 5 mi | 25.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 26, 1967 | F2 | 15 mi | 40.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1962 | F2 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 30, 2015 | EF1 | 12 mi | 0.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | F1 | 22 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 1988 | F1 | 2 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 21, 1977 | F1 | 9 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 1970 | F1 | 16 mi | 5.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1970 | F1 | 8 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 83, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Harlingen
The Storm Prediction Center has 46 hail reports within 10 miles of Harlingen since 1956, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 37 were 1 inch across or larger, and 6 reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.01 inches, fell on April 2, 2017. The most recent report is from June 5, 2023. April has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Harlingen
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Harlingen, TX, 3 miles east of Harlingen at 38 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 98°F and low of 77°F; January is the coolest, at 72°F and 51°F. September is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and January and February the driest at 1.2 inches; the year adds up to 28.3 inches over 39 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 63% of the year's precipitation (17.8 of 28.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 41 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 93°F and 5.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 151 days a year, almost all from March to November. Lows fall below freezing on about 1 nights a year. That 28.3 inches is more than at 98 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (31%). La Feria, 8 miles southwest, has its own station (Santa Rosa 3 WNW, TX): 24.7 inches a year, 3.6 less than here, and an August average high of 97°F against 98°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 72 | 51 | 1.2 | 3 |
| Feb | 76 | 55 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Mar | 81 | 60 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Apr | 86 | 66 | 2.3 | 2 |
| May | 91 | 72 | 2.7 | 3 |
| Jun | 95 | 76 | 2.4 | 4 |
| Jul | 97 | 77 | 2.4 | 3 |
| Aug | 98 | 77 | 2.1 | 4 |
| Sep | 93 | 74 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Oct | 88 | 67 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 80 | 59 | 2.0 | 3 |
| Dec | 73 | 53 | 1.6 | 3 |
| Year | 86 | 65 | 28.3 | 39 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Harlingen, TX (38 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 Harlingen
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 107 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Harlingen: 47 thunderstorm wind reports, 26 flash floods, 18 floods, 13 heavy rain events and 3 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $39.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on September 19, 2002. May has had the most flash floods, 11 of 26. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 518 have had fewer than Harlingen.
May 9, 2026: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Harlingen — 3 injured, $500,000 damage.
NWS: “Just after 1000 AM CDT May 9, 2026, a strong microburst descended in central Cameron County from a small but potent line of thunderstorms and produced damage along a west-northwest to east-southeast oriented line starting from Harlingen, TX through Laureles, TX.”
June 24, 2019: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Harlingen — $35.0 million damage.
October 25, 2015: flood 9 miles from the centre of Harlingen — $2.5 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 Harlingen's 2 ZIP codes have filed 2,928 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $124.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Dolly in 2008: 567 claims (19% of all) and $10.8 million, then Flooding in 1991 with 314 and Hurricane Hanna in 2020 with 73. The year with the most claims was 2025, with 847. 36% 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, 400 have fewer than Harlingen.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Dolly2008 | 567 | $10.8 million |
| Flooding1991 | 314 | $5.0 million |
| Hurricane Hanna2020 | 73 | $807,000 |
| Hurricane Allen1980 | 58 | $78,000 |
| Hurricane Ike2008 | 26 | $3,064 |
Cameron County, which includes Harlingen, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 16 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 Cameron County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for hail, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $165.1 million a year, the 14th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $84.1 million (51%), 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 Harlingen
- La Feria, TX8 mi
- San Benito, TX8 mi
- Santa Rosa, TX8 mi
- Rio Hondo, TX12 mi
- Mercedes, TX12 mi
- Lyford, TX13 mi
- La Villa, TX15 mi
- Olmito, TX16 mi
- Progreso, TX18 mi
- Elsa, TX19 mi
- Edcouch, TX19 mi
- Los Fresnos, TX19 mi
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