NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Jefferson, 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
11 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Jefferson, Texas since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Barry in 2019. Since 1950, 152 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 8 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 11
- Tornadoes
- 152
- EF3 or stronger
- 8
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Jefferson
None of the 11 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Jefferson; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1886, a tropical storm with 56 mph winds when its centre passed 59 miles away. The record near Jefferson begins with an unnamed storm in 1865; the most recent system was Barry in 2019, a tropical storm 54 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 3 systems. Of the 11 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Jefferson has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 52% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 152 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 8 times; the most recent, on January 20, 2010, came within 22 miles. Of the 152, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 71 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 53. The most recent tornado was on April 4, 2025. Jefferson has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 80% of the 753 Texas cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 82 times since 1974, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Jefferson has more hail reports within 10 miles than 51% of the 753 Texas cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Jefferson
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | BarryJul 14 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2008 | IkeSep 13 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | RitaSep 25 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 20 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 9 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 7 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 6 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormOct 13 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 23 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormSep 14 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Jefferson: 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 Jefferson
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s32(1 EF3+)
- 2000s24(1 EF3+)
- 1990s20
- 1980s20(1 EF3+)
- 1970s12(2 EF3+)
- 1960s15
- 1950s14(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2010 | EF3 | 22 mi | 15.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2000 | F3 | 20 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 1987 | F3 | 23 mi | 12.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 1979 | F3 | 25 mi | 5.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 22, 1972 | F3 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Nov 4, 1959 | F3 | 23 mi | 15.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 3, 1958 | F3 | 15 mi | 59.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 1954 | F3 | 20 mi | 86.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 4, 2025 | EF2 | 24 mi | 4.27 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 4, 2022 | EF2 | 23 mi | 19.67 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 21, 2022 | EF2 | 16 mi | 39.97 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Mar 24, 2017 | EF2 | 18 mi | 2.71 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 152, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Jefferson
The Storm Prediction Center has 82 hail reports within 10 miles of Jefferson since 1974, made on 67 separate days. Of these, 56 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 7, 2003. The most recent report is from April 5, 2025. April has the most reports, 24.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Jefferson
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Jefferson, TX, in Jefferson at 211 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 94°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 34°F. May and June are the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and August the driest at 2.4 inches; the year adds up to 49.7 inches over 66 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 45% of the year's precipitation (22.4 of 49.7 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 11 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (5); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 90 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 55 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.3 inches a year, most of it in February. That 49.7 inches is more than at 266 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (85%). Karnack, 13 miles southeast, has its own station (Mooringsport 1 N, LA): 50.8 inches a year, 1.1 more than here, and the same July average high, 94°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 34 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.5 |
| Feb | 61 | 37 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.7 |
| Mar | 69 | 44 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 4.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 83 | 61 | 5.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 91 | 69 | 5.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.0 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 95 | 71 | 2.4 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 89 | 64 | 3.8 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 79 | 52 | 4.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 59 | 35 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Year | 77 | 53 | 49.7 | 66 | 1.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Jefferson, TX (211 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 Jefferson
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 99 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Jefferson: 91 thunderstorm wind reports and 8 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $530,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 24, 1996. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 138 have had fewer than Jefferson.
September 14, 2009: flash flood 1 mile from the centre of Jefferson — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Several local business in town experienced flood damage from the excessive heavy rainfall that fell during the day. Several city streets were closed as well.”
May 14, 2008: flash flood 1 mile from the centre of Jefferson — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Excessive heavy rainfall resulted in numerous road closures throughout the town. Very high water with stalled vehicles were reported at Henderson Street and Canal Street.”
December 20, 2012: thunderstorm wind in Jefferson — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “The roof was taken off a home by strong winds in Jefferson, Texas. There were no reports of injuries.”
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 Jefferson's ZIP code 75657 have filed 29 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $415,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 28% 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, 116 have fewer than Jefferson.
Marion County, which includes Jefferson, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1966, 14 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 fires, 6 hurricanes, 3 floods, 3 ice storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Marion County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hurricanes and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $5.6 million a year, the 194th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.8 million (32%), 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 Jefferson
- Harleton, TX12 mi
- Karnack, TX13 mi
- Avinger, TX14 mi
- Marshall, TX16 mi
- Linden, TX16 mi
- Diana, TX20 mi
- Ore City, TX21 mi
- Hallsville, TX22 mi
- Hughes Springs, TX22 mi
- Vivian, LA22 mi
- Mooringsport, LA23 mi
- Lone Star, TX23 mi
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