NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Onalaska, 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
34 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Onalaska, Texas since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 64 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 32
- Tornadoes
- 64
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Onalaska
The strongest storm to pass near Onalaska was Ike in 2008, a Category 1 hurricane with 83 mph winds when its centre passed 8 miles away. The record near Onalaska begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a tropical storm 23 miles away. The 1940s and the 1980s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 34 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Onalaska has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 62% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 64 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF3 on April 22, 2020; its path came within 2 miles, and it killed 3 people. Of the 64, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 21 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on April 28, 2024. Of the 753 Texas cities, 80% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Onalaska. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 36 times since 1976, with stones up to 4.5 inches (grapefruit size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 79% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Onalaska.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Onalaska
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2008 | IkeSep 13 | 8 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2008 | EdouardAug 5 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | RitaSep 24 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | JerryOct 16 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | ChantalAug 1 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | AllisonJun 27 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1987 | Unnamed 1987 stormAug 10 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | BonnieJun 26 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1983 | AliciaAug 18 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | ClaudetteJul 25 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | FeliceSep 16 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1963 | CindySep 18 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | DebraJul 26 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1957 | BerthaAug 10 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormJul 28 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 21 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 8 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormJun 23 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 7 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 28 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 6 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 6 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 15 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 23 | 54 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 18 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 10 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 4 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 20 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Onalaska: 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 Onalaska
By decade
- 2020s2(1 EF3+)
- 2010s5
- 2000s14
- 1990s20
- 1980s13
- 1970s5
- 1960s3
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2020 | EF3 | 2 mi | 28.51 mi | 3 / 33 |
| Feb 10, 1981 | F2 | 7 mi | 19.9 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Apr 29, 2006 | F2 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 16, 2001 | F2 | 5 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 1, 1999 | F2 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | 25 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 6, 1987 | F2 | 16 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 6, 1987 | F2 | 13 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 10, 1983 | F2 | 16 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 28, 1982 | F2 | 15 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F2 | 17 mi | 26.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 64, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Onalaska
The Storm Prediction Center has 36 hail reports within 10 miles of Onalaska since 1976, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.5 inches (grapefruit size), fell on May 9, 2019. The most recent report is from March 8, 2025. May has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Onalaska
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Livingston 2 NNE, TX, 12 miles southeast of Onalaska at 178 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 95°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 40°F. June is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 51.0 inches over 62 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (25.2 of 51.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 34 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 4.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 103 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 37 nights a year. That 51.0 inches is more than at 282 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (90%). Trinity, 16 miles northwest, has its own station (Huntsville Municipal Airport, TX): 43.7 inches a year, 7.3 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 95°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 40 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Feb | 66 | 43 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Mar | 73 | 51 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Apr | 79 | 57 | 4.3 | 4 |
| May | 85 | 66 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Jun | 92 | 72 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Aug | 96 | 74 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Sep | 90 | 68 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Nov | 71 | 49 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 42 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Year | 79 | 58 | 51.0 | 62 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Livingston 2 NNE, TX (178 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 Onalaska
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 43 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Onalaska: 32 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods and 2 floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $323.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 135 mph, on February 10, 1998. May has had the most flash floods, 4 of 9. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 176 have had fewer than Onalaska.
August 26, 2017: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Onalaska — $300.0 million damage.
NWS: “ The lowest homes and businesses within close vicinity of the lake, Trinity River and Long King Creek flooded. Roads along the southern end of Lake Livingston such as FM 3278 were inaccessible, FM 3128 and FM 1988 near Long King Creek were flooded.”
February 10, 1998: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Onalaska — $17.8 million damage.
May 1, 2024: flood 1 mile from the centre of Onalaska — $3.1 million damage.
NWS: “Flooding from numerous heavy rain events in April and early May led to significant 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 Onalaska's ZIP code 77360 have filed 42 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1994, and were paid $1.1 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Texas Spring Flooding in 2024: 12 claims (29% of all) and $734,000. 62% 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, 143 have fewer than Onalaska.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Spring Flooding2024 | 12 | $734,000 |
Polk County, which includes Onalaska, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 20 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 7 floods, 4 fires, 4 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Polk County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and tornadoes; Relatively Low for inland flooding and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $24.5 million a year, the 77th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $7.2 million (30%), 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 Onalaska
- Coldspring, TX14 mi
- Livingston, TX15 mi
- Trinity, TX16 mi
- Goodrich, TX18 mi
- Groveton, TX19 mi
- Corrigan, TX22 mi
- Shepherd, TX24 mi
- Huntsville, TX24 mi
- New Waverly, TX28 mi
- Lovelady, TX29 mi
- Diboll, TX33 mi
- Willis, TX35 mi
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