NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Orange Grove, 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 Orange Grove, Texas since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 93 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 25
- Tornadoes
- 93
- 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 Orange Grove
The strongest storm to pass near Orange Grove was an unnamed storm in 1886, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 57 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Celia in 1970, whose centre came within 15 miles. The record near Orange Grove begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 48 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 5 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 34 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Orange Grove has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 93 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on May 16, 1969; its path came within 15 miles. Of the 93, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 32 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 24. The most recent tornado was on August 22, 2023. Of the 753 Texas cities, 59% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Orange Grove. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 22 times since 1959, with stones up to 3 inches (tea cup size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Orange Grove.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Orange Grove
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 26 | 61 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | DollyJul 24 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2003 | ClaudetteJul 15 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | FrancesSep 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | CharleyAug 22 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1993 | ArleneJun 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1980 | AllenAug 10 | 71 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 31 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | FernSep 11 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | CeliaAug 4 | 15 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 23 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1967 | BeulahSep 21 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1960 | Unnamed 1960 stormJun 24 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | EllaSep 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 27 | 66 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 13 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJun 27 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJul 25 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 15 | 36 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 19 | 34 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormJun 28 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormOct 17 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 15 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 26 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 36 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormAug 20 | 57 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 13 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 47 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormAug 17 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormJul 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormJun 26 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Orange Grove: 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 Orange Grove
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s13
- 2000s13
- 1990s14
- 1980s3
- 1970s11
- 1960s26(1 EF3+)
- 1950s7
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 1969 | F3 | 15 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F2 | 15 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 26, 1976 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 7, 1976 | F2 | 9 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 3, 1970 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 12, 1969 | F2 | 19 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 22, 1967 | F2 | 2 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1965 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 20, 1962 | F2 | 17 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 1, 1962 | F2 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1959 | F2 | 8 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1959 | F2 | 6 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 93, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Orange Grove
The Storm Prediction Center has 22 hail reports within 10 miles of Orange Grove since 1959, made on 17 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and 7 reached 2 inches. The largest, 3 inches (tea cup size), fell on May 10, 1959. The most recent report is from May 6, 2025. May has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Orange Grove
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mathis 4 SSW, TX, 13 miles northeast of Orange Grove at 138 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 96°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 66°F and 45°F. September is the wettest at 3.8 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 1.2 inches; the year adds up to 27.6 inches over 42 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (16.1 of 27.6 inches); the other six months are drier. August has brought the most of the 34 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal August there has highs of 96°F and 2.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 126 days a year, almost all from March to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 5 nights a year. That 27.6 inches is more than at 93 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (30%). Alice, 16 miles south, has its own station (Alice, TX): 27.2 inches a year, 0.4 less than here, and an August average high of 97°F against 96°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | 45 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Feb | 70 | 48 | 1.2 | 3 |
| Mar | 75 | 55 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Apr | 82 | 60 | 1.7 | 3 |
| May | 87 | 68 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Jul | 94 | 73 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Aug | 96 | 74 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Sep | 90 | 71 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Oct | 84 | 62 | 2.9 | 4 |
| Nov | 75 | 53 | 1.9 | 3 |
| Dec | 67 | 47 | 1.8 | 3 |
| Year | 81 | 61 | 27.6 | 42 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mathis 4 SSW, TX (138 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 Orange Grove
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 37 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Orange Grove: 18 flash floods, 15 thunderstorm wind reports, 3 floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 8, 2012. June has had the most flash floods, 7 of 18. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 394 have had fewer than Orange Grove.
June 17, 2015: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Orange Grove — $1.5 million damage.
NWS: “Street flooding occurred in Orange Grove. A high water rescue was performed for a woman in a trailer near a rapidly rising creek along Farm to Market Road 534 west of Sandia.”
April 4, 2014: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Orange Grove — $750,000 damage.
May 8, 2012: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Orange Grove — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “A NWS survey concluded that a downburst of straight-line winds occurred over the southern portion of the city of Orange Grove near the intersection of Highway 359 and County Road 374. The winds were estimated to be up to 80 mph.”
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 Orange Grove's ZIP code 78372 have filed 17 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $400,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 47% 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, 58 have fewer than Orange Grove.
Jim Wells County, which includes Orange Grove, has been named in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 5 floods, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storms, on February 19, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Jim Wells County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $38.2 million a year, the 46th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $10.6 million (28%), 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 Orange Grove
- Sandia, TX11 mi
- Alice, TX16 mi
- Mathis, TX17 mi
- George West, TX21 mi
- Robstown, TX27 mi
- San Diego, TX27 mi
- Odem, TX29 mi
- Skidmore, TX30 mi
- Bishop, TX30 mi
- Freer, TX31 mi
- Sinton, TX35 mi
- Kingsville, TX35 mi
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