NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Palacios, 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
58 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Palacios, Texas since 1851, 28 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 61 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 28
- Tropical storms
- 30
- Tornadoes
- 61
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Palacios
The strongest storm to pass near Palacios was an unnamed storm in 1886, a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds when its centre passed 55 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1945, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Palacios begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 14 miles away. The 1880s and the 1940s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 58 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Palacios has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 98% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 61 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on September 20, 1967; its path came within 3 miles, and it killed 4 people. Of the 61, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 12 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on May 13, 2024. Of the 753 Texas cities, 82% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Palacios. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 8 times since 1973, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 99% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Palacios.
Compare Palacios's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Palacios
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 14 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | NicholasSep 14 | 28 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BetaSep 22 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | ImeldaSep 17 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2015 | BillJun 16 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | GraceAug 31 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | ClaudetteJul 15 | 26 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | FaySep 7 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 5 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | FrancesSep 11 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | DeanJul 31 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1989 | AllisonJun 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | AliciaAug 18 | 71 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1980 | DanielleSep 6 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | ElenaSep 1 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | DeliaSep 5 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | FernSep 10 | 28 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 24 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | AbbyAug 8 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | CarlaSep 11 | 26 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | DebraJul 25 | 62 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 38 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 25 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 27 | overhead | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 30 | 38 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 23 | 38 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 23 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJun 27 | 74 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormAug 28 | 54 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJul 25 | 47 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 23 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormAug 14 | 48 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormJun 28 | 30 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormJun 22 | 18 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 17 | 62 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJul 21 | 31 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 27 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 10 | overhead | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 9 | 66 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormJun 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormOct 7 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 5 | 43 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJun 17 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormAug 20 | 55 mi | Category 4 (150 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormJun 24 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 63 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormJul 4 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 4 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormAug 17 | 48 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 3 | 69 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormJul 15 | 16 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 29 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 19 | 32 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormJun 25 | 47 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Palacios: 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 Palacios
By decade
- 2020s1
- 2010s2
- 2000s9
- 1990s15
- 1980s2
- 1970s9
- 1960s17(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 1967 | F3 | 3 mi | 1 mi | 4 / 7 |
| Sep 20, 1967 | F2 | 24 mi | 15.4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 18, 1955 | F2 | 3 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 13, 2024 | EF1 | 19 mi | 13.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 16, 2006 | F1 | 23 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 15, 2003 | F1 | 3 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 1993 | F1 | 3 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 1992 | F1 | 22 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1991 | F1 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 31, 1981 | F1 | 8 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 26, 1976 | F1 | 24 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 10, 1972 | F1 | 22 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 61, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Palacios
The Storm Prediction Center has 8 hail reports within 10 miles of Palacios since 1973. Of these, 5 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 26, 1973. The most recent report is from May 31, 2024.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Palacios
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Palacios Municipal Airport, TX, 2 miles west of Palacios at 12 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 79°F; January is the coolest, at 65°F and 46°F. September is the wettest at 5.9 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 1.9 inches; the year adds up to 43.3 inches over 54 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 60% of the year's precipitation (25.8 of 43.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 58 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (17); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 5.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 82 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 5 nights a year. That 43.3 inches is more than at 230 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (74%). Bay City, 23 miles northeast, has its own station (Bay City Wtr Wks, TX): 49.0 inches a year, 5.7 more than here, and an August average high of 91°F against 93°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Matagorda City, TX, 19 miles east, averaged 89°F in August and 57°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to September.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65 | 46 | 3.3 | 5 | 57 |
| Feb | 68 | 50 | 1.9 | 3 | 58 |
| Mar | 73 | 57 | 2.7 | 4 | 68 |
| Apr | 80 | 63 | 2.7 | 3 | 74 |
| May | 85 | 71 | 3.9 | 4 | 81 |
| Jun | 90 | 77 | 4.6 | 5 | 87 |
| Jul | 92 | 79 | 3.7 | 4 | 88 |
| Aug | 93 | 79 | 3.9 | 5 | 89 |
| Sep | 90 | 73 | 5.9 | 7 | 85 |
| Oct | 84 | 64 | 4.3 | 5 | 78 |
| Nov | 74 | 55 | 3.4 | 4 | 69 |
| Dec | 68 | 48 | 3.0 | 5 | 63 |
| Year | 80 | 64 | 43.3 | 54 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Palacios Municipal Airport, TX (12 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Matagorda City, TX, from NOAA Tides & Currents. 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 Palacios
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 23 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Palacios: 17 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 flash floods and 1 flood. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $376,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on June 12, 2025. May has had the most flash floods, 2 of 5. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 68 have had fewer than Palacios.
December 23, 2002: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Palacios — 1 injured, $150,000 damage.
NWS: “TV tower fell on trailor.”
May 10, 2023: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Palacios — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “Streets and homes were flooded across the Boca Chica Subdivision along County Road 473.”
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 Palacios's ZIP code 77465 have filed 238 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $2.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Harvey in 2017: 49 claims (21% of all) and $688,000, then Flooding in 1979 with 45 and Hurricane Claudette in 2003 with 27. 63% 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, 303 have fewer than Palacios.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Harvey2017 | 49 | $688,000 |
| Flooding1979 | 45 | $109,000 |
| Hurricane Claudette2003 | 27 | $166,000 |
| Hurricane Ike2008 | 10 | $31,000 |
Matagorda County, which includes Palacios, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 14 hurricanes, 5 floods, 3 fires, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Matagorda County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.3 million a year, the 54th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $20.1 million (60%), 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).
Palacios in the notable storm records: Tropical Storm Allison (2001)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Palacios
- Bay City, TX23 mi
- Port Lavaca, TX26 mi
- Ganado, TX26 mi
- Van Vleck, TX29 mi
- Edna, TX31 mi
- El Campo, TX32 mi
- Seadrift, TX37 mi
- Inez, TX38 mi
- Sweeny, TX38 mi
- Boling, TX40 mi
- Wharton, TX40 mi
- Brazoria, TX43 mi
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