NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Penitas, 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
30 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Penitas, Texas since 1851, 5 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 30 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 5
- Tropical storms
- 25
- Tornadoes
- 30
- 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 Penitas
The strongest storm to pass near Penitas was Allen in 1980, a Category 2 hurricane with 98 mph winds when its centre passed 38 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1880, whose centre came within 14 miles. The record near Penitas begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 73 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1930s, with 4 systems. Of the 30 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Penitas has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 75% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The strongest of the 30 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on March 15, 1983; its path came within 16 miles. Of the 30, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 8 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on June 30, 2011. Of the 753 Texas cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Penitas. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 37 times since 1969, with stones up to 4.5 inches (grapefruit size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 78% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Penitas.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Penitas
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | HannaJul 26 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | DollyJul 24 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 62 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1983 | BarryAug 29 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1980 | AllenAug 10 | 38 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 31 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1975 | CarolineSep 1 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1971 | FernSep 12 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1967 | BeulahSep 20 | 43 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1958 | GerdaSep 20 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | AlmaJun 15 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | AliceJun 25 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 2 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 23 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormSep 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormAug 5 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJun 28 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormSep 7 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 15 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormAug 31 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormSep 22 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 23 | 67 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 13 | 14 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 5 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormJun 26 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Penitas: 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 Penitas
By decade
- 2010s1
- 2000s7
- 1990s3
- 1980s11(1 EF3+)
- 1970s2
- 1960s5
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 15, 1983 | F3 | 16 mi | 6.1 mi | 0 / 10 |
| May 5, 1991 | F2 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1967 | F2 | 3 mi | 40.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 2011 | EF1 | 18 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 16, 2007 | EF1 | 14 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 2003 | F1 | 1 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 11 |
| May 21, 2001 | F1 | 8 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 21, 2001 | F1 | 8 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 1994 | F1 | 16 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 1983 | F1 | 20 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 29, 1981 | F1 | 9 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F1 | 1 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 30, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Penitas
The Storm Prediction Center has 37 hail reports within 10 miles of Penitas since 1969, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 29 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.5 inches (grapefruit size), fell on March 14, 1997. The most recent report is from May 17, 2024. April has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Penitas
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is La Joya, TX, 9 miles northeast of Penitas at 213 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 97°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 69°F and 47°F. September is the wettest at 3.5 inches of precipitation on average and January the driest at 0.8 inches; the year adds up to 20.3 inches over 31 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 60% of the year's precipitation (12.2 of 20.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 30 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (13); a normal September there has highs of 92°F and 3.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 183 days a year, almost all from February to November. Lows fall below freezing on about 2 nights a year. That 20.3 inches is more than at 40 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (13%). Mission, 8 miles east, has its own station (Mcallen, TX): 18.8 inches a year, 1.5 less than here, and an August average high of 99°F against 97°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69 | 47 | 0.8 | 2 |
| Feb | 74 | 51 | 0.9 | 2 |
| Mar | 79 | 57 | 1.4 | 2 |
| Apr | 85 | 63 | 1.7 | 2 |
| May | 90 | 70 | 1.9 | 2 |
| Jun | 95 | 74 | 2.0 | 3 |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Aug | 97 | 75 | 1.2 | 2 |
| Sep | 92 | 71 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Oct | 87 | 64 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Nov | 78 | 55 | 1.1 | 2 |
| Dec | 71 | 48 | 1.4 | 2 |
| Year | 84 | 63 | 20.3 | 31 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at La Joya, TX (213 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 Penitas
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 54 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Penitas: 34 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods, 5 floods and 5 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $48.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on May 31, 2016. June has had the most flash floods, 3 of 10. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 201 have had fewer than Penitas.
June 21, 2018: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Penitas — $21.0 million damage.
May 31, 2016: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Penitas — $10.5 million damage.
July 9, 2010: flood 8 miles from the centre of Penitas — $8.0 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 Penitas's ZIP code 78576 have filed 11 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 2012, and were paid $746,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 91% 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, 13 have fewer than Penitas.
Hidalgo County, which includes Penitas, has been named in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 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 Hidalgo County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and hail; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $309.8 million a year, the 9th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $126.7 million (41%), 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 Penitas
- La Joya, TX3 mi
- Sullivan City, TX7 mi
- Mission, TX8 mi
- Mcallen, TX13 mi
- Hidalgo, TX16 mi
- Pharr, TX17 mi
- Alton, TX18 mi
- San Juan, TX19 mi
- Rio Grande City, TX20 mi
- Edinburg, TX20 mi
- Alamo, TX21 mi
- Weslaco, TX22 mi
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