NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Sandia, 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
32 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Sandia, Texas since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 105 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 23
- Tornadoes
- 105
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Sandia
The strongest storm to pass near Sandia was an unnamed storm in 1886, a Category 3 hurricane with 122 mph winds when its centre passed 46 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Celia in 1970, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Sandia begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 57 miles away. The 1910s and the 1990s were the busiest decades, with 4 systems each. Of the 32 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Sandia has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 105 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 29, 1976, came within 20 miles. Of the 105, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 34 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 24. The most recent tornado was on June 12, 2025. Sandia has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 49% of the 753 Texas cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 42 times since 1966, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 75% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Sandia.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Sandia
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 26 | 51 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | ClaudetteJul 15 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | FrancesSep 11 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | CharleyAug 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1993 | ArleneJun 20 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 31 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | FernSep 11 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | CeliaAug 4 | 5 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 23 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1967 | BeulahSep 21 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1960 | Unnamed 1960 stormJun 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | EllaSep 6 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 27 | 60 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 30 | 65 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJun 27 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJul 25 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormJun 29 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 15 | 45 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 19 | 45 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormJun 28 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormOct 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 26 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 28 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormAug 20 | 46 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 13 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 38 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormAug 17 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormJul 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormJun 26 | 19 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 Sandia: 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 Sandia
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s11
- 2000s17
- 1990s16
- 1980s6
- 1970s15(1 EF3+)
- 1960s28(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 1976 | F3 | 20 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 16, 1969 | F3 | 7 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 10, 1980 | F2 | 24 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 26, 1976 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 7, 1976 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 3, 1970 | F2 | 3 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 12, 1969 | F2 | 20 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 1968 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 22, 1967 | F2 | 13 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1965 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 1, 1964 | F2 | 21 mi | 6.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 29, 1963 | F2 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 105, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Sandia
The Storm Prediction Center has 42 hail reports within 10 miles of Sandia since 1966, made on 28 separate days. Of these, 27 were 1 inch across or larger, and 7 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 4, 2014. The most recent report is from May 6, 2025. May has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Sandia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mathis 4 SSW, TX, 4 miles southeast of Sandia 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 32 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%). Skidmore, 19 miles northeast, has its own station (Beeville 5 NE, TX): 32.1 inches a year, 4.5 more than here, and the same August average high, 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 Sandia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 51 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Sandia: 26 thunderstorm wind reports, 16 flash floods and 9 floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $6.5 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, 5 of 16. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 363 have had fewer than Sandia.
June 5, 2007: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Sandia — $2.5 million damage.
June 17, 2015: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Sandia — $1.5 million damage.
July 2, 2010: flood 10 miles from the centre of Sandia — $1.2 million damage.
NWS: “Between 5 and 8 inches of rain from Hurricane Alex left many creeks, County and Farm to Market roads flooded in western Nueces County. Many low water crossing were flooded along Agua Dulce creek a few days after the event, including crossings at CR 230, 226 and 239.”
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 Sandia's ZIP code 78383 have filed 32 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $156,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 2002, with 11. 72% 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, 124 have fewer than Sandia.
Live Oak County, which includes Sandia, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 hurricanes, 4 fires, 4 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, on September 1, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Live Oak County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail and heat waves; Very Low for inland flooding, strong wind and lightning. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $7.3 million a year, the 169th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.0 million (28%), 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 Sandia
- Mathis, TX7 mi
- Orange Grove, TX11 mi
- Skidmore, TX19 mi
- George West, TX19 mi
- Odem, TX22 mi
- Robstown, TX25 mi
- Alice, TX25 mi
- Sinton, TX25 mi
- Beeville, TX27 mi
- Bishop, TX33 mi
- Three Rivers, TX33 mi
- Taft, TX35 mi
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