NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Shepherd, 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
42 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Shepherd, Texas since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 70 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 6
- Tropical storms
- 36
- Tornadoes
- 70
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Shepherd
The strongest storm to pass near Shepherd was an unnamed storm in 1900, a Category 2 hurricane with 101 mph winds when its centre passed 71 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Ike in 2008, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Shepherd begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a tropical storm 38 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 7 systems. Of the 42 systems, 7 have come since 2000. Shepherd has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 78% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 70 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on December 28, 2024, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on December 10, 1983, killed 1 person. Of the 70, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 33 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 12. Of the 753 Texas cities, 76% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Shepherd. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 31 times since 1960, with stones up to 3 inches (tea cup size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 83% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Shepherd.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Shepherd
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | NicholasSep 14 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | CindyJun 22 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | IkeSep 13 | 13 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2008 | EdouardAug 5 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | HumbertoSep 13 | 72 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | RitaSep 24 | 54 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | JerryOct 16 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | ChantalAug 1 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | AllisonJun 27 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1987 | Unnamed 1987 stormAug 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | BonnieJun 26 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1983 | AliciaAug 18 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | ClaudetteJul 25 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | FeliceSep 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1963 | CindySep 18 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | DebraJul 25 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1957 | BerthaAug 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 25 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormJul 28 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 21 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 8 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormOct 17 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormJun 23 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 9 | 71 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 28 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 13 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 6 | overhead | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 6 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 14 | 72 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 15 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 23 | 44 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 18 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 29 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 20 | 61 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 Shepherd: 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 Shepherd
By decade
- 2020s4(1 EF3+)
- 2010s11
- 2000s18
- 1990s18(1 EF3+)
- 1980s10
- 1970s5
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF3 | 20 mi | 10.34 mi | 0 / 10 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F3 | 13 mi | 32 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 12, 1968 | F3 | 22 mi | 6.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 22, 1957 | F3 | 17 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 29, 2006 | F2 | 12 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 16, 2001 | F2 | 23 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 23, 1997 | F2 | 22 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | 14 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 17, 1989 | F2 | 23 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 6, 1987 | F2 | 13 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1979 | F2 | 16 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F2 | 24 mi | 22.1 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 70, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Shepherd
The Storm Prediction Center has 31 hail reports within 10 miles of Shepherd since 1960, made on 25 separate days. Of these, 19 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 3 inches (tea cup size), was reported on 2 days, most recently May 25, 2011. The most recent report is from June 12, 2025. May has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Shepherd
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cleveland, TX, 10 miles southwest of Shepherd at 196 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 39°F. October is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 55.8 inches over 68 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (29.6 of 55.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 42 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (15); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 88 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 30 nights a year. That 55.8 inches is more than at 298 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (96%). Goodrich, 8 miles northeast, has its own station (Livingston 2 NNE, TX): 51.0 inches a year, 4.8 less than here, and an August average high of 96°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 39 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Feb | 65 | 43 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 49 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Apr | 77 | 55 | 3.7 | 4 |
| May | 83 | 63 | 5.3 | 5 |
| Jun | 89 | 70 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Sep | 88 | 66 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Oct | 79 | 56 | 5.8 | 5 |
| Nov | 69 | 47 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Dec | 62 | 40 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Year | 77 | 56 | 55.8 | 68 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cleveland, TX (196 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 Shepherd
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 35 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Shepherd: 24 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $923,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 72 mph, on August 19, 2014. May has had the most flash floods, 4 of 10. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 201 have had fewer than Shepherd.
May 27, 2016: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Shepherd — $500,000 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 Shepherd's ZIP code 77371 have filed 112 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $2.4 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1994: 22 claims (20% of all) and $423,000, then Hurricane Harvey in 2017 with 17. The year with the most claims was 2017, with 17. 61% 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, 235 have fewer than Shepherd.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1994 | 22 | $423,000 |
| Hurricane Harvey2017 | 17 | $853,000 |
San Jacinto County, which includes Shepherd, has been named in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 9 floods, 5 severe storms, 3 fires). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives San Jacinto County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $14.1 million a year, the 117th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $6.4 million (45%), 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 Shepherd
- Goodrich, TX8 mi
- Coldspring, TX12 mi
- Cleveland, TX13 mi
- Livingston, TX17 mi
- Splendora, TX21 mi
- Onalaska, TX24 mi
- New Caney, TX24 mi
- New Waverly, TX28 mi
- Conroe, TX29 mi
- Willis, TX30 mi
- Porter, TX31 mi
- Huffman, TX31 mi
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