NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Taft, 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
40 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Taft, Texas since 1851, 17 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Harold in 2023. Since 1950, 148 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 17
- Tropical storms
- 23
- Tornadoes
- 148
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Taft
The strongest storm to pass near Taft was an unnamed storm in 1886, a Category 4 hurricane with 138 mph winds when its centre passed 29 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Celia in 1970, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near Taft begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Harold in 2023, a tropical storm 59 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 5 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 40 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Taft has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 90% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 148 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on September 20, 1967, came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on October 24, 2002, killed 1 person. Of the 148, 14 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 51 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 27. The most recent tornado was on June 19, 2024. Taft has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 78% of the 753 Texas cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 19 times since 1958, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 94% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Taft.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Taft
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | HaroldAug 22 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | NicholasSep 13 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BetaSep 22 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 26 | 23 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2015 | BillJun 16 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | DonJul 30 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2010 | HermineSep 7 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | ClaudetteJul 15 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | FaySep 7 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1999 | BretAug 23 | 72 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | FrancesSep 11 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | CharleyAug 22 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1993 | ArleneJun 20 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1978 | AmeliaJul 31 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | FernSep 11 | 18 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | CeliaAug 3 | 4 mi | Category 3 (125 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1968 | CandyJun 23 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | AbbyAug 8 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | CarlaSep 11 | 62 mi | Category 4 (131 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | Unnamed 1960 stormJun 24 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1958 | EllaSep 6 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 27 | 26 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 30 | 48 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJun 27 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJul 25 | 10 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormJun 28 | 55 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormSep 14 | 50 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 19 | 59 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormJun 28 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormOct 17 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormSep 14 | 74 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 26 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 6 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormAug 20 | 29 mi | Category 4 (138 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 13 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 16 | 5 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormJul 5 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormAug 17 | 13 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormJul 15 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormJun 26 | 19 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Taft: 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 Taft
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s26
- 2000s20
- 1990s19
- 1980s11
- 1970s21
- 1960s37(2 EF3+)
- 1950s9(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 20, 1967 | F3 | 21 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 8, 1963 | F3 | 14 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 22, 1954 | F3 | in town | 20.5 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Oct 24, 2002 | F2 | 14 mi | 2.5 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Jun 2, 2010 | EF2 | 16 mi | 3.76 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 9, 1980 | F2 | 8 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1976 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 9, 1968 | F2 | 24 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 22, 1967 | F2 | 13 mi | 18.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1965 | F2 | 23 mi | 11.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1965 | F2 | 13 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 18, 1961 | F2 | 23 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 148, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Taft
The Storm Prediction Center has 19 hail reports within 10 miles of Taft since 1958, made on 16 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and 6 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently November 1, 2025. The most recent report is from November 1, 2025. May has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Taft
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Welder Wildlife Foundation, TX, 10 miles north of Taft at 50 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 94°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 66°F and 44°F. September is the wettest at 5.7 inches of precipitation on average and April the driest at 1.9 inches; the year adds up to 36.3 inches over 46 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 61% of the year's precipitation (22.2 of 36.3 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 113 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 8 nights a year. That 36.3 inches is more than at 170 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (54%). Gregory, 6 miles southeast, has its own station (Port Aransas, TX): 35.5 inches a year, 0.8 less than here, and an August average high of 89°F against 94°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station La Quinta Channel North, TX, 9 miles southeast, averaged 88°F in August and 59°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to October. Sea level at the Rockport tide gauge, 20 miles from Taft, has risen 2.38 ± 0.09 inches per decade from 1937 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 23.8 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 132 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | 44 | 2.0 | 4 | 59 |
| Feb | 70 | 48 | 2.0 | 3 | 63 |
| Mar | 75 | 54 | 2.8 | 3 | 70 |
| Apr | 80 | 60 | 1.9 | 2 | 76 |
| May | 86 | 68 | 3.4 | 4 | 82 |
| Jun | 91 | 73 | 3.8 | 5 | 87 |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 3.4 | 4 | 87 |
| Aug | 94 | 74 | 3.0 | 3 | 88 |
| Sep | 90 | 70 | 5.7 | 7 | 87 |
| Oct | 84 | 62 | 3.7 | 4 | 81 |
| Nov | 75 | 52 | 2.6 | 4 | 72 |
| Dec | 68 | 45 | 2.0 | 3 | 65 |
| Year | 81 | 60 | 36.3 | 46 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Welder Wildlife Foundation, TX (50 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station La Quinta Channel North, 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 Taft
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 75 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Taft: 41 flash floods, 32 thunderstorm wind reports and 2 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $41.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on January 9, 2011. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 639 have had fewer than Taft.
July 6, 2021: heavy rain event 3 miles from the centre of Taft — $32.5 million damage.
NWS: “449 million dollars across the county due to heavy rainfall. A 35 percent loss occurred with the sorghum crop.”
April 16, 2012: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Taft — $5.0 million damage.
March 17, 2024: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Taft — $1.3 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 Taft's ZIP code 78390 have filed 30 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1984, and were paid $314,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Harvey in 2017: 16 claims (53% of all) and $129,000. 67% 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, 117 have fewer than Taft.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Harvey2017 | 16 | $129,000 |
San Patricio County, which includes Taft, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1967, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 5 floods, 3 fires, 3 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives San Patricio County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail, coastal flooding and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $39.5 million a year, the 45th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $15.8 million (40%), 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).
Taft in the notable storm records: Hurricane Harvey (2017)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Taft
- Gregory, TX6 mi
- Portland, TX7 mi
- Sinton, TX10 mi
- Ingleside, TX13 mi
- Odem, TX14 mi
- Aransas Pass, TX14 mi
- Corpus Christi, TX18 mi
- Rockport, TX20 mi
- Port Aransas, TX21 mi
- Robstown, TX24 mi
- Refugio, TX25 mi
- Skidmore, TX27 mi
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