NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wharton, 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
55 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wharton, Texas since 1851, 20 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 116 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 20
- Tropical storms
- 35
- Tornadoes
- 116
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Wharton
The strongest storm to pass near Wharton was an unnamed storm in 1900, a Category 3 hurricane with 112 mph winds when its centre passed 32 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1945, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near Wharton begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 6 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 7 systems, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 55 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Wharton has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 92% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 116 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on March 28, 1966, came within 8 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on September 20, 1967, killed 1 person. Of the 116, 20 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 38 have come since 2000. June and November have had the most tornadoes, 16 each. The most recent tornado was on June 12, 2025. Wharton has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 58% of the 753 Texas cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 45 times since 1962, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 72% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wharton.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wharton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 6 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | NicholasSep 14 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BetaSep 22 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | ImeldaSep 17 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2015 | BillJun 17 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | GraceAug 31 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | ClaudetteJul 15 | 65 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | FaySep 7 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 6 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | DeanJul 31 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1989 | JerryOct 16 | 66 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | AllisonJun 26 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | AliciaAug 18 | 44 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1980 | DanielleSep 6 | overhead | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | ElenaSep 1 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1973 | DeliaSep 6 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | FernSep 10 | 64 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | FeliceSep 16 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | AbbyAug 8 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1961 | CarlaSep 12 | 52 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | DebraJul 25 | 54 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 33 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 25 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormAug 28 | 4 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormJul 28 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1942 | Unnamed 1942 stormAug 30 | 71 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 30 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 23 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormAug 28 | 63 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 23 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormAug 14 | 12 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormJun 28 | 66 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormJun 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 17 | 23 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJul 21 | 9 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 27 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 10 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 9 | 32 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormJun 27 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 13 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormOct 7 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 5 | 42 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 5 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJun 17 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormSep 24 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormJun 24 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 17 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormJul 4 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 9 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 4 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1866 | Unnamed 1866 stormJul 15 | 56 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 29 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 19 | 7 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wharton: 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 Wharton
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s9
- 2000s24
- 1990s31
- 1980s6
- 1970s15
- 1960s21(3 EF3+)
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1965 | F3 | 11 mi | 0.2 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Mar 28, 1966 | F3 | 8 mi | 9.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 22, 1961 | F3 | 6 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 7, 1993 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 1981 | F2 | 21 mi | 3.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1972 | F2 | 2 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 1970 | F2 | 12 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 1970 | F2 | 6 mi | 1.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 1966 | F2 | in town | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 15, 1964 | F2 | in town | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 4, 1964 | F2 | 24 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 11, 1961 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 116, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wharton
The Storm Prediction Center has 45 hail reports within 10 miles of Wharton since 1962, made on 31 separate days. Of these, 23 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on October 30, 1969. The most recent report is from December 5, 2016. April has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wharton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is El Campo, TX, 13 miles southwest of Wharton at 110 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 96°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 65°F and 42°F. September and November are the wettest at 5.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 49.6 inches over 54 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 61% of the year's precipitation (30.1 of 49.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 55 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 93°F and 5.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 130 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 11 nights a year. That 49.6 inches is more than at 265 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (85%). Boling, 11 miles east, has its own station (Bay City Wtr Wks, TX): 49.0 inches a year, 0.6 less than here, and an August average high of 91°F against 96°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65 | 42 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Feb | 68 | 46 | 2.0 | 4 |
| Mar | 76 | 53 | 2.8 | 4 |
| Apr | 82 | 59 | 3.1 | 4 |
| May | 88 | 67 | 4.8 | 3 |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 4.9 | 5 |
| Jul | 95 | 75 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Aug | 96 | 74 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Sep | 93 | 70 | 5.7 | 6 |
| Oct | 85 | 60 | 5.6 | 4 |
| Nov | 75 | 51 | 5.7 | 4 |
| Dec | 67 | 45 | 3.7 | 4 |
| Year | 82 | 60 | 49.6 | 54 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at El Campo, TX (110 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 Wharton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 56 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wharton: 49 thunderstorm wind reports and 7 flash floods. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $3.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on November 23, 2004. November has had the most flash floods, 3 of 7. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 115 have had fewer than Wharton.
November 17, 2003: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Wharton — 1 killed, 1 injured, $3.0 million damage.
NWS: “Extensive flooding in and around the Sharpstown area. One 17 year old female fatality with one 18 year old male injury when van they were driving became flooded outside of high school.”
May 8, 2005: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Wharton — $200,000 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 Wharton's ZIP code 77488 have filed 695 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $33.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Harvey in 2017: 374 claims (54% of all) and $26.4 million, then Flooding in 2002 with 105 and Spring severe storms in 2016 with 27. 76% 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, 352 have fewer than Wharton.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Harvey2017 | 374 | $26.4 million |
| Flooding2002 | 105 | $1.1 million |
| Spring severe storms2016 | 27 | $848,000 |
Wharton County, which includes Wharton, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1990, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 4 floods, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Wharton County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail and lightning; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $35.0 million a year, the 50th highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.2 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 Wharton
- Boling, TX11 mi
- El Campo, TX14 mi
- East Bernard, TX15 mi
- Beasley, TX15 mi
- Needville, TX17 mi
- Van Vleck, TX22 mi
- Wallis, TX22 mi
- Eagle Lake, TX23 mi
- Rosenberg, TX23 mi
- Bay City, TX27 mi
- Richmond, TX27 mi
- West Columbia, TX28 mi
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