NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Zavalla, 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
33 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Zavalla, Texas since 1851, 5 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Beryl in 2024. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 5
- Tropical storms
- 28
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Zavalla
The strongest storm to pass near Zavalla was Laura in 2020, a Category 2 hurricane with 99 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1879, whose centre came within 15 miles. The record near Zavalla begins with an unnamed storm in 1865; the most recent system was Beryl in 2024, a tropical storm 55 miles away. Of the 33 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Zavalla has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 75% of the 753 Texas cities on this site. The highest rating among the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on December 23, 2009, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on November 13, 1972, killed 2 people. Of the 54, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 15 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 11. The most recent tornado was on March 4, 2025. Of the 753 Texas cities, 86% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Zavalla. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 20 times since 1959, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 753 Texas cities, 93% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Zavalla.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Zavalla
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | BerylJul 8 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2020 | LauraAug 27 | 63 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | BarryJul 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | CindyJun 22 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | IkeSep 13 | 53 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2008 | GustavSep 2 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2007 | HumbertoSep 13 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | RitaSep 24 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | JerryOct 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1987 | Unnamed 1987 stormAug 10 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1986 | BonnieJun 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1982 | ChrisSep 11 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | ClaudetteJul 25 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 9 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | DebraJul 26 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1957 | BerthaAug 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 27 | 62 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1954 | BarbaraJul 29 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormOct 4 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 20 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormSep 24 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 8 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormAug 15 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 7 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormJul 6 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormJul 6 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormOct 13 | 39 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 15 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 23 | 15 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 18 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormJun 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormSep 14 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Zavalla: 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 Zavalla
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s7
- 2000s6(2 EF3+)
- 1990s12(1 EF3+)
- 1980s10
- 1970s5(1 EF3+)
- 1960s8
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 23, 2009 | EF3 | 24 mi | 4.06 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 30, 2002 | F3 | 10 mi | 49 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Feb 19, 1991 | F3 | 25 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 19, 1974 | F3 | 11 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Nov 13, 1972 | F2 | 5 mi | 3.3 mi | 2 / 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF2 | 22 mi | 8.63 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 10, 1983 | F2 | 5 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F2 | 10 mi | 26.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1972 | F2 | 23 mi | 18.7 mi | 0 / 13 |
| Apr 21, 1968 | F2 | 10 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 20, 1967 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 24, 1961 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Zavalla
The Storm Prediction Center has 20 hail reports within 10 miles of Zavalla since 1959, made on 18 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 20, 2003. The most recent report is from April 26, 2017. April and May have the most reports, 8 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Zavalla
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Sam Rayburn Dam, TX, 17 miles east of Zavalla at 189 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 95°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 41°F. December is the wettest at 6.1 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 59.9 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 48% of the year's precipitation (28.9 of 59.9 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 33 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 94 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 30 nights a year. That 59.9 inches is more than at 303 of the 312 Texas stations used on this site (97%). Huntington, 11 miles northwest, has its own station (Lufkin Angelina Co Airport, TX): 50.2 inches a year, 9.7 less than here, and an August average high of 94°F against 95°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 41 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Feb | 64 | 45 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Mar | 71 | 51 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 58 | 4.6 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 66 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 73 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Jul | 94 | 75 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Aug | 95 | 74 | 5.0 | 7 |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 59 | 5.2 | 5 |
| Nov | 70 | 50 | 5.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 62 | 43 | 6.1 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 59 | 59.9 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Sam Rayburn Dam, TX (189 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 Zavalla
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 36 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Zavalla: 26 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods and 1 flood. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $43,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on January 27, 1997. August has had the most flash floods, 4 of 9. Of the 745 Texas cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 176 have had fewer than Zavalla.
May 28, 2001: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Zavalla — 1 injured, $22,000 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
Angelina County, which includes Zavalla, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1989, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 3 fires, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Beryl, on July 9, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Angelina County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and heat waves; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $23.4 million a year, the 81st highest of 254 Texas counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $9.5 million (41%), 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 Zavalla
- Huntington, TX11 mi
- Colmesneil, TX16 mi
- Brookeland, TX22 mi
- Bronson, TX24 mi
- Jasper, TX24 mi
- Diboll, TX25 mi
- Lufkin, TX25 mi
- Woodville, TX27 mi
- San Augustine, TX28 mi
- Corrigan, TX28 mi
- Pollok, TX36 mi
- Nacogdoches, TX37 mi
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