Storms near Polk County
The record holds 43 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Polk County, Texas between 1854 and 2026. The busiest month is September, with 14 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 3 strength. 1 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 43storms within 50 km
- 1major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 12at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Polk County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 11 | 26% |
| Tropical storm | 19 | 44% |
| Category 1 | 9 | 21% |
| Category 2 | 2 | 5% |
| Category 3 | 1 | 2% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 1 | 2% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Polk County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2026, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1854, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 1 |
| 1860s | 1 |
| 1870s | 3 |
| 1880s | 3 |
| 1890s | 4 |
| 1910s | 1 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 4 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 2000s | 4 |
| 2010s | 1 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 0 |
| Jun | 6 |
| Jul | 9 |
| Aug | 10 |
| Sep | 14 |
| Oct | 4 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Polk County
- Rita (2005)18 September 2005 to 26 September 2005, Category 3 (100 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 897 hPa
- Ike (2008)1 September 2008 to 15 September 2008, Category 2 (95 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1879 (North Atlantic)19 August 1879 to 26 August 1879, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 964 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1886 (North Atlantic)4 October 1886 to 15 October 1886, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt)
- Unnamed storm of September 1897 (North Atlantic)10 September 1897 to 13 September 1897, peak Category 1 (75 kt)
Most recent storms near Polk County
- Edouard (2026)28 August 2026 to 3 September 2026, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 998 hPa, provisional
- Beryl (2024)28 June 2024 to 11 July 2024, Category 1 (70 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Imelda (2019)17 September 2019 to 19 September 2019, Tropical depression (30 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Polk County
- Rita (2005)18 September 2005 to 26 September 2005, peak Category 5 (155 kt), 897 hPa
- Beryl (2024)28 June 2024 to 11 July 2024, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Carmen (1974)29 August 1974 to 10 September 1974, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 928 hPa
- Ike (2008)1 September 2008 to 15 September 2008, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 935 hPa