From 1980 to the present, 82 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected the U.S. state of Texas. According to David Roth of the Weather Prediction Center, a tropical cyclone makes landfall along the coastline about three times every four years. On any segment of the coastline, a hurricane makes landfall about once every six years.
The most active month is September, with 21 total storms, while no recorded storms have affected Texas during the months of December through May. The most intense storm in terms of barometric pressure and maximum sustained winds is Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which also caused the most fatalities and damages, with $125 billion in Texas. The first storm to impact the state during the period is Hurricane Allen in August 1980, with the most recent being Hurricane Beryl in July 2024.
During the 1980s, multiple tropical cyclones affected the state, of which six made landfall as hurricanes; two made landfall in the state as major hurricanes. Hurricane Alicia is the most destructive hurricane of the decade, severely impacting the Greater Houston area. The names of all the major hurricanes that impacted Texas during the 1980s were later retired by the World Meteorological Organization. In contrast to the 1980s, during the 1990s only one hurricane, Hurricane Bret, made landfall on the Texas coast. In the next decade five hurricanes would make landfall on Texas. Hurricane Ike, the second costliest hurricane to impact Texas, made landfall during the decade. Other notable systems include Tropical Storm Allison and Hurricane Rita.
1980–1984
August 10, 1980 – Hurricane Allen makes landfall near Brownsville as a hurricane. A wind gust of is reported in Port Mansfield. Heavy rainfall is reported across South Texas, with a peak of in Kingsville. Nearly all structures on South Padre Island are destroyed. At least 12 tornadoes are also reported as a result of Allen. One damages hangars and aircraft at Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, causing $250 million in damages. Two deaths are directly attributed to Allen, both of which are drownings in the Corpus Christi area, with five others indirectly killed. An estimated $600 million in damages are attributed to Allen. September 5, 1980 – Tropical Storm Danielle makes landfall near Galveston Bay as a weak tropical storm. As it moves inland, it causes severe and widespread flooding across Texas. Areas are inundated by the rain, peaking at in Nederland. One person is killed due to rains associated with Danielle. Mid-November 1980 – Hurricane Jeanne over the Western Gulf of Mexico causes tides to rise up to above average along the Texas coast. Coastal flooding also occurs, with the worst being near Galveston. Minimal damage is reported. Late-August 1981 – Tropical Depression Eight moves ashore northeast Mexico on August 29 and into the United States on August 30. As an ill-defined surface low, a large thunderstorm complex forms near its center that day, which unleashes very heavy rainfall in a wide band covering a path from Seguin to north of Houston. The highest rainfall amount reported is from Cheapside, where falls in a 24‑hour period ending on the morning of August 31. Five die in the town of Shiner due to the heavy rains. Heavy rain in downtown Hallettsville causes floods and torrential rain, reaching a peak of . Significant flooding also occurs along the Lavaca, Guadalupe, and Colorado rivers in Texas. Damages from the floods amount to nearly $21 million. October 13, 1981 – Hurricane Norma makes landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico, but its remnants produce of rain near Dallas-Fort Worth, killing five. Multiple tornadoes touch down in six counties in the region, injuring three. Hurricane Norma causes $50 million in damages and kills three people in Texas. September 11, 1982 – Tropical Storm Chris makes landfall near Sabine Pass. Before landfall the storm causes tides of in height. Rainfall from Chris peaks at in Evadale.
August 18, 1983 – Hurricane Alicia makes landfall near Galveston as a Category 3 hurricane. Alicia causes $2.6 billion in damage and 13 fatalities, along with an estimated 5,805 residential structures either heavily damaged or destroyed. In advance of Alicia, offshore drilling platforms are evacuated. At one point during the storm, the entire city of Galveston loses power, with 250,000 electricity customers in Houston losing power as well. At the time, Hurricane Alicia is the costliest hurricane to impact Texas, not adjusting for inflation. High rainfall totals are reported across Southeast Texas, with a peak of of rain in Liberty. The peak wind gust in Galveston is . An estimated storm surge of up to is estimated in Galveston Bay. Alicia also causes 23 tornadoes, concentrated around the Galveston and Tyler areas. August 28, 1983 – Hurricane Barry, a Category 1, makes landfall just south of Brownsville and forces the evacuation of 4,000 people, but causes minor damage. Mid-October 1983 – The remnants of Hurricane Tico from the Eastern Pacific cause rainfall over much of Texas, most of which is in northern Texas, where rainfall peaks at in Quanah. Numerous road closures take place due to the floods caused by the remnants of Tico. In Val Verde County, 100 people are evacuated due to the heavy rain. Tico's remnants kill one person and cause $93 million in damages. Mid-September 1984 – The remnants of Tropical Storm Edouard cause severe flooding in South Texas, where some isolated locations receive totals in excess of .
1985–1989 October 11, 1985 – The remnants of Hurricane Waldo produce rainfall over most of West Texas, with multiple rain totals of at least . Late-October 1985 – Hurricane Juan dumps up to of rain in extreme southeastern Texas, peaking at in Alto, killing one coastal resident. The rains cause widespread floods that lead to road closures, and gusty winds cause some power outages. Coastal flooding is also reported as a result of high tides caused by Juan. June 26, 1986 – Hurricane Bonnie makes landfall near High Island in Southeast Texas as a Category 1 hurricane, killing four people in Texas and producing heavy rainfall that causes street flooding. Rainfall peaks at , with many areas picking up at least . Bonnie also spawns four tornadoes in Texas. August 6, 1986 – A tropical depression produces rain over South Texas with a maximum total of near Refugio. September 23, 1986 – The remnants of Hurricane Newton produce rainfall totals over the Texas Panhandle with an area of near the border between New Mexico and Texas, peaking at in Wharton. Early-October 1986 – The remnants of Hurricane Paine produce widespread rainfall over western and northern Texas, most of which receives at least an inch of rain, with in Wellington. October 22, 1986 – The remnants of Hurricane Roslyn produce rainfall over much of southern and eastern Texas, with the heaviest totals along the middle Texas coast, where rainfall totals exceeds . Roslyn causes low-water crossings and streams to flood.
August 10, 1987 – An unnamed storm makes landfall near High Island, Texas, producing over of rain to eastern portions of the state, peaking at in Umbarger. August 12, 1988 – Tropical Storm Beryl produces heavy rainfall over East Texas. Some areas receive of rain, causing localized flash flooding. September 2, 1988 – Tropical Depression Ten produces heavy rain over Southeast Texas, peaking at in Galveston. September 17, 1988 – Hurricane Gilbert makes landfall in northern Mexico with winds of and causes tides to rise up to above normal. As a result, beach erosion is reported on Padre Island. Rainfall peaks at in Anson. Minor wind damage is reported from Gilbert. Twenty-nine tornadoes are recorded across Texas, with the worst damage in San Antonio. Gilbert causes three deaths in Texas, all resulting from tornadoes in San Antonio. Damages from Gilbert total to $50 million. Late-June 1989 – Tropical Storm Allison makes landfall near Freeport, causing three deaths in the state. Tropical Storm Allison produces torrential rainfall across the state, with amounts of more than over much of the upper Texas coast, peaking at in Orange. Storm surge from the storm measures in Trinity Bay. As a result, beach erosion is reported on Padre Island. Allison causes an estimated $400 million in Texas alone. August 1, 1989 – Hurricane Chantal makes landfall as a minimal hurricane at High Island, Texas, causing two deaths from flash flooding. Early-October 1989 – Hurricane Raymond from the East Pacific causes rainfall in northern Texas, peaking at in Yorktown. October 16, 1989 – Hurricane Jerry affects the Galveston area as a minimal hurricane. The storm kills three people when a car is blown off The Galveston seawall. Jerry causes $70 million in damage and kills three.
1990–1994
October 3, 1990 – Tropical Storm Rachel's remnants affect portions of West Texas. Roads in Big Bend National Park are closed due to high water levels. Rainfall peaks at in Lubbock, causing minor street flooding, which leads to several car accidents. July 6, 1991 – Tropical Depression Two causes isolated rainfall over Texas, with a maximum total of reported within the vicinity of Anahuac. August 24, 1992 – The remnants of Hurricane Lester, which originated from the East Pacific, cause rainfall in North Texas, amounting up to in locations and peaking at in Chisos Basin. June 20, 1993 – Tropical Storm Arlene makes landfall near Padre Island. Heavy beach erosion occurs as a result of the storm. Arlene causes $55 million in damage and its flooding rains kill one person. September 14, 1993 – Hurricane Lidia moves into Texas before being absorbed by a cold front near Austin. Lidia's remnants cause moderate rainfall across the state, peaking at in Denton. The combination of the front and the hurricane's remnants trigger tornadoes, and one causes more than $8 million in damages. Five people are injured in Arlington after a roof is torn off their hotel. Mid-October 1994 – The remnants of Hurricane Rosa cause severe flooding in Texas. In some locations the flood is considered a 100-year event, peaking at in Cypress. The floods kill 22 people and cause $700 million in damages.
1995–1999 July 31, 1995 – Tropical Storm Dean makes landfall near Freeport. Dean drops nearly of rain in Monroe City. The rainfall results in moderate localized damage. August 12, 1995 – Tropical Storm Gabrielle makes landfall just south of the Texas–Mexico border as a strong tropical storm, producing rainfall in southern Texas, peaking at in Weslaco. Slight storm surge associated with Gabrielle floods beaches along the southern Texas coast. September 16, 1995 – Hurricane Ismael's remnants move across the Texas Panhandle. Rainfall peaks at in Ransom Canyon, and flash flooding results in the area. August 23, 1996 – Hurricane Dolly makes landfall near Tampico, Mexico. The storm causes beneficial rainfall in southern Texas, peaking at in Corpus Christi, providing drought relief to the area. October 4, 1996 – Tropical Storm Josephine forms just offshore of the Texas coast, bringing heavy rain to the state. Rainfall peaks at in Brownsville. The storm, although remaining offshore, causes severe beach erosion across much of the coast. Several houses are lost and up to of shore-front property on Galveston Island is eroded. August 23, 1998 – Tropical Storm Charley makes landfall near Port Aransas. Severe inland flooding occurs in Val Verde Country and 13 people are killed. Del Rio records of rain in 24 hours from the storm, a city record and the most rainfall from a tropical cyclone in Texas since Tropical Storm Claudette in 1979.