The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to November 30 every year, with peak tropical storm activity occurring from August through mid-September. During hurricane season, Texas is among the handful of states most impacted by tropical storms. In fact, of the 301 hurricanes that have made landfall in the U.S. since 1851, 64 have hit the Lone Star State — only the state of Florida has experienced more hurricanes.
About once every six years, Texas residents can expect a landfall hurricane along any fifty mile segment of coast. [1] Considering that more than 300 miles of Texas are on the Gulf Coast, coastal residents should make sure they’re well prepared for hurricane season.
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What month does Texas have the most hurricanes?
While hurricanes can happen at any point between early summer and late fall, August is the most likely time for a hurricane to strike Texas. [2] That said, September is also a likely time for frequent tropical storms in Texas. For example, Tropical Storm Nicolas hit Texan towns on the Gulf Coast in September of 2021. The storm resulted in over 9 inches of rainfall and left around 500,000 residents without electricity for days. [3]
Going into the 2023 hurricane season, Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) — one of the industry’s watched hurricane forecasting teams — is predicting a season that's 15% below the 30-year norm. [4]
Here is TSR's forecast for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season:
Around 13 named storms
Around 6 of those could become hurricanes (wind speeds of 74 mph or higher)
Around 3 major hurricanes — Category 3, 4, or 5 (wind speeds of 111 mph or higher)
Where do hurricanes hit the most in Texas?
From border cities like Brownsville to northern hubs like Port Arthur, any area along the Texas coast is vulnerable to hurricanes. But the cities of Galveston and Houston have experienced by far the most severe hurricane damage of any Texas city over the last century.
In fact, The Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900 remains the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Between 6,000 to 12,000 people are estimated to have died, according to the NOAA. [5] Galveston was hit by another devastating hurricane just 15 years later, this one killing close to 300 people. [6]
Hurricane Harvey in 2017 — the latest storm to make landfall in Galveston — is one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, causing billions in damage to the Galveston and Greater Houston area. [7]
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How to prepare for hurricane season in Texas
If you’re a resident of coastal Texas, be sure to prepare yourself and your family for an impending hurricane. Hurricanes often mean severe winds and flooding, so you’ll want to make sure your house is prepared and you have the right insurance coverage in place to pay for extensive property damage.
Before the storm
Put together an emergency supply kit
Have a communication plan with your family
Sign up for community or country emergency storm alerts
Know your home’s flood risk
Purchase flood insurance. Since homeowners insurance doesn’t cover flooding, you’ll need flood insurance to cover hurricane-related flooding
Plan an evacuation route
Store important documents in a waterproof container; create digital copies
During the storm
Follow weather alerts
Stay clear of areas impacted by hurricane winds or flooding
Dial 2-1-1 for shelter, food, and disaster services
Find an open shelter through the Red Cross
Visit Drive Texas to check the status of road conditions during a flood
After the storm
Be sure to listen to local officials for information about when it’s safe to return and special instructions
If you’re attempting to clean up your residence, wear protective clothing, including gloves and face coverings while you clean up mold or other debris.
If there is wind or water damage to your home, contact your home or flood insurance provider to file a claim.
Document any property damage with video or photographs
For more information about hurricane and tornado season in Texas and how to plan for the next disaster, check out Texas Ready.
→ Take a deeper dive into how to prepare for a hurricane: 9 things to do TODAY
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Insurance considerations for hurricane season in Texas
Home insurance typically covers wind damage from hurricanes, but in certain coastal communities of Texas you may find that this coverage is excluded from your homeowners policy.
Here are some coverage considerations and things you should keep in mind for hurricane season in Texas.
You might need windstorm insurance
If you live in a high risk area of Texas, you may find that wind and hail damage is excluded from your homeowners policy. If that’s the case, you’ll need to purchase separate windstorm insurance. You can do this through special wind-only insurers or the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), a not-for-profit entity set up by the state government.
→ Read our guide on windstorm insurance in Texas
Consider purchasing flood insurance
Homeowners insurance never covers flood damage. In order to be covered by water damage from flooding, you’ll need to purchase flood insurance. You can do this through private insurers or through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), a FEMA-backed program.
