Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Hurricane History
Since 1856, 35 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana — about one every 4.9 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Delta (2020), which passed 21 miles away on 10 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDelta (2020) — 21 mi away, 10 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1909) — 83 kt (96 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1920) — 3.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles16 of 35
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1926 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | 10 Oct 2020 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Cristobal (2020) | 8 Jun 2020 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 13 Sep 2007 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 3 Oct 2002 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 6 Aug 2002 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 26 Aug 1992 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Beryl (1988) | 10 Aug 1988 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 16 Sep 1971 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 27 Jul 1966 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 10 Sep 1965 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 31 May 1959 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 27 Aug 1955 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 24 Sep 1940 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 3 Oct 1937 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 17 Jun 1934 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 20 Sep 1932 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 22 Sep 1926 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 26 Aug 1926 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 13 Aug 1911 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Sep 1909 | 20.7 mi | Cat 1 | 79 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 2 Aug 1908 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 29 Sep 1905 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 20 Sep 1898 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 15 Jun 1886 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 12 Aug 1856 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 1 system passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2020 | 7.1 mi | 25 kt |
How Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana ranks #412 — more exposed than 81.3% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #32 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 21 miles away on 21 September 1909 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Betsy (1965) passed 8 miles away on 10 September 1965 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gustav (2008) passed 33 miles away on 2 September 2008 as a tropical storm, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 24 miles away on 20 September 1947 as a tropical storm, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
32 of the 35 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 35 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 19 years, between 1856 and 1875. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 30 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 35.
When was the last hurricane in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana?
Delta (2020), on 10 October 2020, passing 21 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Delta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana?
Unnamed Storm (1909), which reached 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 21 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.9 years — 35 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby parishes
Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 8 other parishes with a published storm record. West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana has 45 on record.