Claiborne Parish, Louisiana Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1865, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana — about one every 7.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Laura (2020), which passed 6 miles away on 27 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentLaura (2020) — 6 mi away, 27 August 2020
- Strongest stormLaura (2020) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordLaura (2020) — 5.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 21
- Peak monthAugust — 7 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1865 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1865–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura (2020) | 27 Aug 2020 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 23 Jun 2017 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 12 Sep 1982 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1978) | 29 Aug 1978 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Oct 1949 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 14 Aug 1911 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 7 Jul 1891 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 systems 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison (1989) | Post-tropical | 1 Jul 1989 | 47.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 25 Jul 1933 | 35.9 mi | 25 kt |
How Claiborne Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Claiborne Parish, Louisiana ranks #752 — more exposed than 65.9% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #59 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Laura (2020) passed 6 miles away on 27 August 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 50 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 8 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 33 miles away on 23 August 1879 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 storms spread over the 161 years from 1865 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 24 years, between 1988 and 2012. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Claiborne Parish, Louisiana?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana while at hurricane strength. 21 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1865, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Laura (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Claiborne Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), on 27 August 2020, passing 6 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Claiborne Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Claiborne Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 6 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Claiborne Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.7 years — 21 storms over the 161 years from 1865 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby parishes
Claiborne Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 4 other parishes with a published storm record. Webster Parish, Louisiana has 23 on record.