Jackson Parish, Louisiana Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1865, 25 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jackson Parish, Louisiana — about one every 6.4 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Laura (2020), which passed 28 miles away on 27 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentLaura (2020) — 28 mi away, 27 August 2020
- Strongest stormLaura (2020) — 70 kt (81 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1987) — 0.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 25
- Peak monthAugust and September — 9 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 5 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 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura (2020) | 27 Aug 2020 | 27.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Cristobal (2020) | 8 Jun 2020 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 14 Sep 2007 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 4 Oct 2002 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 0.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 12 Sep 1982 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1978) | 29 Aug 1978 | 23.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 10 Sep 1965 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 4 Oct 1937 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 13 Aug 1911 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 2 Aug 1908 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 21 Sep 1898 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 25 Jul 1933 | 16.1 mi | 25 kt |
How Jackson Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Jackson Parish, Louisiana ranks #638 — more exposed than 71.1% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #47 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Laura (2020) passed 28 miles away on 27 August 2020 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 6 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Betsy (1965) passed 25 miles away on 10 September 1965 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 48 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 25 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 25 storms spread over the 161 years from 1865 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 21 years, between 1865 and 1886. It has been 5 years since the last one; 11 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Jackson Parish, Louisiana?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jackson Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1865. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 25.
When was the last hurricane in Jackson Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), on 27 August 2020, passing 28 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Laura (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jackson Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), which reached 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 28 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Jackson Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.4 years — 25 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
Jackson Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 5 other parishes with a published storm record. Winn Parish, Louisiana has 28 on record.