LaSalle Parish, Louisiana Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1894, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of LaSalle Parish, Louisiana — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Delta (2020), which passed 9 miles away on 10 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDelta (2020) — 9 mi away, 10 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1909) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordLili (2002) — 1.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 24
- Peak monthAugust — 9 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1894–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | 10 Oct 2020 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Cristobal (2020) | 8 Jun 2020 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 1.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 14 Sep 2007 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 3 Oct 2002 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 10 Sep 1988 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Beryl (1988) | 10 Aug 1988 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 1.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 10 Sep 1965 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 3 Oct 1937 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 13 Aug 1911 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Sep 1909 | 29.1 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 2 Aug 1908 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 21 Sep 1898 | 2.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Aug 1894 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2020 | 32.1 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 26 Jul 1933 | 15.6 mi | 30 kt |
How LaSalle Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, LaSalle Parish, Louisiana ranks #653 — more exposed than 70.4% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #48 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 29 miles away on 21 September 1909 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Betsy (1965) passed 8 miles away on 10 September 1965 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 43 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 59 kt (68 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Delta (2020) passed 9 miles away on 10 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 132 years from 1894 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1965 and 1985. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit LaSalle Parish, Louisiana?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of LaSalle Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1894. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in LaSalle Parish, Louisiana?
Betsy (1965), on 10 September 1965, passing 8 miles away — 61 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Delta (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect LaSalle Parish, Louisiana?
Unnamed Storm (1909), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 29 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit LaSalle Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.5 years — 24 storms over the 132 years from 1894 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby parishes
LaSalle Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 5 other parishes with a published storm record. Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana has 35 on record.