Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana Hurricane History
Since 1865, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Laura (2020), which passed 5 miles away on 27 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentLaura (2020) — 5 mi away, 27 August 2020
- Strongest stormLaura (2020) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDebra (1978) — 4.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 24
- Peak monthAugust — 10 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year2017 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1980s and 2010s — 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 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura (2020) | 27 Aug 2020 | 4.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 13 Sep 2007 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Beryl (1988) | 10 Aug 1988 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 12 Sep 1982 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1978) | 29 Aug 1978 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Gerda (1958) | 22 Sep 1958 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 27 Jun 1957 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 13 Aug 1911 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 2 Aug 1908 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 | 33.9 mi | 25 kt |
How Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana ranks #654 — more exposed than 70.4% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #49 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Laura (2020) passed 5 miles away on 27 August 2020 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Audrey (1957) passed 10 miles away on 27 June 1957 as a hurricane, reaching 71 kt (82 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 30 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 62 kt (71 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1865) passed 23 miles away on 14 September 1865 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 161 years from 1865 to 2025. 1 separate year 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; 10 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1865. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 24.
When was the last hurricane in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), on 27 August 2020, passing 5 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 Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 5 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 24 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
Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 7 other parishes with a published storm record. Rapides Parish, Louisiana has 31 on record.