Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1895, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana — about one every 5.7 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Delta (2020), which passed 37 miles away on 10 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDelta (2020) — 37 mi away, 10 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1909) — 68 kt (78 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBetsy (1965) — 5.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 23
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (39% of all)
- Most active year2020 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1980s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1895–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | 10 Oct 2020 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Laura (2020) | 27 Aug 2020 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cristobal (2020) | 8 Jun 2020 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Humberto (2007) | 14 Sep 2007 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 4 Oct 2002 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 12 Sep 1982 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1978) | 29 Aug 1978 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 10 Sep 1965 | 5.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 4 Oct 1937 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Sep 1909 | 34.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 2 Aug 1908 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 21 Sep 1898 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 26.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew (2004) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 2004 | 46.4 mi | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 26 Jul 1933 | 36.3 mi | 25 kt |
How Ouachita Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana ranks #674 — more exposed than 69.5% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #51 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 35 miles away on 21 September 1909 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Laura (2020) passed 48 miles away on 27 August 2020 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Betsy (1965) passed 6 miles away on 10 September 1965 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 7 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 storms spread over the 131 years from 1895 to 2025. 2 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 14 years, between 1988 and 2002. It has been 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1895. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 23.
When was the last hurricane in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), on 27 August 2020, passing 48 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 Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
Unnamed Storm (1909), which reached 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 35 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Ouachita Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.7 years — 23 storms over the 131 years from 1895 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby parishes
Ouachita Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 6 other parishes with a published storm record. Jackson Parish, Louisiana has 25 on record.