Red River Parish, Louisiana Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1865, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Red River Parish, Louisiana — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Laura (2020), which passed 16 miles away on 27 August 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentLaura (2020) — 16 mi away, 27 August 2020
- Strongest stormLaura (2020) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1911) — 6.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1988 — 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 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 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 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laura (2020) | 27 Aug 2020 | 16.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 14 Jul 2019 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Cindy (2017) | 22 Jun 2017 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 2 Sep 2008 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Rita (2005) | 24 Sep 2005 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Florence (1988) | 11 Sep 1988 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Beryl (1988) | 10 Aug 1988 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 11 Aug 1987 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 3 Sep 1985 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Chris (1982) | 12 Sep 1982 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Debra (1978) | 29 Aug 1978 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Brenda (1955) | 2 Aug 1955 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 20 Sep 1947 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 24 Sep 1941 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1938) | 15 Aug 1938 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 16 Jul 1931 | 21.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 13 Aug 1911 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 7 Oct 1895 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 6 Jul 1891 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 13 Oct 1886 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 23 Aug 1879 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 14 Sep 1865 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 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 | 17.4 mi | 25 kt |
How Red River Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Red River Parish, Louisiana ranks #655 — more exposed than 70.3% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #50 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Laura (2020) passed 16 miles away on 27 August 2020 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 33 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1886) passed 11 miles away on 13 October 1886 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 30 miles away on 23 August 1879 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 1957 and 1978. 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 Red River Parish, Louisiana?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Red River 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 Red River Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), on 27 August 2020, passing 16 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 Red River Parish, Louisiana?
Laura (2020), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 16 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Red River 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
Red River Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 5 other parishes with a published storm record. De Soto Parish, Louisiana has 25 on record.