St. Martin Parish, Louisiana Hurricane History
Since 1856, 43 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana — about one every 4.0 years. Of those, 19 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Barry (2019), which passed 49 miles away on 13 July 2019.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentBarry (2019) — 49 mi away, 13 July 2019
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1856) — 120 kt (138 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBertha (2002) — 3.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Andrew (1992) — 5.5 miles
- Passes within 25 miles25 of 43
- Peak monthSeptember — 19 storms (44% of all)
- Most active year1905 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi5
- Record span1856–2019
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry (2019) | 13 Jul 2019 | 48.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Isaac (2012) | 30 Aug 2012 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Lee (2011) | 4 Sep 2011 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 1 Sep 2008 | 5.5 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Matthew (2004) | 10 Oct 2004 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 3 Oct 2002 | 42.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 6 Aug 2002 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 11 Jun 2001 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 26 Aug 1992 | 5.5 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Beryl (1988) | 10 Aug 1988 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 29 Oct 1985 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 5 Sep 1977 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 8 Sep 1974 | 25.9 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 16 Sep 1971 | 20.4 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 1 Sep 1971 | 37.5 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 27 Jul 1966 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 10 Sep 1965 | 22.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | 4 Oct 1964 | 15.8 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 31 May 1959 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 27 Aug 1955 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 4 Sep 1949 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 19 Sep 1947 | 24.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 20 Sep 1943 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 24 Sep 1940 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 3 Oct 1937 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 16 Jun 1934 | 5.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 19 Sep 1932 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1931) | 15 Jul 1931 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 22 Sep 1926 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 26 Aug 1926 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 16 Oct 1923 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 22 Sep 1920 | 12.3 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 18 Sep 1914 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 13 Jun 1912 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Sep 1909 | 10.7 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 1 Aug 1908 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 9 Oct 1905 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 29 Sep 1905 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 20 Aug 1888 | 40.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 1 Sep 1879 | 34.2 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 7 Sep 1865 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 2 Oct 1860 | 21.2 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 11 Aug 1856 | 13.2 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas (2021) | Remnant low | 16 Sep 2021 | 19.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Bonnie (2010) | Remnant low | 25 Jul 2010 | 36.6 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1863 | 8.9 mi | 40 kt |
How St. Martin Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana ranks #274 — more exposed than 87.6% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #24 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Unnamed Storm (1856) passed 13 miles away on 11 August 1856 as a hurricane, reaching 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 34 miles away on 1 September 1879 as a hurricane, reaching 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Andrew (1992) passed 5 miles away on 26 August 1992 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Carmen (1974) passed 26 miles away on 8 September 1974 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
36 of the 43 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 43 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025. 4 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 17 years, between 1888 and 1905. It has been 6 years since the last one; 6 of the 38 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit St. Martin Parish, Louisiana?
19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of St. Martin Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 43.
When was the last hurricane in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana?
Barry (2019), on 13 July 2019, passing 49 miles away — 7 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Barry (2019) in 2019.
What was the strongest storm to affect St. Martin Parish, Louisiana?
Unnamed Storm (1856), which reached 120 kt (138 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 13 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit St. Martin Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.0 years — 43 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby parishes
St. Martin Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 7 other parishes with a published storm record. St. Mary Parish, Louisiana has 51 on record.