Vermilion Parish, Louisiana Hurricane History
Since 1856, 39 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana — about one every 4.4 years. Of those, 15 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Delta (2020), which passed 40 miles away on 10 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDelta (2020) — 40 mi away, 10 October 2020
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1856) — 110 kt (127 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBarry (2019) — 0.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1856) — 34.0 miles
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 39
- Peak monthSeptember — 15 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1940 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1856–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | 10 Oct 2020 | 40.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Barry (2019) | 13 Jul 2019 | 0.8 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Lee (2011) | 4 Sep 2011 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Gustav (2008) | 1 Sep 2008 | 41.6 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 23 Sep 2004 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 3 Oct 2002 | 6.9 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Bertha (2002) | 7 Aug 2002 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 11 Jun 2001 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 26 Aug 1992 | 41.9 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 30 Oct 1985 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 15 Aug 1985 | 22.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 5 Sep 1977 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Carmen (1974) | 8 Sep 1974 | 18.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 16 Sep 1971 | 13.5 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 7 Jul 1971 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 27 Jul 1966 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | 4 Oct 1964 | 49.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 31 May 1959 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Bertha (1957) | 9 Aug 1957 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1955) | 27 Aug 1955 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Barbara (1954) | 29 Jul 1954 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 16 Jun 1946 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1943) | 20 Sep 1943 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 24 Sep 1940 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 7 Aug 1940 | 45.1 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 3 Oct 1937 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 16 Jun 1934 | 38.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 19 Sep 1932 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1918) | 6 Aug 1918 | 46.2 mi | Cat 3 | 105 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 19 Sep 1914 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 13 Jun 1912 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 1 Aug 1908 | 2.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 29 Sep 1905 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 20 Sep 1898 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 13 Sep 1897 | 31.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 15 Sep 1882 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 4 Oct 1867 | 48.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1865) | 7 Sep 1865 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 11 Aug 1856 | 34.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 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 | 9.7 mi | 20 kt |
| Marco (2020) | Remnant low | 25 Aug 2020 | 48.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1863 | 21.9 mi | 40 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Vermilion Parish, Louisiana more than once.
- Bertha — 2 passes (1957, 2002)
How Vermilion Parish, Louisiana compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana ranks #340 — more exposed than 84.6% of them. Within Louisiana it ranks #28 of 64, against a state average of 37.0 storms per parish.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1856) passed 34 miles away on 11 August 1856 as a hurricane, reaching 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1918) passed 46 miles away on 6 August 1918 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Andrew (1992) passed 42 miles away on 26 August 1992 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Carmen (1974) passed 19 miles away on 8 September 1974 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
32 of the 39 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 39 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 15 years, between 1867 and 1882. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 34 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Vermilion Parish, Louisiana?
15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Vermilion Parish, Louisiana at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 39.
When was the last hurricane in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana?
Delta (2020), on 10 October 2020, passing 40 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 Vermilion Parish, Louisiana?
Unnamed Storm (1856), which reached 110 kt (127 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 34 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Vermilion Parish, Louisiana?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.4 years — 39 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
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana borders or sits close to 5 other parishes with a published storm record. Cameron Parish, Louisiana has 41 on record.