Bolivar County, Mississippi Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1888, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Bolivar County, Mississippi — about one every 5.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Gordon (2018), which passed 36 miles away on 6 September 2018.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentGordon (2018) — 36 mi away, 6 September 2018
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1888) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1937) — 2.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1932 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1888–2018
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon (2018) | 6 Sep 2018 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 4 Oct 2002 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 4 Aug 1995 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 11 Sep 1965 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Esther (1957) | 19 Sep 1957 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | 14 Jun 1956 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 2 Sep 1937 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 17 Jun 1934 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 20 Sep 1932 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 2 Sep 1932 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 31 Jul 1926 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 16 Oct 1923 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Jul 1916 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 21 Sep 1909 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 3 Aug 1908 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 30 Sep 1905 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 21 Sep 1898 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 7 Jul 1891 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1890) | 28 Aug 1890 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 20 Aug 1888 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francine (2024) | Post-tropical | 12 Sep 2024 | 48.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Delta (2020) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 2020 | 37.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 27 Jul 1933 | 7.0 mi | 30 kt |
How Bolivar County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Bolivar County, Mississippi ranks #656 — more exposed than 70.3% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #56 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1888) passed 19 miles away on 20 August 1888 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1909) passed 32 miles away on 21 September 1909 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Camille (1969) passed 47 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1923) passed 19 miles away on 16 October 1923 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
24 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 138 years from 1888 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 19 years, between 1937 and 1956. It has been 7 years since the last one; 5 of the 21 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Bolivar County, Mississippi?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Bolivar County, Mississippi while at hurricane strength. 24 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1888, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1888).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Bolivar County, Mississippi?
Gordon (2018), on 6 September 2018, passing 36 miles away — 8 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Bolivar County, Mississippi at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Bolivar County, Mississippi?
Unnamed Storm (1888), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 19 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Bolivar County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.8 years — 24 storms over the 138 years from 1888 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Bolivar County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Sunflower County, Mississippi has 23 on record.