Choctaw County, Mississippi Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1860, 30 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Choctaw County, Mississippi — about one every 5.5 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 24 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 24 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormCamille (1969) — 54 kt (62 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1872) — 6.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 30
- Peak monthSeptember — 12 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1932 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1930s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1860–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 30 Aug 2005 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Dennis (2005) | 11 Jul 2005 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Barry (2001) | 7 Aug 2001 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 4 Aug 1995 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 12 Jul 1979 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 16 Sep 1960 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Sep 1949 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 5 Sep 1948 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Jun 1939 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 1 Sep 1937 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 17 Jun 1934 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 20 Sep 1932 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 2 Sep 1932 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 30 Jul 1926 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 5 Jul 1919 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Jul 1916 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Sep 1912 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 28 Sep 1906 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 16 Aug 1901 | 13.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 8 Sep 1893 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 1 Sep 1880 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 13 Jul 1872 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 3 Oct 1860 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 6 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 | 26.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Delta (2020) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 2020 | 43.2 mi | 25 kt |
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 2020 | 25.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Olga (2019) | Post-tropical | 26 Oct 2019 | 31.4 mi | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 34.2 mi | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 22.3 mi | 26 kt |
How Choctaw County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Choctaw County, Mississippi ranks #524 — more exposed than 76.3% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #38 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Camille (1969) passed 49 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Katrina (2005) passed 23 miles away on 30 August 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1906) passed 18 miles away on 28 September 1906 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 22 miles away on 2 September 1879 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
29 of the 30 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 30 storms spread over the 166 years from 1860 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 16 years, between 2005 and 2021. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 27 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Choctaw County, Mississippi?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Choctaw County, Mississippi at hurricane strength since 1860. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 30.
When was the last hurricane in Choctaw County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), on 18 August 1969, passing 49 miles away — 57 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ida (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Choctaw County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), which reached 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 49 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Choctaw County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.5 years — 30 storms over the 166 years from 1860 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Choctaw County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Winston County, Mississippi has 34 on record.