Covington County, Mississippi Hurricane History
Since 1855, 39 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Covington County, Mississippi — about one every 4.4 years. Of those, 6 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Francine (2024), which passed 34 miles away on 12 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFrancine (2024) — 34 mi away, 12 September 2024
- Strongest stormCamille (1969) — 108 kt (124 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBabe (1977) — 3.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Camille (1969) — 15.5 miles
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 39
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1879 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s, 1910s, 1940s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1855–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francine (2024) | 12 Sep 2024 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 19 Jun 2021 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 47.3 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Gordon (2018) | 5 Sep 2018 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 24 Aug 2008 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 29 Aug 2005 | 7.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 26 Sep 2002 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 4 Aug 1995 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 12 Aug 1987 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 11 Jul 1979 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 6 Sep 1977 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 17 Sep 1971 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 15.5 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 16 Sep 1960 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Sep 1949 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 4 Sep 1948 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Sep 1947 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 25 Sep 1940 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jul 1936 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 1 Sep 1932 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Jul 1916 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 30 Sep 1915 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Jul 1912 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 13 Jun 1912 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 27 Sep 1906 | 27.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 10 Oct 1905 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Aug 1894 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 8 Sep 1893 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 14 Jun 1887 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 15 Jun 1886 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 4 Aug 1881 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 7 Oct 1879 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 12 Jul 1872 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 15 Sep 1860 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1855) | 16 Sep 1855 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olga (2019) | Post-tropical | 26 Oct 2019 | 26.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 5 Sep 2011 | 45.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 17 Aug 2010 | 45.5 mi | 22 kt |
How Covington County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Covington County, Mississippi ranks #341 — more exposed than 84.6% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #21 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Camille (1969) passed 15 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Katrina (2005) passed 7 miles away on 29 August 2005 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Zeta (2020) passed 47 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1906) passed 27 miles away on 27 September 1906 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
36 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 171 years from 1855 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 12 years, between 1860 and 1872. It has been 1 year since the last one; 28 of the 36 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Covington County, Mississippi?
6 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Covington County, Mississippi at hurricane strength since 1855. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 39.
When was the last hurricane in Covington County, Mississippi?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 47 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Francine (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Covington County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), which reached 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Covington County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.4 years — 39 storms over the 171 years from 1855 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Covington County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Forrest County, Mississippi has 51 on record.