DeSoto County, Mississippi Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1860, 16 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of DeSoto County, Mississippi — about one every 10.4 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Lili (2002), which passed 29 miles away on 4 October 2002.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentLili (2002) — 29 mi away, 4 October 2002
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1888) — 56 kt (64 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1906) — 2.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 16
- Peak monthSeptember — 5 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year1860 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1920s, 1950s and 1960s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1860–2002
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lili (2002) | 4 Oct 2002 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 5 Aug 1995 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 12 Jul 1979 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 19 Aug 1969 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 11 Sep 1965 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 9 Sep 1950 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 5 Sep 1948 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 20 Sep 1932 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 31 Jul 1926 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 28 Sep 1906 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 7 Jul 1891 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 21 Aug 1888 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 22.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 3 Oct 1860 | 49.4 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 | 13 Sep 2024 | 31.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Olga (2019) | Post-tropical | 26 Oct 2019 | 28.7 mi | 42 kt |
| Barry (2001) | Remnant low | 7 Aug 2001 | 15.7 mi | 10 kt |
| Felice (1970) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 1970 | 49.0 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 1932 | 6.8 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 17 Aug 1901 | 5.1 mi | 30 kt |
How DeSoto County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, DeSoto County, Mississippi ranks #948 — more exposed than 57.1% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #81 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1888) passed 8 miles away on 21 August 1888 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Camille (1969) passed 7 miles away on 19 August 1969 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1906) passed 3 miles away on 28 September 1906 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1860) passed 49 miles away on 3 October 1860 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 16 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 10.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 16 storms spread over the 166 years from 1860 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 21 years, between 1860 and 1881. It has been 23 years since the last one; 0 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit DeSoto County, Mississippi?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of DeSoto County, Mississippi while at hurricane strength. 16 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1860, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1888).
When was the last tropical cyclone in DeSoto County, Mississippi?
Lili (2002), on 4 October 2002, passing 29 miles away — 24 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of DeSoto County, Mississippi at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect DeSoto County, Mississippi?
Unnamed Storm (1888), which reached 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach DeSoto County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 10.4 years — 16 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
DeSoto County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Tate County, Mississippi has 21 on record.