Forrest County, Mississippi Hurricane History
Since 1855, 51 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Forrest County, Mississippi — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 6 miles away on 19 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 6 mi away, 19 June 2021
- Strongest stormCamille (1969) — 132 kt (152 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1886) — 1.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Camille (1969) — 26.3 miles
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 51
- Peak monthSeptember — 25 storms (49% of all)
- Most active year1912 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 2000s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1855–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 25 | 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 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 19 Jun 2021 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 12.6 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Gordon (2018) | 5 Sep 2018 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 24 Aug 2008 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 29 Aug 2005 | 18.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 6 Jul 2005 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 26 Sep 2002 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 11 Jun 2001 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 29 Sep 1998 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Hermine (1998) | 20 Sep 1998 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 4 Aug 1995 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 2 Sep 1985 | 45.4 mi | Cat 2 | 84 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1984) | 28 Oct 1984 | 30.9 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 20 Jul 1980 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 41.3 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 6 Sep 1977 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 24 Sep 1976 | 46.8 mi | TD | — |
| Fern (1971) | 5 Sep 1971 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 26.3 mi | Cat 3 | 102 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | 4 Oct 1964 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 16 Sep 1960 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 4 Sep 1948 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Sep 1947 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 25 Sep 1940 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 26 Sep 1939 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jul 1936 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 1 Sep 1932 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 16.7 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Jul 1916 | 15.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 30 Sep 1915 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Sep 1912 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Jul 1912 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 13 Jun 1912 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 12 Aug 1911 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 22 Sep 1907 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 27 Sep 1906 | 18.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 16 Aug 1895 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 8 Aug 1894 | 3.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 8 Sep 1893 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 12 Sep 1892 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 14 Jun 1887 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 15 Jun 1886 | 1.7 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 3 Aug 1881 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 7 Oct 1879 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 12 Jul 1872 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 15 Sep 1860 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1855) | 16 Sep 1855 | 12.5 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 5 Sep 2011 | 10.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 17 Aug 2010 | 31.9 mi | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1932 | 17.5 mi | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1863 | 43.1 mi | 40 kt |
How Forrest County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Forrest County, Mississippi ranks #195 — more exposed than 91.2% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #8 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Camille (1969) passed 26 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 132 kt (152 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Elena (1985) passed 45 miles away on 2 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 92 kt (106 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Frederic (1979) passed 41 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1855) passed 12 miles away on 16 September 1855 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
45 of the 51 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 51 storms spread over the 171 years from 1855 to 2025. 3 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 4 years since the last one; 13 of the 46 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Forrest County, Mississippi?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Forrest County, Mississippi at hurricane strength since 1855. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 51.
When was the last hurricane in Forrest County, Mississippi?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 13 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Forrest County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), which reached 132 kt (152 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 26 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Forrest County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.4 years — 51 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
Forrest County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Pearl River County, Mississippi has 54 on record.