Lawrence County, Mississippi Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1860, 40 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lawrence County, Mississippi — about one every 4.2 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Francine (2024), which passed 3 miles away on 12 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFrancine (2024) — 3 mi away, 12 September 2024
- Strongest stormCamille (1969) — 101 kt (116 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFrancine (2024) — 2.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Camille (1969) — 18.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles16 of 40
- Peak monthSeptember — 18 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1879 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1940s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1860–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francine (2024) | 12 Sep 2024 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Ida (2021) | 30 Aug 2021 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Gordon (2018) | 5 Sep 2018 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 25 Aug 2008 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 29 Aug 2005 | 37.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 26 Sep 2002 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Hermine (1998) | 20 Sep 1998 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 12 Aug 1987 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 2 Sep 1985 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 11 Jul 1979 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 6 Sep 1977 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 16 Sep 1971 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 18.1 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 31 May 1959 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Esther (1957) | 19 Sep 1957 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1956) | 14 Jun 1956 | 37.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Sep 1949 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 4 Sep 1948 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Sep 1947 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 25 Sep 1940 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 19 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 28 Jul 1936 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Jul 1916 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 30 Sep 1915 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 17 Jul 1912 | 48.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 13 Jun 1912 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 12 Aug 1911 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 10 Oct 1905 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | 30 Sep 1905 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Aug 1894 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 8 Sep 1893 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1890) | 28 Aug 1890 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 15 Jun 1886 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 7 Oct 1879 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 18 Sep 1875 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 12 Jul 1872 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 3 Oct 1860 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 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 | 12.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 17 Aug 2010 | 20.7 mi | 20 kt |
How Lawrence County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lawrence County, Mississippi ranks #323 — more exposed than 85.4% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #20 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Camille (1969) passed 18 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 101 kt (116 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Katrina (2005) passed 37 miles away on 29 August 2005 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Elena (1985) passed 42 miles away on 2 September 1985 as a tropical storm, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 12 miles away on 2 September 1879 as a tropical storm, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
37 of the 40 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 40 storms spread over the 166 years from 1860 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1916 and 1936. It has been 1 year since the last one; 29 of the 36 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lawrence County, Mississippi?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lawrence County, Mississippi at hurricane strength since 1860. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 40.
When was the last hurricane in Lawrence County, Mississippi?
Katrina (2005), on 29 August 2005, passing 37 miles away — 21 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Francine (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lawrence County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), which reached 101 kt (116 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 18 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lawrence County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.2 years — 40 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
Lawrence County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Marion County, Mississippi has 44 on record.