Quitman County, Mississippi Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1860, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Quitman County, Mississippi — about one every 8.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Harvey (2017), which passed 30 miles away on 31 August 2017.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHarvey (2017) — 30 mi away, 31 August 2017
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1888) — 58 kt (67 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1888) — 2.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 20
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year1860 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1930s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1860–2017
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvey (2017) | 31 Aug 2017 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Lili (2002) | 4 Oct 2002 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 4 Aug 1995 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 16 Aug 1985 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bob (1979) | 12 Jul 1979 | 38.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Betsy (1965) | 11 Sep 1965 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 2 Sep 1937 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 17 Jun 1934 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 20 Sep 1932 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 31 Jul 1926 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 7 Jul 1916 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | 3 Aug 1908 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 28 Sep 1906 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 7 Jul 1891 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1890) | 28 Aug 1890 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 20 Aug 1888 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 3 Oct 1860 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 | 3.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Delta (2020) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 2020 | 43.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Olga (2019) | Post-tropical | 26 Oct 2019 | 42.2 mi | 42 kt |
| Barry (2001) | Remnant low | 7 Aug 2001 | 45.5 mi | 11 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | Post-tropical | 27 Jul 1933 | 36.4 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 2 Sep 1932 | 11.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 17 Aug 1901 | 35.2 mi | 30 kt |
How Quitman County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Quitman County, Mississippi ranks #792 — more exposed than 64.1% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #80 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1888) passed 3 miles away on 20 August 1888 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Camille (1969) passed 15 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 40 miles away on 7 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1906) passed 29 miles away on 28 September 1906 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 20 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 8.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 20 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 8 years since the last one; 7 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Quitman County, Mississippi?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Quitman County, Mississippi while at hurricane strength. 20 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 Quitman County, Mississippi?
Harvey (2017), on 31 August 2017, passing 30 miles away — 9 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Quitman County, Mississippi at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Quitman County, Mississippi?
Unnamed Storm (1888), which reached 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 3 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Quitman County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.3 years — 20 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
Quitman County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Panola County, Mississippi has 21 on record.