Stone County, Mississippi Hurricane History
Since 1852, 54 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Stone County, Mississippi — about one every 3.2 years. Of those, 14 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 23 miles away on 19 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 23 mi away, 19 June 2021
- Strongest stormCamille (1969) — 150 kt (173 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1860) — 1.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1855) — 5.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles24 of 54
- Peak monthSeptember — 25 storms (46% of all)
- Most active year1860 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi8
- Record span1852–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 10 | 25 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 19 Jun 2021 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 19.1 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Gordon (2018) | 5 Sep 2018 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 21.5 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 29 Aug 2005 | 28.9 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 6 Jul 2005 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 26 Sep 2002 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 14 Sep 2002 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 11 Jun 2001 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 29 Sep 1998 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 2 Sep 1985 | 27.0 mi | Cat 2 | 92 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1984) | 28 Oct 1984 | 6.7 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 20 Jul 1980 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 36.4 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 25 Oct 1977 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 24 Sep 1976 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Fern (1971) | 5 Sep 1971 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Camille (1969) | 18 Aug 1969 | 29.6 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | 4 Oct 1964 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 16 Sep 1960 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 4 Sep 1948 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Sep 1947 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 6 Sep 1945 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 26 Sep 1939 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 23 Aug 1936 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 1 Sep 1932 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 21 Sep 1926 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 6 Jul 1916 | 25.0 mi | Cat 1 | 76 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 18 Sep 1914 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Sep 1912 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 12 Aug 1911 | 2.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 21 Sep 1907 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 27 Sep 1906 | 17.3 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 15 Aug 1901 | 31.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 13 Sep 1900 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 16 Aug 1895 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 8 Aug 1894 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 2 Oct 1893 | 31.7 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 8 Sep 1893 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 12 Sep 1892 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 19 Oct 1887 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 14 Jun 1887 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 15 Jun 1886 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 27 Sep 1885 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 3 Aug 1881 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 7 Oct 1879 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 11 Jul 1872 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 15 Sep 1860 | 1.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 12 Aug 1860 | 23.7 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1855) | 16 Sep 1855 | 5.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 26 Aug 1852 | 38.7 mi | Cat 2 | 90 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 | 18.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 17 Aug 2010 | 17.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1932 | 11.2 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1863) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1863 | 26.5 mi | 40 kt |
How Stone County, Mississippi compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Stone County, Mississippi ranks #162 — more exposed than 92.7% of them. Within Mississippi it ranks #5 of 82, against a state average of 32.3 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 5 Camille (1969) passed 30 miles away on 18 August 1969 as a hurricane, reaching 150 kt (173 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Elena (1985) passed 27 miles away on 2 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1860) passed 24 miles away on 12 August 1860 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1855) passed 6 miles away on 16 September 1855 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
48 of the 54 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 54 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 6 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 13 years, between 1985 and 1998. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 47 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Stone County, Mississippi?
14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Stone County, Mississippi at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 54.
When was the last hurricane in Stone County, Mississippi?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 19 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 Stone County, Mississippi?
Camille (1969), which reached 150 kt (173 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 30 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Stone County, Mississippi?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.2 years — 54 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Stone County, Mississippi borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Hancock County, Mississippi has 59 on record.