NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Arabi, LA
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
79 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Arabi, Louisiana since 1851, 27 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 126 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 27
- Tropical storms
- 52
- Tornadoes
- 126
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Arabi
The strongest storm to pass near Arabi was Camille in 1969, a Category 5 hurricane with 171 mph winds when its centre passed 42 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Zeta in 2020, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near Arabi begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 34 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 8 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 79 systems, 17 have come since 2000. Arabi has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 80% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 126 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on March 22, 2022, passed within a mile of the city centre. The deadliest, an EF2 on December 14, 2022, killed 1 person. Of the 126, 15 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 75 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on May 2, 2025. Arabi has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 51% of the 245 Louisiana cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 96 times since 1962, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Arabi has more hail reports within 10 miles than 85% of the 245 Louisiana cities.
Compare Arabi's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Arabi
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 29 | 36 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 4 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 55 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 67 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 24 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | BerthaAug 5 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 28 | 72 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 18 | 47 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 50 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 42 mi | Category 5 (171 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | DebbieSep 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 43 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 15 | 67 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 24 | 69 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 9 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 10 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormSep 19 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 27 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 60 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 17 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 69 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 29 | 13 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 21 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 15 | 48 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 16 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 36 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 22 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 57 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 19 | 54 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 26 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 30 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 60 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 34 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 5 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 4 | 52 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 32 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 21 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 33 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Arabi: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Arabi
By decade
- 2020s20(1 EF3+)
- 2010s28(1 EF3+)
- 2000s27
- 1990s17
- 1980s10
- 1970s11
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s7
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2022 | EF3 | in town | 11.47 mi | 1 / 2 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF3 | 4 mi | 10.09 mi | 0 / 33 |
| Jan 28, 1966 | F3 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF2 | 24 mi | 9.85 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Feb 13, 2007 | EF2 | 5 mi | 1.29 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Mar 10, 1971 | F2 | 7 mi | 7.5 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF2 | 23 mi | 10.98 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 20, 2023 | EF2 | 22 mi | 3.79 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF2 | in town | 10.59 mi | 0 / 10 |
| Feb 13, 2007 | EF2 | 6 mi | 6.47 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Feb 13, 2007 | EF2 | 9 mi | 2.25 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Feb 2, 2006 | F2 | 6 mi | 5.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 126, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Arabi
The Storm Prediction Center has 96 hail reports within 10 miles of Arabi since 1962, made on 60 separate days. Of these, 66 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on February 24, 2013. The most recent report is from April 16, 2023. April has the most reports, 24.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Arabi
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Terrytown 3S, LA, 4 miles southwest of Arabi at 10 feet. July and August are the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 76°F; January is the coolest, at 63°F and 45°F. July is the wettest at 7.3 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.7 inches; the year adds up to 66.0 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (35.7 of 66.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 79 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (35); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 6.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 90 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 7 nights a year. That 66.0 inches is more than at 74 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (91%). Marrero, 9 miles southwest, has its own station (New Orleans Audubon, LA): 64.7 inches a year, 1.3 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 92°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station New Canal Station, LA, 8 miles northwest, averaged 90°F in August and 56°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to September. Sea level at the New Canal tide gauge, 8 miles from Arabi, has risen 2.36 ± 0.19 inches per decade from 1982 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 23.6 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 131 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 45 | 5.8 | 6 | 56 |
| Feb | 66 | 49 | 4.0 | 6 | 58 |
| Mar | 73 | 54 | 5.2 | 5 | 66 |
| Apr | 78 | 61 | 5.2 | 4 | 72 |
| May | 85 | 68 | 4.7 | 5 | 80 |
| Jun | 90 | 75 | 6.9 | 9 | 85 |
| Jul | 92 | 76 | 7.3 | 10 | 88 |
| Aug | 92 | 76 | 6.8 | 11 | 90 |
| Sep | 89 | 73 | 6.8 | 8 | 85 |
| Oct | 81 | 63 | 3.7 | 4 | 78 |
| Nov | 72 | 53 | 4.2 | 4 | 68 |
| Dec | 65 | 48 | 5.4 | 6 | 63 |
| Year | 79 | 62 | 66.0 | 78 | 74 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Terrytown 3S, LA (10 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station New Canal Station, LA, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Arabi
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 481 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Arabi: 251 flash floods, 204 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 heavy rain events, 7 floods and 5 lightning strikes. They killed 3 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $8.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on March 29, 2011. July has had the most flash floods, 48 of 251. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 234 have had fewer than Arabi.
December 12, 2009: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Arabi — 1 killed.
August 29, 2021: flash flood 4 miles from the centre of Arabi — 1 killed.
June 29, 2022: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Arabi — 1 killed.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Arabi's ZIP code 70032 have filed 4,557 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $332.4 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Katrina in 2005: 2,638 claims (58% of all) and $320.6 million, then Flooding in 1978 with 1,316 and Hurricane Rita in 2005 with 254. 95% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 219 Louisiana cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 201 have fewer than Arabi.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina2005 | 2,638 | $320.6 million |
| Flooding1978 | 1,316 | $5.7 million |
| Hurricane Rita2005 | 254 | $3.5 million |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 42 | $131,000 |
| Tropical Storm Isidore2002 | 39 | $106,000 |
| Hurricane Isaac2012 | 19 | $263,000 |
St. Bernard Parish, which includes Arabi, has been named in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 29 of them major disasters (by incident: 30 hurricanes, 5 coastal storms, 4 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Francine, on September 16, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives St. Bernard Parish a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Moderate for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes and heat waves; Very Low for hail, inland flooding and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $34.7 million a year, the 25th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $25.3 million (73%), is from hurricanes.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Arabi in the notable storm records: Hurricane Camille (1969)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.