Skip to content

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

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
52

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
126

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
3

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

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Arabi, Louisiana, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2024FrancineSep 1234 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 2
2021IdaAug 2936 miCategory 3 (123 mph)Category 4
2021ClaudetteJun 1921 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
2020ZetaOct 284 miCategory 2 (101 mph)Category 3
2020CristobalJun 82 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
2019OlgaOct 2641 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
2017NateOct 855 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 1
2012IsaacAug 2948 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 1
2011LeeSep 545 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2008GustavSep 167 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 4
2005KatrinaAug 2924 miCategory 3 (123 mph)Category 5
2005CindyJul 614 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
2003BillJun 3031 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
2002IsidoreSep 265 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 3
2002HannaSep 1468 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
2002BerthaAug 531 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2001AllisonJun 1120 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1998GeorgesSep 2872 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 4
1997DannyJul 1847 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 1
1988FlorenceSep 102 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 1
1988BerylAug 95 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1985JuanOct 3162 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 1
1985ElenaSep 250 miCategory 2 (100 mph)Category 3
1979BobJul 1125 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1969CamilleAug 1842 miCategory 5 (171 mph)Category 5
1965DebbieSep 2961 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1965BetsySep 1043 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 4
1964HildaOct 447 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 4
1960EthelSep 1567 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1957EstherSep 1846 miTropical storm (59 mph)Tropical storm
1956FlossySep 2469 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1956Unnamed 1956 stormJun 1336 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1955Unnamed 1955 stormAug 2712 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1955BrendaAug 117 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1949Unnamed 1949 stormSep 443 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1948Unnamed 1948 stormSep 42 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 1
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 199 miCategory 2 (101 mph)Category 4
1947Unnamed 1947 stormAug 2259 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1057 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormSep 2621 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1937Unnamed 1937 stormSep 1973 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1936Unnamed 1936 stormJul 2712 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormOct 1610 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1931Unnamed 1931 stormJul 1570 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1926Unnamed 1926 stormSep 2134 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 4
1926Unnamed 1926 stormAug 2660 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 3
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1760 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1660 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 1
1923Unnamed 1923 stormJun 2631 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1920Unnamed 1920 stormSep 2269 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 2
1915Unnamed 1915 stormSep 2913 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 4
1914Unnamed 1914 stormSep 1874 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 1360 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1911Unnamed 1911 stormAug 1266 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormSep 2160 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1905Unnamed 1905 stormOct 953 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1901Unnamed 1901 stormAug 1548 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1900Unnamed 1900 stormSep 1353 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1895Unnamed 1895 stormAug 1644 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 236 miCategory 3 (119 mph)Category 4
1893Unnamed 1893 stormSep 722 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 2
1892Unnamed 1892 stormSep 127 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1890Unnamed 1890 stormAug 2743 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2357 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 1954 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 3
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 1924 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 1
1885Unnamed 1885 stormSep 2654 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1885Unnamed 1885 stormSep 2172 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1885Unnamed 1885 stormAug 3072 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormOct 726 miTropical storm (53 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormSep 160 miCategory 1 (93 mph)Category 3
1877Unnamed 1877 stormSep 1834 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormJul 1158 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1869Unnamed 1869 stormSep 524 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1867Unnamed 1867 stormOct 452 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1863Unnamed 1863 stormOct 138 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1860Unnamed 1860 stormSep 1532 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1860Unnamed 1860 stormAug 1221 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1855Unnamed 1855 stormSep 1633 miCategory 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
Strongest tornadoes near Arabi, Louisiana
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Mar 22, 2022EF3in town11.47 mi1 / 2
Feb 7, 2017EF34 mi10.09 mi0 / 33
Jan 28, 1966F319 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Dec 14, 2022EF224 mi9.85 mi1 / 8
Feb 13, 2007EF25 mi1.29 mi1 / 10
Mar 10, 1971F27 mi7.5 mi1 / 7
Apr 10, 2024EF223 mi10.98 mi0 / 0
Jun 20, 2023EF222 mi3.79 mi0 / 0
Dec 14, 2022EF2in town10.59 mi0 / 10
Feb 13, 2007EF26 mi6.47 mi0 / 15
Feb 13, 2007EF29 mi2.25 mi0 / 9
Feb 2, 2006F26 mi5.5 mi0 / 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.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Terrytown 3S, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan63455.8656
Feb66494.0658
Mar73545.2566
Apr78615.2472
May85684.7580
Jun90756.9985
Jul92767.31088
Aug92766.81190
Sep89736.8885
Oct81633.7478
Nov72534.2468
Dec65485.4663
Year796266.07874

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.

Louisiana weather by month, station by station →

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.

Flood insurance claims in Arabi by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Hurricane Katrina20052,638$320.6 million
Flooding19781,316$5.7 million
Hurricane Rita2005254$3.5 million
Tropical Storm Allison200142$131,000
Tropical Storm Isidore200239$106,000
Hurricane Isaac201219$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.

Cities near Arabi