NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Baton Rouge, 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
56 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Baton Rouge, Louisiana since 1851, 16 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 119 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 7 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 16
- Tropical storms
- 40
- Tornadoes
- 119
- EF3 or stronger
- 7
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Baton Rouge
The strongest storm to pass near Baton Rouge was Carmen in 1974, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds when its centre passed 69 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1860, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Baton Rouge begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 39 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1930s, with 6 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 56 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Baton Rouge has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 57% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 119 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 7 times; the most recent, on October 14, 1984, came within 15 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on June 8, 1989, killed 2 people. Of the 119, 17 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 58 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on March 4, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 56% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Baton Rouge. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 103 times since 1961, with stones up to 3.75 inches. Baton Rouge has more hail reports within 10 miles than 89% of the 245 Louisiana cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Baton Rouge
Of the 56 tracks on the map, 21 were moving north as they passed Baton Rouge, 15 northeast and 13 northwest. Carmen (1974), the strongest pass, was heading northwest and came ashore 69 miles southwest of Baton Rouge. Within 75 miles of Baton Rouge, 14 of the 56 came ashore, 8 of them as hurricanes. In the last 30 seasons (1996–2025), 12 came near Baton Rouge: 4.0 a decade, against 3.0 a decade from 1851 to 1995.
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 20 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 70 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | overhead | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 42 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 33 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 69 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 15 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 7 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 2 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 9 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormOct 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 20 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 22 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 25 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 57 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 23 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 51 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 8 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 14 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 3 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Baton Rouge: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Check hail and hurricane history for any address
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Baton Rouge
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s33
- 2000s14
- 1990s12
- 1980s16(1 EF3+)
- 1970s16(3 EF3+)
- 1960s8(2 EF3+)
- 1950s9(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 1953 | F3 | 24 mi | 15.6 mi | 2 / 21 |
| Oct 14, 1984 | F3 | 15 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | F3 | 5 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 29, 1972 | F3 | 18 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Sep 16, 1971 | F3 | 4 mi | 7.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | F3 | 18 mi | 13.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 12, 1969 | F3 | 20 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 10 mi | 2 / 30 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 17 mi | 19 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 21 mi | 4.33 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 18 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 8 mi | 9.5 mi | 0 / 60 |
The strongest 12 of 119, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Baton Rouge
The Storm Prediction Center has 103 hail reports within 10 miles of Baton Rouge since 1961, made on 68 separate days. Of these, 77 were 1 inch across or larger, and 7 reached 2 inches. The largest, 3.75 inches, fell on June 20, 2023. The most recent report is from July 30, 2025. April has the most reports, 25.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Baton Rouge
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lsu Ben-Hur Farm, LA, 6 miles southwest of Baton Rouge at 21 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 40°F. June is the wettest at 6.5 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 60.6 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (30.0 of 60.6 inches). September has brought the most of the 56 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 4.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 88 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 20 nights a year. That 60.6 inches is more than at 41 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (51%). Brusly, 10 miles west, has its own station (Brusly 2 W, LA): 64.6 inches a year, 4.0 more than here, and the same July average high, 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 40 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 44 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Mar | 71 | 50 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 56 | 4.9 | 5 |
| May | 84 | 65 | 5.6 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 6.5 | 9 |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 4.7 | 9 |
| Aug | 91 | 72 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Sep | 88 | 68 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Oct | 80 | 57 | 4.2 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 47 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 42 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 57 | 60.6 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lsu Ben-Hur Farm, LA (21 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. 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 Baton Rouge
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 341 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Baton Rouge: 200 thunderstorm wind reports, 102 flash floods, 29 lightning strikes, 7 heavy rain events and 3 floods. They killed 4 people and injured 5, and the NWS estimated $480.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on April 10, 2021. May has had the most flash floods, 25 of 102. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 224 have had fewer than Baton Rouge.
July 14, 2016: lightning strike 3 miles from the centre of Baton Rouge — 1 killed, 1 injured.
NWS: “Two men who had been working on a roof in the 11800 block of Old Hammond Highway sought shelter under a tree as thunderstorms passed through. Lightning struck the tree, killing one of the men and injuring the other.”
May 30, 2010: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Baton Rouge — 1 killed.
NWS: “An eight year old boy from Columbus, Mississippi was fatally injured by lightning at a family gathering. The child was standing near a tree when the tree was struck by lightning from a thunderstorm.”
May 17, 2021: flash flood 1 mile from the centre of Baton Rouge — 1 killed.
NWS: “An underpass quickly flooded which resulted in one fatality in a car. Time estimated.”
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 Baton Rouge's 19 ZIP codes have filed 18,007 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $1.04 billion for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 8,564 claims (48% of all) and $824.8 million, then Flooding in 1983 with 2,866 and 2021 Mid-Spring Severe Storms in 2021 with 1,269. 81% 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, 214 have fewer than Baton Rouge.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 8,564 | $824.8 million |
| Flooding1983 | 2,866 | $40.0 million |
| 2021 Mid-Spring Severe Storms2021 | 1,269 | $109.3 million |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 952 | $22.2 million |
| Hurricane Gustav2008 | 358 | $7.5 million |
| Hurricane Katrina2005 | 148 | $1.7 million |
East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Baton Rouge, has been named in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 29 of them major disasters (by incident: 26 hurricanes, 10 floods, 4 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Francine, on September 16, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives East Baton Rouge Parish a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively High for hail, inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for strong wind; Relatively Low for coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $266.6 million a year, the 3rd highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $103.2 million (39%), is from inland flooding.
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).
Baton Rouge in the notable storm records: Tropical Storm Allison (2001)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Baton Rouge
- Brusly, LA10 mi
- Port Allen, LA10 mi
- Baker, LA11 mi
- Addis, LA11 mi
- Denham Springs, LA11 mi
- Saint Gabriel, LA12 mi
- Greenwell Springs, LA13 mi
- Prairieville, LA13 mi
- Plaquemine, LA14 mi
- Zachary, LA16 mi
- Pride, LA16 mi
- Geismar, LA16 mi
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