NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bruce, MS
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
18 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bruce, Mississippi since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 72 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 9 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 18
- Tornadoes
- 72
- EF3 or stronger
- 9
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
94 deaths in all
What the records show for Bruce
None of the 18 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Bruce; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 66 mph winds when its centre passed 58 miles away. The record near Bruce begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 16 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1930s, with 3 systems. Of the 18 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site, 62% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Bruce. The strongest of the 72 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on February 21, 1971; its path came within 22 miles, and it killed 58 people. Of the 72, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 31 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on June 7, 2025. Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 90% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bruce. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 26 times since 1970, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bruce.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bruce
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 20 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 2 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 7 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 9 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bruce: 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 Bruce
By decade
- 2020s12
- 2010s9(2 EF3+)
- 2000s10(2 EF3+)
- 1990s14(3 EF3+)
- 1980s8(1 EF3+)
- 1970s13(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 22 mi | 202.1 mi | 58 / 795 |
| Apr 21, 1984 | F3 | 8 mi | 71 mi | 15 / 76 |
| Feb 24, 2001 | F3 | 2 mi | 52 mi | 6 / 73 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 20 mi | 51.45 mi | 4 / 25 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 18 mi | 13.57 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jan 3, 2000 | F3 | 16 mi | 43.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 20 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 11 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 6 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 4, 1971 | F2 | 19 mi | 6.1 mi | 7 / 0 |
| Apr 1, 2023 | EF2 | 20 mi | 16.87 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Apr 5, 2025 | EF2 | 16 mi | 39.71 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 72, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bruce
The Storm Prediction Center has 26 hail reports within 10 miles of Bruce since 1970, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 1, 1970. The most recent report is from September 15, 2025. April has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bruce
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Calhoun City, MS, 11 miles south of Bruce at 268 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 54°F and 32°F. April is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and September and October the driest at 3.6 inches; the year adds up to 58.0 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 42% of the year's precipitation (24.5 of 58.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 18 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (7); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 63 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 64 nights a year. Snowfall averages 0.8 inches a year, most of it in January. That 58.0 inches is more than at 29 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (33%). Coffeeville, 17 miles west, has its own station (Water Valley, MS): 58.7 inches a year, 0.7 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 32 | 5.3 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 59 | 35 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Mar | 67 | 43 | 5.3 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 75 | 51 | 6.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 82 | 60 | 5.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 5.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 91 | 70 | 3.7 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 86 | 63 | 3.6 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 77 | 51 | 3.6 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 3.9 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 6.0 | 7 | 0.1 |
| Year | 74 | 51 | 58.0 | 73 | 0.8 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Calhoun City, MS (268 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 Bruce
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 64 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bruce: 50 thunderstorm wind reports, 12 flash floods and 2 floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $791,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 7, 2003. May has had the most flash floods, 4 of 12. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 61 have had fewer than Bruce.
May 2, 2010: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Bruce — $150,000 damage.
NWS: “Up to 8 inches of rain fell across Northern Calhoun County producing flash flooding. Numerous roads were closed as a result.”
December 9, 2008: flash flood 2 miles from the centre of Bruce — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Heavy rain produced flash flooding outside Sarepta. County Road 151 was under water as a result.”
April 30, 2017: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Bruce — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Multiple trees down across the county. Roofs off a couple of houses.”
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 Bruce's ZIP code 38915 have filed 15 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1991, and were paid $517,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 7% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 133 Mississippi cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 17 have fewer than Bruce.
Calhoun County, which includes Bruce, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 severe storms, 5 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 winter storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Calhoun County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.6 million a year, the 63rd highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.1 million (32%), 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).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Bruce
- Calhoun City, MS12 mi
- Vardaman, MS14 mi
- Coffeeville, MS17 mi
- Water Valley, MS18 mi
- Houlka, MS20 mi
- Houston, MS24 mi
- Thaxton, MS24 mi
- Oxford, MS25 mi
- Pontotoc, MS26 mi
- University, MS27 mi
- Eupora, MS30 mi
- Grenada, MS30 mi
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