NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Carthage, 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
24 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Carthage, Mississippi since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 174 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 23 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 24
- Tornadoes
- 174
- EF3 or stronger
- 23
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
106 deaths in all
What the records show for Carthage
None of the 24 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Carthage; the strongest was Camille in 1969, a tropical storm with 71 mph winds when its centre passed 29 miles away. The record near Carthage begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 70 miles away. The 1910s and the 1930s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 24 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site, 51% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Carthage. The highest rating among the 174 tornadoes within 25 miles is F5 or EF5, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 27, 2011, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an F5 on March 3, 1966, killed 58 people. Of the 174, 11 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 115 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 49. The most recent tornado was on December 28, 2024. Carthage has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 76% of the 232 Mississippi cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 40 times since 1976, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 75% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Carthage.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Carthage
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 4 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 17 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 5 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 20 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 2 | overhead | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 8 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 16 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 17 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Carthage: 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 Carthage
By decade
- 2020s24
- 2010s61(5 EF3+)
- 2000s30(2 EF3+)
- 1990s6(1 EF3+)
- 1980s13(1 EF3+)
- 1970s21(7 EF3+)
- 1960s7(3 EF3+)
- 1950s12(4 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 1966 | F5 | 13 mi | 202.5 mi | 58 / 518 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF5 | 23 mi | 28.28 mi | 3 / 6 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F4 | 8 mi | 128 mi | 12 / 122 |
| Apr 28, 2014 | EF4 | 8 mi | 33.39 mi | 10 / 84 |
| Mar 29, 1976 | F4 | 22 mi | 22.3 mi | 3 / 177 |
| Feb 23, 1977 | F4 | 23 mi | 15 mi | 2 / 5 |
| Dec 2, 1967 | F4 | 20 mi | 7.6 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F3 | 13 mi | 69.7 mi | 8 / 26 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F3 | 5 mi | 42 mi | 3 / 40 |
| Jun 3, 1950 | F3 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 2 / 1 |
| Feb 18, 1976 | F3 | 10 mi | 27.3 mi | 1 / 27 |
| May 9, 1971 | F3 | 6 mi | 1 mi | 1 / 3 |
The strongest 12 of 174, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Carthage
The Storm Prediction Center has 40 hail reports within 10 miles of Carthage since 1976, made on 37 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 2, 2010. The most recent report is from January 3, 2023. May has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Carthage
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Carthage, MS, 3 miles southwest of Carthage at 370 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 34°F. April is the wettest at 6.3 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 57.8 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 44% of the year's precipitation (25.7 of 57.8 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 24 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (13); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 77 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 64 nights a year. That 57.8 inches is more than at 26 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (30%). Kosciusko, 18 miles north, has its own station (Kosciusko, MS): 62.7 inches a year, 4.9 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 34 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Feb | 61 | 37 | 5.3 | 6 |
| Mar | 69 | 44 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 6.3 | 6 |
| May | 83 | 59 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Aug | 92 | 70 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 88 | 64 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Oct | 78 | 51 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Nov | 67 | 41 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Dec | 58 | 35 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Year | 76 | 52 | 57.8 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Carthage, MS (370 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 Carthage
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 151 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Carthage: 130 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $5.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on March 9, 2006. August has had the most flash floods, 10 of 19. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 121 have had fewer than Carthage.
March 9, 2006: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Carthage — 1 injured, $700,000 damage.
NWS: “A squall line pushed across Leake County and caused considerable damage as it moved through. In Carthage, the High School Band Hall sustained significant roof damage.”
August 2, 2008: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Carthage — $2.0 million damage.
NWS: “Hundreds of trees and power lines were blown down as an intense line of storms hit Leake County with 60 to 80 mph winds. Almost 50 roads were blocked by down trees and lines across the county.”
March 9, 2006: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Carthage — $300,000 damage.
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 Carthage's ZIP code 39051 have filed 50 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $973,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1983: 34 claims (68% of all) and $324,000. 70% 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, 61 have fewer than Carthage.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1983 | 34 | $324,000 |
Leake County, which includes Carthage, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 20 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Leake County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $10.9 million a year, the 44th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.4 million (31%), 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 Carthage
- Walnut Grove, MS14 mi
- Lena, MS15 mi
- Kosciusko, MS18 mi
- Sallis, MS21 mi
- Philadelphia, MS22 mi
- Conehatta, MS24 mi
- Union, MS26 mi
- Pickens, MS28 mi
- Forest, MS28 mi
- Durant, MS31 mi
- Canton, MS31 mi
- Decatur, MS33 mi
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