NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cottonport, 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
39 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Cottonport, Louisiana since 1851, 8 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 100 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 8
- Tropical storms
- 31
- Tornadoes
- 100
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Cottonport
The strongest storm to pass near Cottonport was Laura in 2020, a Category 2 hurricane with 106 mph winds when its centre passed 74 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1909, whose centre came within 25 miles. The record near Cottonport begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 71 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2010s, with 4 systems. Of the 39 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site, 60% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Cottonport. The highest rating among the 100 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on April 10, 2021, came within 20 miles. Of the 100, 13 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 59 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 20. The most recent tornado was on March 31, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 74% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Cottonport. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 35 times since 1976, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 57% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Cottonport.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cottonport
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | DeltaOct 10 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | LauraAug 27 | 74 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | BarryJul 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 30 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 4 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 2 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2007 | HumbertoSep 13 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | DannyAug 16 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 55 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 13 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 42 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 70 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 27 | 69 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 24 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 16 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 25 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormAug 1 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 20 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 62 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 61 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 11 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Cottonport: 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 Cottonport
By decade
- 2020s24(1 EF3+)
- 2010s17
- 2000s18
- 1990s9
- 1980s13(2 EF3+)
- 1970s9
- 1960s6
- 1950s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 10, 2021 | EF3 | 20 mi | 8.71 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | F3 | 5 mi | 5 mi | 1 / 2 |
| May 20, 1983 | F3 | 8 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1957 | F3 | 20 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Apr 22, 2020 | EF2 | 21 mi | 8.98 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 1957 | F2 | 17 mi | 18.3 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Mar 31, 2025 | EF2 | 21 mi | 1.82 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 8, 2023 | EF2 | 20 mi | 3.61 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 2020 | EF2 | 9 mi | 3.62 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 1, 2018 | EF2 | 6 mi | 5.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 2018 | EF2 | 7 mi | 7.81 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 11, 2018 | EF2 | 13 mi | 0.39 mi | 0 / 4 |
The strongest 12 of 100, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cottonport
The Storm Prediction Center has 35 hail reports within 10 miles of Cottonport since 1976, made on 27 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 5, 2012. The most recent report is from May 12, 2024. April and May have the most reports, 10 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cottonport
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bunkie, LA, 8 miles west of Cottonport at 80 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 39°F. January is the wettest at 6.8 inches of precipitation on average and July the driest at 4.1 inches; the year adds up to 61.7 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 46% of the year's precipitation (28.5 of 61.7 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 39 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (16); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 91 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 20 nights a year. That 61.7 inches is more than at 46 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (57%). Washington, 23 miles south, has its own station (Grand Coteau, LA): 61.6 inches a year, 0.1 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 39 | 6.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Mar | 72 | 49 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Apr | 79 | 56 | 5.9 | 6 |
| May | 86 | 64 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 70 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Aug | 93 | 72 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Oct | 81 | 56 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Nov | 70 | 46 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Dec | 62 | 41 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 56 | 61.7 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bunkie, LA (80 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 Cottonport
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 83 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cottonport: 68 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods, 2 floods, 2 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $22.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on March 26, 2023. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 74 have had fewer than Cottonport.
February 26, 1998: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Cottonport — 2 injured, $200,000 damage.
January 10, 2013: flood 9 miles from the centre of Cottonport — $19.0 million damage.
April 22, 2005: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Cottonport — $800,000 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 Cottonport's ZIP code 71327 have filed 60 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $1.1 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from 2026-06-Arthur-TS in 2026: 10 claims (17% of all) and $786,000. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 23. 28% 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, 44 have fewer than Cottonport.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-Arthur-TS2026 | 10 | $786,000 |
Avoyelles Parish, which includes Cottonport, has been named in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 21 hurricanes, 7 floods, 3 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Arthur, on June 30, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Avoyelles Parish a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and strong wind; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $19.9 million a year, the 33rd highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.8 million (24%), 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).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Cottonport
- Mansura, LA6 mi
- Plaucheville, LA6 mi
- Hessmer, LA8 mi
- Bunkie, LA9 mi
- Moreauville, LA9 mi
- Marksville, LA11 mi
- Simmesport, LA13 mi
- Saint Landry, LA17 mi
- Washington, LA23 mi
- Lecompte, LA23 mi
- Ville Platte, LA25 mi
- Angola, LA27 mi
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