NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Donaldsonville, 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
65 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Donaldsonville, Louisiana since 1851, 23 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 105 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 23
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 105
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Donaldsonville
The strongest storm to pass near Donaldsonville was an unnamed storm in 1856, a Category 3 hurricane with 117 mph winds when its centre passed 45 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1879, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Donaldsonville begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 23 miles away. The 1930s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 65 systems, 14 have come since 2000. Donaldsonville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 75% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 105 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on February 23, 2016, came within 5 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on February 23, 2016, killed 2 people. Of the 105, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 59 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on October 26, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 70% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Donaldsonville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 32 times since 1972, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 60% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Donaldsonville.
Compare Donaldsonville's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Donaldsonville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 20 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 53 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 29 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 32 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | MatthewOct 10 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | HermineSep 20 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 40 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 35 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 59 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 45 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 5 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 15 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 2 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 8 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormOct 3 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 32 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 15 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 22 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 6 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | overhead | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 20 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 29 | 48 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 25 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormJul 31 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 36 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 5 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 73 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | overhead | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 60 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 4 | 62 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 15 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 11 | 45 mi | Category 3 (117 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Donaldsonville: 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 Donaldsonville
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s35(1 EF3+)
- 2000s14
- 1990s13(1 EF3+)
- 1980s9
- 1970s12(1 EF3+)
- 1960s8(2 EF3+)
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 25, 1992 | F3 | 23 mi | 9 mi | 2 / 32 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | 5 mi | 7.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 1971 | F3 | 24 mi | 7.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | F3 | 9 mi | 13.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 12, 1969 | F3 | 9 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 5 mi | 12.95 mi | 2 / 75 |
| Jun 6, 2019 | EF2 | 13 mi | 2.62 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Feb 15, 1987 | F2 | 12 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 30, 1982 | F2 | 10 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 20, 1977 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 25, 1976 | F2 | in town | 1.1 mi | 0 / 7 |
The strongest 12 of 105, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Donaldsonville
The Storm Prediction Center has 32 hail reports within 10 miles of Donaldsonville since 1972, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 25 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on April 7, 2003. The most recent report is from April 13, 2021. March has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Donaldsonville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA, 3 miles southwest of Donaldsonville at 30 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 42°F. June is the wettest at 7.0 inches of precipitation on average and March the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 63.5 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (34.2 of 63.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 65 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 80 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 16 nights a year. That 63.5 inches is more than at 57 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (70%). Geismar, 7 miles north, has its own station (Carville 2 SW, LA): 62.7 inches a year, 0.8 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 42 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 66 | 45 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 51 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Apr | 78 | 57 | 4.9 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 65 | 5.6 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 72 | 7.0 | 9 |
| Jul | 91 | 74 | 6.5 | 10 |
| Aug | 91 | 73 | 6.4 | 9 |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 80 | 59 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Nov | 71 | 49 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 44 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 58 | 63.5 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA (30 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 Donaldsonville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 56 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Donaldsonville: 39 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 2 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $2.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on May 31, 2012. December has had the most flash floods, 5 of 14. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 112 have had fewer than Donaldsonville.
May 28, 2014: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Donaldsonville — 1 killed, $200,000 damage.
March 5, 2011: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Donaldsonville — 1 injured, $5,000 damage.
September 22, 2011: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Donaldsonville — $1.0 million 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 Donaldsonville's ZIP code 70346 have filed 86 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $1.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 19 claims (22% of all) and $529,000. 56% 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, 66 have fewer than Donaldsonville.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 19 | $529,000 |
Ascension Parish, which includes Donaldsonville, has been named in 58 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 39 of them major disasters (by incident: 29 hurricanes, 14 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 Ascension Parish a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $120.1 million a year, the 9th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $74.2 million (62%), 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 Donaldsonville
- Belle Rose, LA7 mi
- Geismar, LA7 mi
- Gonzales, LA10 mi
- White Castle, LA10 mi
- Sorrento, LA10 mi
- Saint Gabriel, LA12 mi
- Napoleonville, LA13 mi
- Saint Amant, LA13 mi
- Prairieville, LA15 mi
- Paulina, LA17 mi
- Pierre Part, LA17 mi
- Lutcher, LA18 mi
All Louisiana cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Donaldsonville with another place →