NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Erath, 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
53 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Erath, Louisiana since 1851, 24 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 134 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 24
- Tropical storms
- 29
- Tornadoes
- 134
- 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 Erath
The strongest storm to pass near Erath was an unnamed storm in 1879, a Category 3 hurricane with 123 mph winds when its centre passed 49 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Carmen in 1974, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Erath begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a Category 2 hurricane 63 miles away. The 1940s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 53 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Erath has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 76% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 134 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on January 31, 1983, came within 14 miles. The deadliest, an unrated tornado on January 4, 2007, killed 2 people. Of the 134, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 48 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 25. The most recent tornado was on June 10, 2025. Erath has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 63% of the 245 Louisiana cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 28 times since 1972, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 69% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Erath.
Compare Erath's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Erath
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 11 | 63 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2020 | DeltaOct 10 | 51 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | BarryJul 13 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 4 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 23 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | IvanSep 23 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 15 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 23 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | DannyAug 15 | 39 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 5 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 13 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 12 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 50 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 36 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | BerthaAug 9 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | BarbaraJul 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 48 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormJun 15 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormSep 20 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 24 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 7 | 59 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormOct 3 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 24 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 62 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 41 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 6 | 65 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 38 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormAug 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 20 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 13 | 45 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 67 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 14 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 49 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 68 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 4 | 58 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 30 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 41 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 11 | 15 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Erath: 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 Erath
By decade
- 2020s7
- 2010s14
- 2000s27
- 1990s31
- 1980s18(1 EF3+)
- 1970s19(1 EF3+)
- 1960s15(2 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 31, 1983 | F3 | 14 mi | 6 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | F3 | 14 mi | 1.5 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Sep 10, 1961 | F3 | 16 mi | 5.7 mi | 1 / 55 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | F3 | 17 mi | 7.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF2 | 12 mi | 5.2 mi | 0 / 16 |
| May 15, 2008 | EF2 | 14 mi | 7.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 13, 2007 | EF2 | 23 mi | 4.31 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Jan 25, 2004 | F2 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | 10 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Nov 1, 1992 | F2 | 13 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 13, 1992 | F2 | 20 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 18, 1989 | F2 | 23 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 134, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Erath
The Storm Prediction Center has 28 hail reports within 10 miles of Erath since 1972, made on 20 separate days. Of these, 15 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 5 days, most recently April 7, 2003. The most recent report is from May 13, 2024. April has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Erath
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is New Iberia Acadiana Regional Airport, LA, 11 miles northeast of Erath at 24 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 63°F and 43°F. July is the wettest at 6.7 inches of precipitation on average and March the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 59.8 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 57% of the year's precipitation (34.3 of 59.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 53 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 5.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 93 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 11 nights a year. That 59.8 inches is more than at 33 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (41%). Abbeville, 7 miles west, has its own station (Leland Bowman Lock, LA): 64.2 inches a year, 4.4 more than here, and an August average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 43 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Mar | 73 | 53 | 2.9 | 4 |
| Apr | 79 | 59 | 4.8 | 5 |
| May | 86 | 67 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 6.5 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 6.7 | 10 |
| Aug | 92 | 74 | 6.4 | 9 |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Oct | 82 | 60 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Nov | 72 | 50 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Dec | 65 | 45 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Year | 79 | 59 | 59.8 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at New Iberia Acadiana Regional Airport, LA (24 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 Erath
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 57 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Erath: 36 thunderstorm wind reports, 20 flash floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $37.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 24, 2025. January has had the most flash floods, 5 of 20. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 148 have had fewer than Erath.
August 13, 2016: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Erath — $20.0 million damage.
January 8, 2013: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Erath — $11.1 million damage.
January 8, 2013: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Erath — $5.0 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 Erath's ZIP code 70533 have filed 1,752 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $58.8 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Rita in 2005: 727 claims (41% of all) and $31.5 million, then Hurricane Ike in 2008 with 446 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 with 181. 96% 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, 183 have fewer than Erath.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Rita2005 | 727 | $31.5 million |
| Hurricane Ike2008 | 446 | $14.6 million |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 181 | $3.8 million |
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 148 | $4.5 million |
| Flooding1984 | 99 | $1.2 million |
| Hurricane Gustav2008 | 27 | $1.0 million |
Vermilion Parish, which includes Erath, has been named in 46 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1971, 26 of them major disasters (by incident: 28 hurricanes, 6 floods, 4 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ida, on August 29, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Vermilion Parish a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and coastal flooding; Relatively Low for tornadoes and heat waves; Very Low for hail and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $44.3 million a year, the 22nd highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $19.4 million (44%), 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).
Erath in the notable storm records: Hurricane Rita (2005)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.