NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Fort Polk, 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
31 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Fort Polk, Louisiana since 1851, 5 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Delta in 2020. Since 1950, 99 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 5
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 99
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
14 deaths in all
What the records show for Fort Polk
The strongest storm to pass near Fort Polk was Laura in 2020, a Category 2 hurricane with 102 mph winds when its centre passed 5 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Audrey in 1957, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Fort Polk begins with an unnamed storm in 1863; the most recent system was Delta in 2020, a tropical storm 45 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 4 systems. Of the 31 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site, 67% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Fort Polk. The strongest of the 99 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on December 3, 1953; its path came within 10 miles, and it killed 9 people. Of the 99, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 55 have come since 2000. November has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on March 4, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 75% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Fort Polk. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 51 times since 1965, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Fort Polk has more hail reports within 10 miles than 58% of the 245 Louisiana cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Fort Polk
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | DeltaOct 10 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | LauraAug 27 | 5 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | BarryJul 14 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 30 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | CindyJun 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 2 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2007 | HumbertoSep 13 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | RitaSep 24 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | DannyAug 15 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1982 | ChrisSep 11 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1979 | ClaudetteJul 25 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 27 | 3 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | BarbaraJul 29 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 20 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 24 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormAug 15 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 27 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 6 | 43 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormAug 1 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 20 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormOct 13 | 28 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormAug 23 | 52 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 18 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormSep 14 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 30 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Fort Polk: 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 Fort Polk
By decade
- 2020s14
- 2010s24(1 EF3+)
- 2000s17
- 1990s19
- 1980s5
- 1970s12
- 1960s4
- 1950s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 3, 1953 | F4 | 10 mi | 85.5 mi | 9 / 50 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | 11 mi | 62.61 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 29, 1975 | F2 | 10 mi | 14.8 mi | 2 / 8 |
| Mar 22, 1953 | F2 | 2 mi | 234.7 mi | 2 / 22 |
| Jan 9, 2022 | EF2 | 24 mi | 3.56 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Apr 22, 2020 | EF2 | 8 mi | 36.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 23, 2004 | F2 | 24 mi | 20 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Nov 23, 2004 | F2 | 19 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 26, 2003 | F2 | 13 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Nov 17, 2003 | F2 | 16 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 1999 | F2 | 18 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | 10 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 99, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Fort Polk
The Storm Prediction Center has 51 hail reports within 10 miles of Fort Polk since 1965, made on 41 separate days. Of these, 31 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 4, 1999. The most recent report is from February 11, 2024. March has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Fort Polk
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Leesville, LA, 5 miles north of Fort Polk at 28 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 37°F. January and December are the wettest at 5.6 inches of precipitation on average and July and August the driest at 4.2 inches; the year adds up to 59.4 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 47% of the year's precipitation (27.9 of 59.4 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 31 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (13); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 95 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 39 nights a year. That 59.4 inches is more than at 30 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (37%). Anacoco, 16 miles northwest, has its own station (Toledo Bend Dam, TX): 55.7 inches a year, 3.7 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 37 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 41 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Mar | 72 | 48 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 54 | 5.4 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 62 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 68 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Jul | 93 | 71 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Aug | 94 | 70 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Sep | 89 | 65 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Oct | 80 | 54 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Nov | 69 | 45 | 5.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 61 | 39 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 54 | 59.4 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Leesville, LA (28 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 Fort Polk
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 69 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Fort Polk: 54 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods, 2 floods, 2 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on December 28, 2024. October has had the most flash floods, 3 of 10. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 74 have had fewer than Fort Polk.
March 10, 2000: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Fort Polk — $2.0 million damage.
February 10, 1998: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Fort Polk — $200,000 damage.
February 10, 1998: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Fort Polk — $100,000 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
Vernon Parish, which includes Fort Polk, has been named in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 19 hurricanes, 4 fires, 4 floods, 3 coastal storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ida, on August 29, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Vernon 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 $21.6 million a year, the 31st highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $8.9 million (41%), 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 Fort Polk
- Leesville, LA5 mi
- New Llano, LA5 mi
- Anacoco, LA16 mi
- Deridder, LA17 mi
- Pitkin, LA18 mi
- Florien, LA26 mi
- Longville, LA33 mi
- Merryville, LA34 mi
- Newton, TX36 mi
- Glenmora, LA36 mi
- Many, LA36 mi
- Hemphill, TX36 mi
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