NHC AL132020 · Atlantic basin
Hurricane Laura (2020)
August 20, 2020 – August 29, 2020
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
Hurricane Laura peaked at Category 4 with 150 mph sustained winds and passed within 75 miles of 327 US cities, 118 of them while still at hurricane strength.
Laura in the record
HURDAT2 tracks Laura for 9 days, from August 20, 2020 to August 29, 2020. Its first position, at 14.4°N 47.3°W, records it as a tropical depression; its last, at 38.3°N 84.8°W, as a low. It reached tropical-storm strength on August 21, hurricane strength on August 25 and major-hurricane strength on August 26. Its peak was 150 mph (130 knots), Category 4, on August 27, and its lowest central pressure was 937 millibars on August 27. It spent about 2 days at hurricane strength. HURDAT2 marks a landfall within 50 miles of a US city on this site: on August 27 at 150 mph (Category 4), 25 miles from Bell City, LA. It has 5 more landfalls in the record farther from the cities here. Its centre passed within 75 miles of 327 US cities, in 4 states and territories, most in Louisiana (117) and Arkansas (88), between August 22 and August 28. The strongest pass was 148 mph (Category 4) 66 miles from Winnie, TX; the centre came closest to Bearden, AR, 1 mile away. 118 of the cities had it at hurricane strength at the closest point, 55 at major-hurricane strength. It reached more US cities than 72% of the 737 storms on this site, and ranks 4th of the 14 storms of 2020 here.
- Peak strength
- Category 4
- Cities within 75 mi
- 327
- At hurricane strength
- 118
- States
- 4
150 mph
when closest
Cities Laura passed near, strongest first
Texas (36)
- WinnieCategory 4 · 66 mi
- Port ArthurCategory 4 · 38 mi
- GrovesCategory 4 · 37 mi
- Port NechesCategory 4 · 40 mi
- NederlandCategory 4 · 42 mi
- Bridge CityCategory 4 · 32 mi
- BeaumontCategory 4 · 51 mi
- OrangeCategory 4 · 29 mi
- VidorCategory 4 · 42 mi
- Sour LakeCategory 4 · 67 mi
- LumbertonCategory 4 · 54 mi
- KountzeCategory 3 · 62 mi
- SilsbeeCategory 3 · 52 mi
- BunaCategory 3 · 40 mi
- WarrenCategory 3 · 66 mi
- KirbyvilleCategory 3 · 38 mi
- WoodvilleCategory 3 · 66 mi
- NewtonCategory 3 · 27 mi
- ColmesneilCategory 2 · 62 mi
- JasperCategory 2 · 44 mi
- BrookelandCategory 2 · 41 mi
- ZavallaCategory 2 · 63 mi
- BronsonCategory 2 · 44 mi
- HuntingtonCategory 2 · 73 mi
- HemphillCategory 2 · 28 mi
- San AugustineCategory 1 · 54 mi
- CenterCategory 1 · 59 mi
- ShelbyvilleCategory 1 · 43 mi
- TimpsonCategory 1 · 74 mi
- TenahaCategory 1 · 65 mi
- JoaquinCategory 1 · 54 mi
- GaryCategory 1 · 73 mi
- CarthageCategory 1 · 71 mi
- De BerryCategory 1 · 66 mi
- WaskomCategory 1 · 63 mi
- KarnackTropical storm · 70 mi
Louisiana (117)
- AbbevilleCategory 4 · 69 mi
- KaplanCategory 4 · 59 mi
- GueydanCategory 4 · 45 mi
- Bell CityCategory 4 · 16 mi
- Lake ArthurCategory 4 · 34 mi
- MauriceCategory 4 · 70 mi
- MorseCategory 4 · 47 mi
- VintonCategory 4 · 18 mi
- SulphurCategory 4 · 5 mi
- Lake CharlesCategory 4 · 5 mi
- CrowleyCategory 4 · 55 mi
- DusonCategory 4 · 68 mi
- IowaCategory 4 · 18 mi
- WelshCategory 4 · 28 mi
- JenningsCategory 4 · 38 mi
- RayneCategory 4 · 62 mi
- ScottCategory 4 · 72 mi
- WestlakeCategory 4 · 2 mi
- IotaCategory 4 · 48 mi
- CarencroCategory 4 · 75 mi
- SunsetCategory 3 · 73 mi
- Church PointCategory 3 · 64 mi
- DequincyCategory 3 · 7 mi
- RagleyCategory 3 · 10 mi
- KinderCategory 3 · 26 mi
- EltonCategory 3 · 36 mi
- BasileCategory 3 · 43 mi
- EuniceCategory 3 · 53 mi
- OpelousasCategory 3 · 72 mi
- LongvilleCategory 3 · 3 mi
- OberlinCategory 3 · 33 mi
- MamouCategory 3 · 52 mi
- WashingtonCategory 3 · 74 mi
- MerryvilleCategory 3 · 15 mi
- Ville PlatteCategory 3 · 59 mi
- OakdaleCategory 3 · 38 mi
- DeridderCategory 3 · 2 mi
- Saint LandryCategory 2 · 59 mi
- BunkieCategory 2 · 67 mi
- PitkinCategory 2 · 21 mi
- CottonportCategory 2 · 74 mi
- GlenmoraCategory 2 · 40 mi
- Forest HillCategory 2 · 46 mi
- Fort PolkCategory 2 · 5 mi
- HessmerCategory 2 · 68 mi
- MansuraCategory 2 · 74 mi
- New LlanoCategory 2 · 1 mi
- LecompteCategory 2 · 53 mi
- LeesvilleCategory 2 · 4 mi
- AnacocoCategory 2 · 7 mi
- WoodworthCategory 2 · 47 mi
- FlorienCategory 1 · 11 mi
- MarksvilleCategory 1 · 71 mi
- BoyceCategory 1 · 34 mi
- AlexandriaCategory 1 · 47 mi
- ManyCategory 1 · 19 mi
- ZwolleCategory 1 · 27 mi
- PinevilleCategory 1 · 50 mi
- BallCategory 1 · 49 mi
- DevilleCategory 1 · 61 mi
and 57 more
Arkansas (88)
- TaylorTropical storm · 37 mi
- Junction CityTropical storm · 4 mi
- FoukeTropical storm · 60 mi
- MagnoliaTropical storm · 24 mi
- StrongTropical storm · 27 mi
- TexarkanaTropical storm · 70 mi
- El DoradoTropical storm · 8 mi
- WaldoTropical storm · 31 mi
- CrossettTropical storm · 48 mi
- SmackoverTropical storm · 1 mi
- HamburgTropical storm · 57 mi
- HopeTropical storm · 51 mi
- CamdenTropical storm · 6 mi
- HamptonTropical storm · 14 mi
- WarrenTropical storm · 35 mi
- PrescottTropical storm · 40 mi
- BeardenTropical storm · 1 mi
- MonticelloTropical storm · 52 mi
- DermottTropical storm · 70 mi
- NashvilleTropical storm · 70 mi
- FordyceTropical storm · 12 mi
- GurdonTropical storm · 29 mi
- Mc GeheeTropical storm · 74 mi
- MurfreesboroTropical storm · 63 mi
- RisonTropical storm · 26 mi
- ArkadelphiaTropical storm · 27 mi
- Star CityTropical storm · 43 mi
- AmityTropical storm · 52 mi
- DumasTropical storm · 63 mi
- DonaldsonTropical storm · 24 mi
- BismarckTropical storm · 37 mi
- GouldTropical storm · 57 mi
- GlenwoodTropical storm · 60 mi
- SheridanTropical storm · 7 mi
- MalvernTropical storm · 17 mi
- White HallTropical storm · 25 mi
- Pine BluffTropical storm · 29 mi
- PearcyTropical storm · 42 mi
- BryantTropical storm · 14 mi
- HensleyTropical storm · 14 mi
- MabelvaleTropical storm · 15 mi
- AlexanderTropical storm · 17 mi
- BentonTropical storm · 20 mi
- Little RockTropical storm · 24 mi
- North Little RockTropical storm · 31 mi
- ScottTropical storm · 31 mi
- MaumelleTropical storm · 32 mi
- Hot SpringsTropical storm · 33 mi
- RolandTropical storm · 33 mi
- EnglandTropical storm · 34 mi
- SherwoodTropical storm · 35 mi
- JacksonvilleTropical storm · 39 mi
- MayflowerTropical storm · 40 mi
- BigelowTropical storm · 42 mi
- LonokeTropical storm · 43 mi
- RoyalTropical storm · 44 mi
- PerryvilleTropical storm · 44 mi
- ConwayTropical storm · 47 mi
- CabotTropical storm · 47 mi
- CarlisleTropical storm · 50 mi
and 28 more
Puerto Rico (86)
- EnsenadaTropical storm · 9 mi
- BoqueronTropical storm · 9 mi
- GuanicaTropical storm · 11 mi
- LajasTropical storm · 11 mi
- MerceditaTropical storm · 15 mi
- Cabo RojoTropical storm · 15 mi
- GuayanillaTropical storm · 15 mi
- PonceTropical storm · 15 mi
- Santa IsabelTropical storm · 15 mi
- AguirreTropical storm · 16 mi
- Sabana GrandeTropical storm · 16 mi
- YaucoTropical storm · 16 mi
- San GermanTropical storm · 16 mi
- SalinasTropical storm · 17 mi
- PenuelasTropical storm · 17 mi
- GuayamaTropical storm · 17 mi
- Juana DiazTropical storm · 18 mi
- ArroyoTropical storm · 18 mi
- HormiguerosTropical storm · 19 mi
- Coto LaurelTropical storm · 19 mi
- PatillasTropical storm · 21 mi
- MaunaboTropical storm · 21 mi
- CoamoTropical storm · 23 mi
- MayaguezTropical storm · 23 mi
- MaricaoTropical storm · 23 mi
- VillalbaTropical storm · 24 mi
- AdjuntasTropical storm · 25 mi
- YabucoaTropical storm · 26 mi
- CayeyTropical storm · 26 mi
- AibonitoTropical storm · 26 mi
- Las MariasTropical storm · 27 mi
- JayuyaTropical storm · 29 mi
- AnascoTropical storm · 29 mi
- CidraTropical storm · 30 mi
- OrocovisTropical storm · 31 mi
- San LorenzoTropical storm · 31 mi
- BarranquitasTropical storm · 31 mi
- LaresTropical storm · 31 mi
- RinconTropical storm · 31 mi
- HumacaoTropical storm · 31 mi
- UtuadoTropical storm · 32 mi
- ComerioTropical storm · 33 mi
- Punta SantiagoTropical storm · 33 mi
- San SebastianTropical storm · 33 mi
- Las PiedrasTropical storm · 34 mi
- AguadaTropical storm · 34 mi
- CaguasTropical storm · 35 mi
- Aguas BuenasTropical storm · 35 mi
- MocaTropical storm · 36 mi
- JuncosTropical storm · 36 mi
- CialesTropical storm · 36 mi
- NaguaboTropical storm · 37 mi
- NaranjitoTropical storm · 37 mi
- GuraboTropical storm · 38 mi
- CorozalTropical storm · 38 mi
- MorovisTropical storm · 38 mi
- FloridaTropical storm · 39 mi
- AguadillaTropical storm · 40 mi
- CeibaTropical storm · 41 mi
- QuebradillasTropical storm · 41 mi
and 26 more
Other storms of the 2020 season
- ArthurTropical storm · 15 cities
- BerthaTropical storm · 64 cities
- CristobalTropical storm · 276 cities
- FayTropical storm · 885 cities
- DouglasCategory 4 · 43 cities
- HannaCategory 1 · 44 cities
- IsaiasCategory 1 · 2,213 cities
- MarcoCategory 1 · 6 cities
- SallyCategory 2 · 191 cities
- BetaTropical storm · 49 cities
- DeltaCategory 4 · 169 cities
- ZetaCategory 3 · 1,509 cities
- EtaCategory 4 · 240 cities
About this record
The track is the National Hurricane Center's best-track record, revised after the season with every observation available. Strength at a city is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, not the wind that city measured.