NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lamar, MS
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
11 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lamar, Mississippi since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 64 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 11 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 11
- Tornadoes
- 64
- EF3 or stronger
- 11
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
96 deaths in all
What the records show for Lamar
None of the 11 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Lamar; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 62 mph winds when its centre passed 23 miles away. The record near Lamar begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 9 miles away. The 1880s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 2 systems each. Of the 11 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site, 94% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Lamar. The highest rating among the 64 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 4 times; the most recent, on December 23, 2015, came within 9 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on February 21, 1971, killed 58 people. Of the 64, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 25 have come since 2000. March and April have had the most tornadoes, 10 each. The most recent tornado was on April 3, 2025. Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lamar. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 7 times since 1989, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 100% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lamar.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lamar
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 19 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 21 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lamar: 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 Lamar
By decade
- 2020s10(1 EF3+)
- 2010s7(2 EF3+)
- 2000s8
- 1990s17(1 EF3+)
- 1980s8(1 EF3+)
- 1970s8(5 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s2(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | 15 mi | 202.1 mi | 58 / 795 |
| Mar 21, 1952 | F4 | 9 mi | 29.6 mi | 16 / 74 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF4 | 9 mi | 75.09 mi | 9 / 36 |
| Apr 19, 1970 | F4 | 24 mi | 47.6 mi | 4 / 78 |
| May 2, 2010 | EF3 | 12 mi | 29.58 mi | 3 / 9 |
| Jan 19, 1988 | F3 | 12 mi | 22 mi | 3 / 24 |
| Apr 3, 2025 | EF3 | 3 mi | 39.55 mi | 2 / 3 |
| Mar 22, 1991 | F3 | 16 mi | 23 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F3 | 23 mi | 26.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 29, 1972 | F3 | 25 mi | 45.5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Apr 24, 1970 | F3 | 24 mi | 17 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Apr 2, 2025 | EF2 | 16 mi | 12.46 mi | 0 / 3 |
The strongest 12 of 64, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lamar
The Storm Prediction Center has 7 hail reports within 10 miles of Lamar since 1989. Of these, 5 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 3, 2025. The most recent report is from April 3, 2025.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lamar
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Holly Springs 4 N, MS, 9 miles southwest of Lamar at 484 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 67°F; January is the coolest, at 50°F and 29°F. April is the wettest at 5.9 inches of precipitation on average and August the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 55.7 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 43% of the year's precipitation (24.1 of 55.7 inches); the other six months are wetter. August has brought the most of the 11 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (5); a normal August there has highs of 89°F and 2.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 45 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 83 nights a year. That 55.7 inches is more than at 8 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (9%). Moscow, TN, 9 miles north, has its own station (Moscow, TN): 54.9 inches a year, 0.8 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50 | 29 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Feb | 55 | 32 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Mar | 64 | 39 | 5.2 | 9 |
| Apr | 73 | 47 | 5.9 | 7 |
| May | 80 | 56 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Jun | 86 | 64 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Jul | 89 | 67 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Aug | 89 | 66 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Sep | 83 | 59 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 73 | 47 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Nov | 62 | 37 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Year | 71 | 48 | 55.7 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Holly Springs 4 N, MS (484 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 Lamar
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 30 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lamar: 27 thunderstorm wind reports, 2 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $115,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 94 mph, on April 3, 2025.
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
Benton County, which includes Lamar, has been named in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1971, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 severe storms, 4 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 winter storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Benton County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for tornadoes, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hurricanes, hail, inland flooding and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $3.7 million a year, the 80th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.1 million (29%), 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 Lamar
- Moscow, TN9 mi
- Ashland, MS12 mi
- Holly Springs, MS14 mi
- Rossville, TN15 mi
- Potts Camp, MS20 mi
- Byhalia, MS20 mi
- Collierville, TN21 mi
- Hickory Flat, MS22 mi
- Oakland, TN22 mi
- Somerville, TN24 mi
- Eads, TN25 mi
- Blue Mountain, MS25 mi
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