NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lena, 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
25 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lena, Mississippi since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 195 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 22 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 23
- Tornadoes
- 195
- EF3 or stronger
- 22
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
103 deaths in all
What the records show for Lena
The strongest storm to pass near Lena was Camille in 1969, a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds when its centre passed 20 miles away. The record near Lena begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 57 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 4 systems. Of the 25 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Lena has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 55% of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site. The strongest of the 195 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F5 on March 3, 1966; its path came within 4 miles, and it killed 58 people. Of the 195, 16 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 128 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 58. The most recent tornado was on May 26, 2025. Lena has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 83% of the 232 Mississippi cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 66 times since 1985, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Lena has more hail reports within 10 miles than 57% of the 232 Mississippi cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lena
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 4 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 60 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 17 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 20 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 5 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 2 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 8 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | overhead | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 17 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lena: 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 Lena
By decade
- 2020s30
- 2010s57(6 EF3+)
- 2000s41(2 EF3+)
- 1990s10(2 EF3+)
- 1980s17(1 EF3+)
- 1970s20(5 EF3+)
- 1960s10(3 EF3+)
- 1950s10(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 1966 | F5 | 4 mi | 202.5 mi | 58 / 518 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F4 | 8 mi | 128 mi | 12 / 122 |
| Apr 28, 2014 | EF4 | 23 mi | 33.39 mi | 10 / 84 |
| Mar 29, 1976 | F4 | 16 mi | 22.3 mi | 3 / 177 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F4 | 24 mi | 11.5 mi | 2 / 21 |
| Dec 2, 1967 | F4 | 13 mi | 7.6 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F3 | 10 mi | 69.7 mi | 8 / 26 |
| Apr 2, 1982 | F3 | 11 mi | 42 mi | 3 / 40 |
| Apr 28, 2014 | EF3 | 19 mi | 29.72 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Feb 18, 1976 | F3 | 3 mi | 27.3 mi | 1 / 27 |
| May 9, 1971 | F3 | 20 mi | 1 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F3 | 8 mi | 71 mi | 1 / 34 |
The strongest 12 of 195, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lena
The Storm Prediction Center has 66 hail reports within 10 miles of Lena since 1985, made on 48 separate days. Of these, 41 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on March 4, 2020. The most recent report is from April 9, 2024. April has the most reports, 17.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lena
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Carthage, MS, 12 miles northeast of Lena at 370 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 34°F. April is the wettest at 6.3 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 57.8 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 44% of the year's precipitation (25.7 of 57.8 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 25 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 77 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 64 nights a year. That 57.8 inches is more than at 26 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (30%). Forest, 18 miles southeast, has its own station (Raleigh 6N, MS): 61.6 inches a year, 3.8 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 34 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Feb | 61 | 37 | 5.3 | 6 |
| Mar | 69 | 44 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 6.3 | 6 |
| May | 83 | 59 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Aug | 92 | 70 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 88 | 64 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Oct | 78 | 51 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Nov | 67 | 41 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Dec | 58 | 35 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Year | 76 | 52 | 57.8 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Carthage, MS (370 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 Lena
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 124 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lena: 105 thunderstorm wind reports and 19 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $6.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on January 13, 2005. August has had the most flash floods, 6 of 19. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 121 have had fewer than Lena.
November 29, 2001: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Lena — $2.0 million damage.
NWS: “A severe thunderstorm produced winds of up to 90 mph in southwestern portions of the county. An NWS survey team determined the damage was due to straight-line winds.”
January 13, 2005: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Lena — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Damaging thunderstorm winds tore a path across southern Leake county from near Lena to near Tuscola. Four chicken houses were severely damaged and four out buildings were destroyed.”
August 2, 2008: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Lena — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Hundreds of trees and many power lines were blown down across the northwest portion of Scott County, generally around Ludlow and toward Forkville. Many trees were down across area roads along with some power lines.”
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
Leake County, which includes Lena, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 20 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Leake County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $10.9 million a year, the 44th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.4 million (31%), 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 Lena
- Walnut Grove, MS12 mi
- Carthage, MS15 mi
- Forest, MS18 mi
- Morton, MS20 mi
- Pelahatchie, MS21 mi
- Conehatta, MS22 mi
- Canton, MS22 mi
- Lake, MS25 mi
- Brandon, MS27 mi
- Pickens, MS28 mi
- Sallis, MS29 mi
- Union, MS29 mi
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