NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Monticello, 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
48 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Monticello, Mississippi since 1851, 5 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 172 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 21 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 5
- Tropical storms
- 43
- Tornadoes
- 172
- EF3 or stronger
- 21
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
32 deaths in all
What the records show for Monticello
The strongest storm to pass near Monticello was Camille in 1969, a Category 2 hurricane with 100 mph winds when its centre passed 19 miles away. The record near Monticello begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 73 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2020s, with 5 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 48 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Monticello has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 74% of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site. The highest rating among the 172 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 6 times; the most recent, on March 15, 2025, came within 16 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on January 10, 1975, killed 9 people. Of the 172, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 108 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 37. The most recent tornado was on April 6, 2025. Monticello has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 75% of the 232 Mississippi cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 77 times since 1968, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Monticello has more hail reports within 10 miles than 71% of the 232 Mississippi cities.
Compare Monticello's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Monticello
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 68 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 38 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2003 | BillJul 1 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 27 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 17 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 19 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1957 | EstherSep 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 2 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 5 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 20 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 10 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 8 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 28 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 52 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 68 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Monticello: 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 Monticello
By decade
- 2020s48(5 EF3+)
- 2010s27(1 EF3+)
- 2000s33(1 EF3+)
- 1990s23(2 EF3+)
- 1980s12(1 EF3+)
- 1970s17(10 EF3+)
- 1960s10(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 10, 1975 | F4 | 6 mi | 56.5 mi | 9 / 210 |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF4 | 22 mi | 67.43 mi | 7 / 98 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF4 | 16 mi | 67.16 mi | 6 / 6 |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF4 | 16 mi | 22.12 mi | 4 / 3 |
| Apr 18, 1978 | F4 | in town | 19.1 mi | 4 / 31 |
| Mar 26, 1976 | F4 | 17 mi | 18.5 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF3 | 18 mi | 26.05 mi | 1 / 2 |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF3 | 10 mi | 83.22 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | 23 mi | 30.32 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 26, 2009 | EF3 | 23 mi | 17.42 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Feb 27, 1999 | F3 | 7 mi | 17 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F3 | 14 mi | 27 mi | 0 / 105 |
The strongest 12 of 172, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Monticello
The Storm Prediction Center has 77 hail reports within 10 miles of Monticello since 1968, made on 59 separate days. Of these, 46 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently March 18, 2013. The most recent report is from March 9, 2025. April has the most reports, 24.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Monticello
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Monticello, MS, 1 mile northeast of Monticello at 191 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 96°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 36°F. January and February are the wettest at 6.0 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.6 inches; the year adds up to 60.5 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 45% of the year's precipitation (27.3 of 60.5 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 48 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 91°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 105 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 45 nights a year. That 60.5 inches is more than at 55 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (63%). Newhebron, 16 miles northeast, has its own station (D'Lo 2 SW, MS): 57.6 inches a year, 2.9 less than here, and a July average high of 95°F against 96°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 36 | 6.0 | 7 |
| Feb | 67 | 40 | 6.0 | 6 |
| Mar | 74 | 46 | 5.7 | 6 |
| Apr | 81 | 53 | 5.8 | 5 |
| May | 88 | 61 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Jun | 94 | 69 | 4.7 | 8 |
| Jul | 96 | 71 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Aug | 96 | 71 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Sep | 91 | 66 | 3.6 | 4 |
| Oct | 82 | 54 | 4.2 | 4 |
| Nov | 72 | 44 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 39 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Year | 80 | 54 | 60.5 | 73 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Monticello, MS (191 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 Monticello
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 154 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Monticello: 133 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 3 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $5.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on May 13, 2024. March 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 Monticello.
March 11, 2026: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Monticello — 1 killed.
March 11, 2026: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Monticello — 1 killed.
NWS: “A tree was blown down across Highway 27 near Virginia Speights Lane. A fatality occurred when a driver accidentally drove into the tree.”
March 11, 2026: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Monticello — 1 killed.
NWS: “Large tree branches were blown down along MS Highway 184.”
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 Monticello's ZIP code 39654 have filed 22 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $315,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 36% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 133 Mississippi cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 34 have fewer than Monticello.
Lawrence County, which includes Monticello, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 hurricanes, 10 severe storms, 3 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding, on June 30, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Lawrence County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.5 million a year, the 64th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.6 million (39%), 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 Monticello
- Silver Creek, MS8 mi
- Jayess, MS13 mi
- Prentiss, MS16 mi
- Newhebron, MS16 mi
- Brookhaven, MS19 mi
- Wesson, MS20 mi
- Bogue Chitto, MS21 mi
- Bassfield, MS24 mi
- Foxworth, MS26 mi
- Summit, MS26 mi
- Hazlehurst, MS27 mi
- Columbia, MS28 mi
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