NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Morgan City, 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
72 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Morgan City, Louisiana since 1851, 30 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 55 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 30
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 55
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Morgan City
The strongest storm to pass near Morgan City was an unnamed storm in 1856, a Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds when its centre passed 19 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1920, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Morgan City begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 16 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 8 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 72 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Morgan City has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 85% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 55 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on February 23, 2016, came within 21 miles. Of the 55, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 18 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on October 26, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 96% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Morgan City. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 13 times since 1974, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 90% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Morgan City.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Morgan City
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 11 | 16 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 29 | 37 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 48 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | BarryJul 13 | 50 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 29 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 4 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 4 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | MatthewOct 10 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 62 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | HermineSep 20 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1997 | DannyJul 17 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 20 mi | Category 3 (116 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 10 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 32 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 58 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | DebbieSep 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 22 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 18 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 30 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 56 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 38 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormJun 15 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 10 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1943 | Unnamed 1943 stormSep 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 6 | 58 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormOct 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 27 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 30 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 15 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 22 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 13 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 11 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 2 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 29 | 57 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 9 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormJul 31 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 12 | 45 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 26 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 19 | 19 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 61 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 4 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 36 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 5 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 4 | 36 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 30 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 13 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 10 | 19 mi | Category 4 (135 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Morgan City: 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 Morgan City
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s10(1 EF3+)
- 2000s6
- 1990s13
- 1980s5
- 1970s11(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | 21 mi | 7.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 17, 1970 | F3 | 7 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Feb 15, 1987 | F2 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jan 30, 1982 | F2 | 21 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 19, 1974 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 12, 1973 | F2 | 11 mi | 6.2 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Sep 16, 1971 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 3, 1964 | F2 | 16 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 10, 1961 | F2 | 1 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 16 |
| Feb 3, 1960 | F2 | 24 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Oct 23, 1957 | F2 | 17 mi | 11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 26, 2025 | EF1 | 16 mi | 7.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 55, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Morgan City
The Storm Prediction Center has 13 hail reports within 10 miles of Morgan City since 1974, made on 11 separate days. Of these, 9 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 4 days, most recently December 30, 2006. The most recent report is from June 3, 2023. April has the most reports, 4.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Morgan City
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Morgan City, LA, in Morgan City at 5 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 76°F; January is the coolest, at 63°F and 45°F. August is the wettest at 7.3 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 58.6 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (33.8 of 58.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 72 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (32); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 53 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 7 nights a year. That 58.6 inches is more than at 26 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (32%). Pierre Part, 16 miles north, has its own station (Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA): 63.5 inches a year, 4.9 more than here, and the same July average high, 91°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Berwick, Atchafalaya River, LA, 4 miles southwest, averaged 87°F in August and 49°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from June to September.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63 | 45 | 5.0 | 7 | 49 |
| Feb | 67 | 49 | 3.3 | 5 | 50 |
| Mar | 72 | 55 | 3.9 | 5 | 57 |
| Apr | 78 | 61 | 4.0 | 5 | 66 |
| May | 84 | 69 | 4.6 | 5 | 74 |
| Jun | 89 | 75 | 7.0 | 8 | 82 |
| Jul | 91 | 76 | 6.2 | 10 | 87 |
| Aug | 90 | 76 | 7.3 | 10 | 87 |
| Sep | 88 | 73 | 5.4 | 8 | 84 |
| Oct | 81 | 64 | 4.0 | 5 | 77 |
| Nov | 72 | 53 | 3.9 | 4 | 65 |
| Dec | 66 | 48 | 4.0 | 6 | 55 |
| Year | 78 | 62 | 58.6 | 78 | 69 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Morgan City, LA (5 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Berwick, Atchafalaya River, LA, from NOAA Tides & Currents. 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 Morgan City
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 45 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Morgan City: 29 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes, 3 heavy rain events and 1 flood. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 102 mph, on May 22, 2013. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 47 have had fewer than Morgan City.
June 10, 2007: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of Morgan City — $400,000 damage.
NWS: “Air conditioners on the top of the movie theater were damage, a car dealership had its windows blown out, and a helicopter was blown over sitting at the Patterson airport.”
March 26, 2009: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Morgan City — $250,000 damage.
May 22, 2013: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Morgan City — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “An isolated strong thunderstorm moved east across the lower sections of the Atchafalaya Swamp including Flat Lake. As the storm neared the northern sections of Morgan City and Lake End Park the storm intensified farther producing winds around 70 knots.”
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 Morgan City's ZIP code 70380 have filed 1,224 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $9.6 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1991: 182 claims (15% of all) and $1.1 million, then Mid-spring storms in 2011 with 127 and Hurricane Francine in 2024 with 87. 49% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 219 Louisiana cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 167 have fewer than Morgan City.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1991 | 182 | $1.1 million |
| Mid-spring storms2011 | 127 | $515,000 |
| Hurricane Francine2024 | 87 | $4.7 million |
| Hurricane Andrew1992 | 55 | $274,000 |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 46 | $168,000 |
| Hurricane Gustav2008 | 22 | $16,000 |
St. Mary Parish, which includes Morgan City, has been named in 49 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 30 hurricanes, 7 floods, 4 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Francine, on September 16, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives St. Mary Parish a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $60.7 million a year, the 14th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $38.8 million (64%), is from hurricanes.
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 Morgan City
- Berwick, LA3 mi
- Patterson, LA8 mi
- Pierre Part, LA16 mi
- Napoleonville, LA18 mi
- Schriever, LA21 mi
- Franklin, LA21 mi
- Thibodaux, LA23 mi
- Belle Rose, LA24 mi
- Gray, LA25 mi
- Houma, LA29 mi
- Donaldsonville, LA30 mi
- White Castle, LA32 mi
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