NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Oakdale, 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
39 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Oakdale, Louisiana since 1851, 7 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Delta in 2020. Since 1950, 96 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 7
- Tropical storms
- 32
- Tornadoes
- 96
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Oakdale
The strongest storm to pass near Oakdale was Laura in 2020, a Category 3 hurricane with 113 mph winds when its centre passed 38 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Carmen in 1974, whose centre came within 23 miles. The record near Oakdale begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Delta in 2020, a tropical storm 7 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2010s, with 5 systems. Of the 39 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site, 63% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Oakdale. The highest rating among the 96 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on December 16, 2019, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on September 3, 2008, killed 2 people. Of the 96, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 58 have come since 2000. October has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on December 28, 2024. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 78% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Oakdale. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 21 times since 1996, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 82% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Oakdale.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Oakdale
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | DeltaOct 10 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | LauraAug 27 | 38 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | BarryJul 14 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | HarveyAug 30 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | CindyJun 22 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 4 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 2 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2007 | HumbertoSep 13 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | DannyAug 15 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1982 | ChrisSep 11 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 23 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1973 | Unnamed 1973 stormSep 12 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 57 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 27 | 41 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1954 | BarbaraJul 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 20 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormSep 24 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1938 | Unnamed 1938 stormAug 15 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 16 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1918 | Unnamed 1918 stormAug 6 | 63 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 63 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormAug 1 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 20 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormOct 13 | 60 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 18 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormSep 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 30 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 11 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Oakdale: 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 Oakdale
By decade
- 2020s14
- 2010s29(1 EF3+)
- 2000s15
- 1990s18
- 1980s3
- 1970s11
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | 23 mi | 62.61 mi | 1 / 0 |
| May 1, 1967 | F3 | 14 mi | 5.2 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 3, 2008 | EF2 | 17 mi | 7.06 mi | 2 / 2 |
| Apr 29, 1975 | F2 | 19 mi | 14.8 mi | 2 / 8 |
| Oct 25, 2022 | EF2 | 14 mi | 0.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 22, 2020 | EF2 | 22 mi | 8.43 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF2 | 12 mi | 3.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 2018 | EF2 | in town | 13.27 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 2, 2017 | EF2 | 23 mi | 6.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 29, 2017 | EF2 | in town | 3.57 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 12, 2008 | EF2 | 17 mi | 3.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 1999 | F2 | 21 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 96, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Oakdale
The Storm Prediction Center has 21 hail reports within 10 miles of Oakdale since 1996, made on 18 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on August 26, 2009. The most recent report is from June 1, 2024. March and May have the most reports, 5 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Oakdale
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Elizabeth, LA, 8 miles west of Oakdale at 150 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 38°F. April is the wettest at 6.1 inches of precipitation on average and August the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 62.1 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (30.8 of 62.1 inches). September has brought the most of the 39 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 5.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 88 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 31 nights a year. That 62.1 inches is more than at 50 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (62%). Oberlin, 14 miles southwest, has its own station (Oberlin Fire Twr, LA): 61.9 inches a year, 0.2 less than here, and an August average high of 91°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 38 | 5.7 | 7 |
| Feb | 66 | 42 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Mar | 73 | 48 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Apr | 79 | 54 | 6.1 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 63 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Jun | 90 | 70 | 5.3 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Aug | 93 | 71 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Sep | 90 | 66 | 5.4 | 7 |
| Oct | 80 | 55 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Nov | 70 | 46 | 5.8 | 6 |
| Dec | 63 | 40 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 55 | 62.1 | 79 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Elizabeth, LA (150 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 Oakdale
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 36 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Oakdale: 33 thunderstorm wind reports and 3 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on April 30, 2017.
July 14, 2019: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Oakdale — $500,000 damage.
December 24, 2002: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of Oakdale — $250,000 damage.
August 7, 2003: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of Oakdale — $150,000 damage.
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 Oakdale's ZIP code 71463 have filed 288 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $6.9 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1989: 73 claims (25% of all) and $1.1 million, then Hurricane Delta in 2020 with 30. The year with the most claims was 1983, with 38. 43% 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, 124 have fewer than Oakdale.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1989 | 73 | $1.1 million |
| Hurricane Delta2020 | 30 | $2.1 million |
Allen Parish, which includes Oakdale, has been named in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1979, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 24 hurricanes, 5 floods, 3 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ida, on August 29, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Allen Parish a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $14.0 million a year, the 38th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.8 million (35%), 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 Oakdale
- Glenmora, LA14 mi
- Oberlin, LA14 mi
- Mamou, LA18 mi
- Forest Hill, LA18 mi
- Pitkin, LA20 mi
- Saint Landry, LA21 mi
- Ville Platte, LA22 mi
- Elton, LA23 mi
- Basile, LA23 mi
- Kinder, LA25 mi
- Eunice, LA26 mi
- Lecompte, LA26 mi
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