NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ovett, 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
55 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ovett, Mississippi since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 157 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 17 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 46
- Tornadoes
- 157
- EF3 or stronger
- 17
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
27 deaths in all
What the records show for Ovett
The strongest storm to pass near Ovett was Camille in 1969, a Category 2 hurricane with 108 mph winds when its centre passed 42 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1906, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Ovett begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 16 miles away. Of the 55 systems, 10 have come since 2000. Ovett has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 84% of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site. The highest rating among the 157 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 4 times; the most recent, on April 19, 2020, came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an EF4 on April 12, 2020, killed 7 people. Of the 157, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 93 have come since 2000. March and April have had the most tornadoes, 32 each. The most recent tornado was on April 6, 2025. Ovett has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 66% of the 232 Mississippi cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 34 times since 1975, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 84% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Ovett.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ovett
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 16 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 23 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | DennisJul 11 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 4 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 69 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 27 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 17 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 42 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 14 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | overhead | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 2 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 17 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 62 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 8 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 1 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 62 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 59 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Ovett: 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 Ovett
By decade
- 2020s31(3 EF3+)
- 2010s26(4 EF3+)
- 2000s36(2 EF3+)
- 1990s13
- 1980s13(2 EF3+)
- 1970s18(3 EF3+)
- 1960s12
- 1950s8(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF4 | 24 mi | 67.43 mi | 7 / 98 |
| Feb 28, 1987 | F4 | 9 mi | 35 mi | 6 / 350 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF4 | 18 mi | 53.76 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Feb 10, 2013 | EF4 | 9 mi | 21.65 mi | 0 / 71 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF3 | 5 mi | 31.06 mi | 4 / 57 |
| Feb 26, 1958 | F3 | 14 mi | 29.1 mi | 4 / 20 |
| Apr 21, 1951 | F3 | 17 mi | 33.5 mi | 2 / 16 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 5 mi | 15 mi | 1 / 35 |
| Feb 12, 2025 | EF3 | 15 mi | 27.49 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | 14 mi | 61.19 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Apr 28, 2014 | EF3 | 18 mi | 10.46 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | F3 | 9 mi | 15.88 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 157, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ovett
The Storm Prediction Center has 34 hail reports within 10 miles of Ovett since 1975, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 7 days, most recently March 17, 2016. The most recent report is from June 18, 2023. March has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Ovett
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Laurel, MS, 14 miles north of Ovett at 225 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 35°F. January is the wettest at 6.1 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 59.8 inches over 74 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 47% of the year's precipitation (27.9 of 59.8 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 55 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (24); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 82 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 41 nights a year. That 59.8 inches is more than at 49 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (56%). Petal, 13 miles southwest, has its own station (Hattiesburg Chain Municipal Airport, MS): 59.1 inches a year, 0.7 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 35 | 6.1 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 38 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Mar | 72 | 45 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Apr | 79 | 52 | 5.1 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 60 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 68 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Jul | 93 | 70 | 5.4 | 8 |
| Aug | 93 | 70 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Sep | 89 | 64 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Oct | 80 | 53 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 42 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Dec | 62 | 37 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Year | 78 | 53 | 59.8 | 74 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Laurel, MS (225 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 Ovett
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 100 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ovett: 73 thunderstorm wind reports, 20 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes and 3 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $2.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 30, 2005. March has had the most flash floods, 5 of 20. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 131 have had fewer than Ovett.
July 12, 2017: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Ovett — 1 injured, $30,000 damage.
December 27, 2018: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Ovett — $1.0 million damage.
April 12, 2009: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Ovett — $400,000 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
Jones County, which includes Ovett, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 22 of them major disasters (by incident: 16 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Jones County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, hail and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $31.5 million a year, the 14th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $10.3 million (33%), 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 Ovett
- Ellisville, MS12 mi
- Petal, MS13 mi
- Moselle, MS15 mi
- Richton, MS15 mi
- Laurel, MS16 mi
- Hattiesburg, MS20 mi
- Beaumont, MS23 mi
- Seminary, MS24 mi
- Heidelberg, MS27 mi
- Waynesboro, MS27 mi
- Brooklyn, MS30 mi
- Purvis, MS31 mi
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