NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Paulina, 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
70 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Paulina, Louisiana since 1851, 26 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 120 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 26
- Tropical storms
- 44
- Tornadoes
- 120
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Paulina
The strongest storm to pass near Paulina was an unnamed storm in 1856, a Category 4 hurricane with 135 mph winds when its centre passed 54 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1947, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Paulina begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 7 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 8 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 70 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Paulina has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 79% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The strongest of the 120 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on December 6, 1983; its path came within 13 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on February 23, 2016, killed 2 people. Of the 120, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 71 have come since 2000. April and June have had the most tornadoes, 17 each. The most recent tornado was on October 26, 2025. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 55% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Paulina. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 11 times since 1969, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Paulina.
Compare Paulina's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Paulina
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 6 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 37 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 39 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 68 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | MatthewOct 10 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2002 | BerthaAug 5 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | HermineSep 20 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 53 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 45 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 68 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1974 | CarmenSep 8 | 68 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | DebbieSep 29 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 13 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 28 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | overhead | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 5 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 27 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 49 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 15 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 22 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 18 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 32 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 29 | 32 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 40 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 75 mi | Category 3 (129 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 20 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 11 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 57 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 17 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 51 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 5 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 4 | 58 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 32 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 61 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 10 | 54 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 Paulina: 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 Paulina
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s41(1 EF3+)
- 2000s19
- 1990s16(1 EF3+)
- 1980s11(1 EF3+)
- 1970s9
- 1960s8(1 EF3+)
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 1983 | F4 | 13 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Aug 25, 1992 | F3 | 9 mi | 9 mi | 2 / 32 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | 14 mi | 7.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 12, 1969 | F3 | 15 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 7 mi | 12.95 mi | 2 / 75 |
| Dec 14, 2022 | EF2 | 14 mi | 9.85 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Jun 6, 2019 | EF2 | 10 mi | 2.62 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 21 mi | 23.08 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 14 mi | 4.69 mi | 0 / 17 |
| Jan 30, 1982 | F2 | 20 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 13, 1980 | F2 | 16 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 25, 1976 | F2 | 16 mi | 1.1 mi | 0 / 7 |
The strongest 12 of 120, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Paulina
The Storm Prediction Center has 11 hail reports within 10 miles of Paulina since 1969, made on 10 separate days. Of these, 8 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 15, 2015. The most recent report is from April 13, 2021. April has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Paulina
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Reserve, LA, 10 miles east of Paulina at 15 feet. July and August are the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 43°F. June is the wettest at 8.6 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.1 inches; the year adds up to 67.2 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (35.6 of 67.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 70 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (28); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 79 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 13 nights a year. That 67.2 inches is more than at 78 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (96%). Sorrento, 13 miles northwest, has its own station (Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA): 63.5 inches a year, 3.7 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 43 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 52 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Apr | 79 | 58 | 5.5 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 66 | 5.9 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 73 | 8.6 | 10 |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 7.1 | 10 |
| Aug | 92 | 75 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Sep | 88 | 71 | 5.8 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 61 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Nov | 71 | 51 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 65 | 46 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Year | 79 | 60 | 67.2 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Reserve, LA (15 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 Paulina
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 51 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Paulina: 37 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods, 3 heavy rain events, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $29.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on March 29, 2011. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 61 have had fewer than Paulina.
September 11, 2024: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Paulina — $18.0 million damage.
September 11, 2024: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Paulina — $10.0 million damage.
May 28, 2014: flash flood 4 miles from the centre of Paulina — $500,000 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 Paulina's ZIP code 70763 have filed 85 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1990, and were paid $1.9 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 22 claims (26% of all) and $682,000, then Hurricane Isaac in 2012 with 18 and Hurricane Ida in 2021 with 14. 76% 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, 65 have fewer than Paulina.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 22 | $682,000 |
| Hurricane Isaac2012 | 18 | $227,000 |
| Hurricane Ida2021 | 14 | $358,000 |
St. James Parish, which includes Paulina, has been named in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 25 of them major disasters (by incident: 27 hurricanes, 5 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. James Parish a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes; Relatively Low for strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $22.9 million a year, the 30th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $13.3 million (58%), 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.