NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Pearl River, 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 Pearl River, Louisiana since 1851, 21 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 153 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 21
- Tropical storms
- 51
- Tornadoes
- 153
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Pearl River
The strongest storm to pass near Pearl River was Camille in 1969, a Category 4 hurricane with 152 mph winds when its centre passed 17 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Zeta in 2020, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Pearl River begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 32 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 7 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 72 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Pearl River has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 71% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 153 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on December 25, 2012, came within 18 miles. Of the 153, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 92 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 36. The most recent tornado was on March 15, 2025. Pearl River has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 83% of the 245 Louisiana cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 43 times since 1972, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Pearl River has more hail reports within 10 miles than 50% of the 245 Louisiana cities.
Compare Pearl River's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Pearl River
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 56 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 3 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 45 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 10 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | BillJul 1 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | BerthaAug 5 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 18 | 65 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 17 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 17 mi | Category 4 (152 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 74 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 43 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 10 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 28 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 72 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 22 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 21 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 62 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 10 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 15 | 53 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 44 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 71 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJun 14 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 26 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 61 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 59 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 11 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 5 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 28 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 32 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 25 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 71 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Pearl River: 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 Pearl River
By decade
- 2020s39
- 2010s27(2 EF3+)
- 2000s26
- 1990s21
- 1980s15(1 EF3+)
- 1970s17
- 1960s4
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF3 | 18 mi | 24.05 mi | 0 / 8 |
| May 26, 2011 | EF3 | 20 mi | 6.06 mi | 0 / 4 |
| May 19, 1980 | F3 | 22 mi | 13.1 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF2 | 3 mi | 7.85 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF2 | 8 mi | 10.98 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 23 mi | 23.08 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 9, 2011 | EF2 | 6 mi | 1.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 24, 2004 | F2 | 5 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F2 | 19 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 43 |
| Nov 16, 1987 | F2 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 15, 1987 | F2 | 7 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Apr 20, 1982 | F2 | 25 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 153, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Pearl River
The Storm Prediction Center has 43 hail reports within 10 miles of Pearl River since 1972, made on 32 separate days. Of these, 28 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on March 31, 2005. The most recent report is from July 16, 2024. June has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Pearl River
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Slidell Airport, LA, 5 miles southwest of Pearl River at 27 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 41°F. July is the wettest at 7.3 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.7 inches; the year adds up to 61.9 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (32.1 of 61.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 72 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (31); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 4.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 80 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 24 nights a year. That 61.9 inches is more than at 47 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (58%). Slidell, 9 miles south, has its own station (Slidell, LA): 66.4 inches a year, 4.5 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 41 | 5.6 | 7 |
| Feb | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 50 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 56 | 5.2 | 6 |
| May | 85 | 64 | 5.5 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 71 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 7.3 | 10 |
| Aug | 91 | 73 | 7.0 | 9 |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 3.7 | 4 |
| Nov | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 57 | 61.9 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Slidell Airport, LA (27 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 Pearl River
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 160 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Pearl River: 87 thunderstorm wind reports, 65 flash floods, 4 heavy rain events, 3 lightning strikes and 1 flood. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $3.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on April 4, 2011. June has had the most flash floods, 20 of 65. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 213 have had fewer than Pearl River.
April 9, 2020: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Pearl River — $1.5 million damage.
August 29, 2012: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Pearl River — $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “Rainbands associated with Tropical Storm Isaac produced torrential rainfall across the county. Extensive secondary roadway flooding was reported and some houses flooded.”
March 11, 2016: flood 5 miles from the centre of Pearl River — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “The heavy rainfall of 6 to 14 inches across southeast Louisiana and south Mississippi caused the Pearl River to reach its highest stage since the April 1983 flood event. Low lying roadways, insufficiently raised hunting/fishing camps, and personal property were flooded.”
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 Pearl River's ZIP code 70452 have filed 565 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $8.8 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Katrina in 2005: 228 claims (40% of all) and $2.3 million, then Flooding in 1983 with 182 and Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 with 34. 90% 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, 150 have fewer than Pearl River.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina2005 | 228 | $2.3 million |
| Flooding1983 | 182 | $3.5 million |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 34 | $481,000 |
| Late winter severe storms2016 | 17 | $1.0 million |
| Hurricane Ida2021 | 13 | $424,000 |
| Hurricane Isaac2012 | 13 | $88,000 |
St. Tammany Parish, which includes Pearl River, has been named in 50 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 31 of them major disasters (by incident: 29 hurricanes, 7 floods, 4 coastal storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Arthur, on June 30, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives St. Tammany Parish a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for inland flooding, coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $248.9 million a year, the 4th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $143.2 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.