NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ponchatoula, 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
66 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ponchatoula, Louisiana since 1851, 20 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 139 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 20
- Tropical storms
- 46
- Tornadoes
- 139
- 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 Ponchatoula
The strongest storm to pass near Ponchatoula was Camille in 1969, a Category 4 hurricane with 132 mph winds when its centre passed 52 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1915, whose centre came within 16 miles. The record near Ponchatoula begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 4 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 7 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 66 systems, 15 have come since 2000. Ponchatoula has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 68% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The strongest of the 139 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on December 6, 1983; its path came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on August 25, 1992, killed 2 people. Of the 139, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 73 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on October 26, 2025. Ponchatoula has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 69% of the 245 Louisiana cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 32 times since 1974, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 60% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Ponchatoula.
Compare Ponchatoula's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ponchatoula
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 19 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 28 | 35 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 29 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 72 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 49 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2002 | BerthaAug 5 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | FlorenceSep 10 | overhead | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 35 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 52 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 46 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 1 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 28 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormAug 22 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 60 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 48 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 61 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 16 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 63 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 33 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 24 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 18 | 72 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 6 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 42 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 65 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 61 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 12 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 63 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 Ponchatoula: 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 Ponchatoula
By decade
- 2020s21
- 2010s37
- 2000s15
- 1990s15(1 EF3+)
- 1980s19(1 EF3+)
- 1970s18
- 1960s9(1 EF3+)
- 1950s5(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 1983 | F4 | 24 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Aug 25, 1992 | F3 | 24 mi | 9 mi | 2 / 32 |
| Feb 6, 1953 | F3 | 7 mi | 15.6 mi | 2 / 21 |
| Apr 12, 1969 | F3 | 22 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | F2 | 23 mi | 6.02 mi | 1 / 2 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 18 mi | 19 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 5 mi | 23.08 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 23 mi | 4.69 mi | 0 / 17 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 20 mi | 4.33 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 23, 2014 | EF2 | 21 mi | 4.62 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F2 | 12 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 43 |
| Feb 15, 1992 | F2 | 13 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 10 |
The strongest 12 of 139, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ponchatoula
The Storm Prediction Center has 32 hail reports within 10 miles of Ponchatoula since 1974, made on 26 separate days. Of these, 29 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 11 days, most recently February 4, 2024. The most recent report is from May 23, 2025. May has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Ponchatoula
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hammond 5 E, LA, 6 miles northeast of Ponchatoula at 35 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 38°F. July is the wettest at 6.8 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.1 inches; the year adds up to 64.4 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (31.8 of 64.4 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 66 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 4.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 86 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 31 nights a year. That 64.4 inches is more than at 66 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (81%). Madisonville, 14 miles east, has its own station (Covington 4 NNW, LA): 62.4 inches a year, 2.0 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 38 | 5.8 | 8 |
| Feb | 65 | 42 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 49 | 5.3 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 55 | 5.6 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 63 | 5.4 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 6.7 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 6.8 | 9 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 56 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 46 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Dec | 64 | 41 | 5.9 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 56 | 64.4 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hammond 5 E, LA (35 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 Ponchatoula
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 121 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ponchatoula: 95 thunderstorm wind reports, 15 flash floods, 6 lightning strikes and 5 heavy rain events. They killed 2 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $919,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on April 7, 2003. March has had the most flash floods, 6 of 15. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 119 have had fewer than Ponchatoula.
April 11, 2012: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Ponchatoula — 2 killed, 2 injured.
May 12, 2017: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Ponchatoula — 1 injured.
March 9, 2026: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Ponchatoula — $276,000 damage.
NWS: “Lightning struck Twin Steeples Creative Arts Center, a historic art gallery in Ponchatoula. A fire started as a result of this strike.”
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 Ponchatoula's ZIP code 70454 have filed 1,520 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $72.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 450 claims (30% of all) and $33.1 million, then Hurricane Ida in 2021 with 318 and Late winter severe storms in 2016 with 220. 89% 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, 176 have fewer than Ponchatoula.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 450 | $33.1 million |
| Hurricane Ida2021 | 318 | $16.1 million |
| Late winter severe storms2016 | 220 | $11.3 million |
| Hurricane Isaac2012 | 154 | $6.0 million |
| Hurricane Katrina2005 | 57 | $1.0 million |
| Flooding1983 | 44 | $466,000 |
Tangipahoa Parish, which includes Ponchatoula, has been named in 48 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 29 of them major disasters (by incident: 29 hurricanes, 6 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 Tangipahoa Parish a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $107.4 million a year, the 10th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $54.3 million (51%), 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.