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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Rayne, 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

50 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Rayne, Louisiana since 1851, 18 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Delta in 2020. Since 1950, 229 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 12 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
18

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
32

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
229

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
12

24 deaths in all

What the records show for Rayne

The strongest storm to pass near Rayne was Laura in 2020, a Category 4 hurricane with 133 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Lili in 2002, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Rayne begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Delta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 30 miles away. The 1930s and the 1970s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 50 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Rayne has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 64% of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site. The highest rating among the 229 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 12 times; the most recent, on May 17, 2020, came within 13 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on November 7, 1957, killed 4 people. Of the 229, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 96 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 37. The most recent tornado was on June 10, 2025. Rayne has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 98% of the 245 Louisiana cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 40 times since 1965, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Rayne.

Compare Rayne's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Rayne

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Rayne, Louisiana, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2020DeltaOct 1030 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 4
2020LauraAug 2762 miCategory 4 (133 mph)Category 4
2019BarryJul 1320 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
2017HarveyAug 3056 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 4
2012IsaacAug 3052 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
2011LeeSep 425 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2008GustavSep 119 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 4
2007HumbertoSep 1363 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 1
2002LiliOct 35 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 4
1992AndrewAug 2634 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 5
1985JuanOct 297 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1985DannyAug 1521 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 1
1978DebraAug 2968 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1977BabeSep 550 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1974CarmenSep 89 miCategory 2 (96 mph)Category 4
1973Unnamed 1973 stormSep 1320 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1971EdithSep 1612 miCategory 1 (83 mph)Category 4
1965BetsySep 1047 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 4
1964HildaOct 455 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 4
1959ArleneMay 3146 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1957BerthaAug 970 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1955Unnamed 1955 stormAug 2713 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1954BarbaraJul 2948 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 1936 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 4
1943Unnamed 1943 stormSep 2060 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
1940Unnamed 1940 stormSep 2438 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1940Unnamed 1940 stormAug 774 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 2
1938Unnamed 1938 stormAug 1571 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 2
1937Unnamed 1937 stormOct 334 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1934Unnamed 1934 stormJun 1643 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 2
1932Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1932 miTropical storm (56 mph)Tropical storm
1931Unnamed 1931 stormJul 1556 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1926Unnamed 1926 stormAug 2635 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 3
1920Unnamed 1920 stormSep 2244 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1918Unnamed 1918 stormAug 663 miCategory 3 (121 mph)Category 3
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 1355 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1909Unnamed 1909 stormSep 2148 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 3
1908Unnamed 1908 stormAug 123 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1905Unnamed 1905 stormOct 972 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1905Unnamed 1905 stormSep 297 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1898Unnamed 1898 stormSep 2020 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 1361 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 1
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJun 1539 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 2
1882Unnamed 1882 stormSep 1572 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1879Unnamed 1879 stormSep 171 miCategory 3 (116 mph)Category 3
1875Unnamed 1875 stormSep 1844 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 3
1865Unnamed 1865 stormSep 1371 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 307 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1860Unnamed 1860 stormOct 260 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 2
1856Unnamed 1856 stormAug 1122 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 4

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Rayne: 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 Rayne

By decade

  • 2020s10(1 EF3+)
  • 2010s34
  • 2000s52
  • 1990s39
  • 1980s28(3 EF3+)
  • 1970s34(3 EF3+)
  • 1960s19(2 EF3+)
  • 1950s13(3 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Rayne, Louisiana
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Nov 7, 1957F39 mi9.2 mi4 / 10
Oct 29, 1974F311 mi31.3 mi2 / 52
May 17, 2020EF313 mi3.93 mi1 / 9
Jan 31, 1983F311 mi6 mi1 / 0
Apr 21, 1977F319 mi3.8 mi1 / 11
Dec 25, 1969F316 mi1.5 mi1 / 8
Sep 10, 1961F311 mi5.7 mi1 / 55
Oct 15, 1957F320 mi37.9 mi1 / 29
Feb 9, 1983F313 mi21 mi0 / 7
Feb 9, 1983F314 mi3 mi0 / 0
Oct 29, 1974F312 mi7.3 mi0 / 1
Apr 4, 1952F310 mi36.7 mi0 / 10

The strongest 12 of 229, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Rayne

The Storm Prediction Center has 40 hail reports within 10 miles of Rayne since 1965, made on 26 separate days. Of these, 32 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 May 5, 2020. The most recent report is from May 6, 2025. May has the most reports, 12.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Rayne

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Crowley 2 NE, LA, 5 miles west of Rayne at 25 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 42°F. June is the wettest at 6.7 inches of precipitation on average and March the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 63.6 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (33.4 of 63.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 50 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (22); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 81 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 16 nights a year. That 63.6 inches is more than at 59 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (73%). Duson, 7 miles east, has its own station (Lafayette, LA): 64.8 inches a year, 1.2 more than here, and the same August average high, 92°F.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Crowley 2 NE, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"
Jan61426.47
Feb64454.36
Mar71523.86
Apr78595.35
May84675.66
Jun89736.79
Jul91745.89
Aug92746.28
Sep88695.07
Oct81594.75
Nov70495.05
Dec63444.86
Year785963.679

Averages for 1991–2020 at Crowley 2 NE, LA (25 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.

Louisiana weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Rayne

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 99 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Rayne: 75 thunderstorm wind reports, 15 flash floods, 3 floods, 3 heavy rain events and 3 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 15, and the NWS estimated $29.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on September 8, 2023. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 119 have had fewer than Rayne.

  • April 18, 2019: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Rayne — 10 injured.

  • February 10, 1998: thunderstorm wind in Rayne — 4 injured, $100,000 damage.

  • September 8, 2023: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Rayne — 1 injured, $100,000 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 Rayne's ZIP code 70578 have filed 375 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $14.8 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 153 claims (41% of all) and $8.1 million, then Flooding in 1980 with 59 and Hurricane Rita in 2005 with 14. 65% 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, 134 have fewer than Rayne.

Flood insurance claims in Rayne by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Mid-summer severe storms2016153$8.1 million
Flooding198059$310,000
Hurricane Rita200514$118,000

Acadia Parish, which includes Rayne, has been named in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 24 of them major disasters (by incident: 26 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 3 coastal storms, 3 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ida, on August 29, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Acadia Parish a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail, coastal flooding and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $50.7 million a year, the 16th highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $21.9 million (43%), 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.

Cities near Rayne