NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit University, 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
12 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of University, Mississippi since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Olga in 2019. Since 1950, 57 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 11 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 12
- Tornadoes
- 57
- EF3 or stronger
- 11
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
76 deaths in all
What the records show for University
None of the 12 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed University; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1888, a tropical storm with 64 mph winds when its centre passed 40 miles away. The record near University begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Olga in 2019, a tropical storm 3 miles away. The 1880s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 2 systems each. Of the 12 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site, 88% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than University. The highest rating among the 57 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on December 23, 2015, came within 19 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on February 21, 1971, killed 58 people. Of the 57, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 14. The most recent tornado was on April 5, 2025. Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 97% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than University. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 76 times since 1962, with stones up to 5 inches. University has more hail reports within 10 miles than 69% of the 232 Mississippi cities.
Compare University's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near University
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | overhead | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 7 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in University: 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 University
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s9(3 EF3+)
- 2000s10(3 EF3+)
- 1990s6(3 EF3+)
- 1980s4
- 1970s13(2 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 21, 1971 | F4 | in town | 202.1 mi | 58 / 795 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF4 | 19 mi | 75.09 mi | 9 / 36 |
| Feb 24, 2001 | F3 | 24 mi | 52 mi | 6 / 73 |
| Dec 23, 2015 | EF3 | 20 mi | 61.57 mi | 2 / 28 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 8 mi | 13.57 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Feb 5, 2008 | EF3 | 3 mi | 7.15 mi | 0 / 14 |
| Jan 3, 2000 | F3 | 9 mi | 43.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 19 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 1997 | F3 | 17 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 22, 1975 | F3 | 15 mi | 26.3 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 2, 2010 | EF2 | 9 mi | 1.43 mi | 1 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 57, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in University
The Storm Prediction Center has 76 hail reports within 10 miles of University since 1962, made on 67 separate days. Of these, 47 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 5 inches, fell on April 10, 1962. The most recent report is from May 20, 2025. April has the most reports, 20.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in University
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is University, MS, in University at 408 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 31°F. December is the wettest at 6.5 inches of precipitation on average and August the driest at 3.9 inches; the year adds up to 60.6 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 43% of the year's precipitation (25.9 of 60.6 inches); the other six months are wetter. August has brought the most of the 12 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (5); a normal August there has highs of 91°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 74 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 68 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.2 inches a year, most of it in January. That 60.6 inches is more than at 57 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (66%). Water Valley, 16 miles south, has its own station (Water Valley, MS): 58.7 inches a year, 1.9 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 31 | 5.1 | 8 | 0.8 |
| Feb | 57 | 34 | 5.8 | 8 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 66 | 41 | 5.6 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 6.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 82 | 59 | 5.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 5.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 86 | 62 | 4.0 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 76 | 49 | 4.1 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 64 | 40 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 55 | 33 | 6.5 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Year | 74 | 50 | 60.6 | 81 | 1.2 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at University, MS (408 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 University
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 121 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of University: 101 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 5 lightning strikes and 1 flood. They killed 2 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $2.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 85 mph, on April 27, 2011. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 79 have had fewer than University.
July 20, 2000: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of University — 1 killed, 2 injured, $10,000 damage.
NWS: “One construction worker was killed and two co-workers were injured when a wall they were working on collapsed because of thunderstorm winds. Several trees and power lines were knocked down.”
April 27, 2011: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of University — 1 killed.
NWS: “Straight line winds produced damage north and west of Oxford. A roof was partially taken off of a house and a machine shop.”
May 16, 2010: flash flood in University — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “Very heavy rain produced flash flooding in Oxford. Many roads were covered with 3 to 4 feet of water throughout Oxford.”
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
Lafayette County, which includes University, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1971, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 9 severe storms, 4 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tornadoes). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Lafayette County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $25.6 million a year, the 16th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $6.5 million (25%), 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.