NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Vidalia, 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
30 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Vidalia, Louisiana since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Ida in 2021. Since 1950, 95 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 8 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 28
- Tornadoes
- 95
- EF3 or stronger
- 8
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Vidalia
The strongest storm to pass near Vidalia was an unnamed storm in 1909, a Category 1 hurricane with 84 mph winds when its centre passed 12 miles away. The record near Vidalia begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Ida in 2021, a tropical storm 35 miles away. The 1920s and the 1930s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 30 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site, 73% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Vidalia. The highest rating among the 95 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 8 times; the most recent, on September 24, 2005, came within 13 miles. Of the 95, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 45 have come since 2000. November has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on December 28, 2024. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 78% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Vidalia. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 60 times since 1961, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Vidalia has more hail reports within 10 miles than 68% of the 245 Louisiana cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Vidalia
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | DeltaOct 10 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2008 | GustavSep 2 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | DannyAug 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | EstherSep 19 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 14 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 5 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 20 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 13 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 12 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 21 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 29 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 12 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Vidalia: 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 Vidalia
By decade
- 2020s7
- 2010s10
- 2000s28(2 EF3+)
- 1990s21(3 EF3+)
- 1980s12(1 EF3+)
- 1970s12(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 24, 2005 | F3 | 13 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 23, 2004 | F3 | 21 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F3 | 20 mi | 38 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F3 | 12 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F3 | 18 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 12, 1982 | F3 | 13 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 1976 | F3 | 20 mi | 31.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 29, 1969 | F3 | 9 mi | 29.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF2 | 22 mi | 4.23 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 1, 2018 | EF2 | 7 mi | 0.99 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 30, 2017 | EF2 | 5 mi | 3.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 20, 2013 | EF2 | 15 mi | 1.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 95, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Vidalia
The Storm Prediction Center has 60 hail reports within 10 miles of Vidalia since 1961, made on 45 separate days. Of these, 35 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 13 days, most recently January 3, 2023. The most recent report is from April 2, 2024. March has the most reports, 14.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Vidalia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Natchez, MS, 9 miles east of Vidalia at 195 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 36°F. January is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 60.1 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 45% of the year's precipitation (27.1 of 60.1 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 30 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (13); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 4.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 67 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 39 nights a year. That 60.1 inches is more than at 38 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (47%). Jonesville, 23 miles west, has its own station (Jonesville Locks, LA): 59.6 inches a year, 0.5 less than here, and the same July average high, 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 36 | 6.2 | 8 |
| Feb | 61 | 39 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Mar | 68 | 47 | 6.0 | 7 |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 4.9 | 6 |
| May | 82 | 62 | 4.7 | 7 |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Aug | 89 | 71 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Nov | 67 | 43 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Dec | 59 | 38 | 5.7 | 7 |
| Year | 75 | 54 | 60.1 | 81 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Natchez, MS (195 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 Vidalia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 217 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Vidalia: 179 thunderstorm wind reports, 33 flash floods, 2 heavy rain events, 2 lightning strikes and 1 flood. They killed 2 people and injured 9, and the NWS estimated $92.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on December 9, 2008. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 185 have had fewer than Vidalia.
December 28, 2024: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Vidalia — 1 killed, 1 injured, $150,000 damage.
October 26, 2025: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Vidalia — 1 killed, 1 injured, $2,000 damage.
February 26, 1998: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Vidalia — 4 injured, $30.0 million 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 Vidalia's ZIP code 71373 have filed 715 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $7.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-spring storms in 2011: 58 claims (8% of all) and $1.1 million, then Flooding in 1983 with 42. The year with the most claims was 1979, with 78. 16% 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, 154 have fewer than Vidalia.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-spring storms2011 | 58 | $1.1 million |
| Flooding1983 | 42 | $106,000 |
Concordia Parish, which includes Vidalia, has been named in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 8 floods, 3 coastal storms, 3 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ida, on August 29, 2021. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Concordia Parish a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.8 million a year, the 53rd highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.8 million (26%), 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.
Cities near Vidalia
- Natchez, MS8 mi
- Ferriday, LA9 mi
- Jonesville, LA23 mi
- Roxie, MS24 mi
- Fayette, MS28 mi
- Woodville, MS30 mi
- Wisner, LA30 mi
- Lorman, MS31 mi
- Meadville, MS35 mi
- Gloster, MS37 mi
- Jena, LA39 mi
- Centreville, MS40 mi
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