NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wiggins, 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
62 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wiggins, Mississippi since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 107 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 49
- Tornadoes
- 107
- 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 Wiggins
The strongest storm to pass near Wiggins was Camille in 1969, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 28 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Zeta in 2020, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Wiggins begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 62 miles away. The 1910s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 62 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Wiggins has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 88% of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site. The strongest of the 107 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on April 19, 2020; its path came within 18 miles, and it killed 1 person. The deadliest, an EF3 on January 21, 2017, killed 4 people. Of the 107, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 68 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on December 27, 2024. Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 65% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Wiggins. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 41 times since 1960, with stones up to 4.5 inches (grapefruit size). Of the 232 Mississippi cities, 71% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wiggins.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wiggins
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 2 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 29 | 25 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2003 | BillJul 1 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | IsidoreSep 26 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 4 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 33 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 39 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 17 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | CamilleAug 18 | 28 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 1 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 10 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 28 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 21 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 21 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 18 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 15 | 41 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 16 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 42 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 8 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJun 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 27 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 7 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 8 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 35 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 3 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 47 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wiggins: 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 Wiggins
By decade
- 2020s14(1 EF3+)
- 2010s26(2 EF3+)
- 2000s28
- 1990s12
- 1980s5(1 EF3+)
- 1970s7
- 1960s10
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF4 | 18 mi | 53.76 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF3 | 24 mi | 31.06 mi | 4 / 57 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF3 | 12 mi | 24.05 mi | 0 / 8 |
| May 7, 1982 | F3 | 24 mi | 13 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF2 | 23 mi | 5.63 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Apr 17, 2022 | EF2 | 22 mi | 1.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF2 | 22 mi | 2.05 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF2 | 1 mi | 11.26 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF2 | in town | 28.64 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF2 | 4 mi | 8.03 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 7, 2005 | F2 | 23 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 19, 1996 | F2 | 14 mi | 23 mi | 0 / 10 |
The strongest 12 of 107, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wiggins
The Storm Prediction Center has 41 hail reports within 10 miles of Wiggins since 1960, made on 37 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.5 inches (grapefruit size), fell on April 17, 1998. The most recent report is from January 8, 2024. June has the most reports, 10.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wiggins
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Poplarville Exp Stn, MS, 23 miles west of Wiggins at 313 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 59°F and 39°F. July is the wettest at 6.9 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 65.0 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (32.2 of 65.0 inches). September has brought the most of the 62 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 84 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 26 nights a year. That 65.0 inches is more than at 78 of the 87 Mississippi stations used on this site (90%). Brooklyn, 10 miles northeast, has its own station (Beaumont Expstation, MS): 64.0 inches a year, 1.0 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 39 | 5.7 | 7 |
| Feb | 63 | 42 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Mar | 70 | 48 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Apr | 77 | 54 | 5.5 | 6 |
| May | 84 | 62 | 5.3 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 69 | 6.4 | 9 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 6.9 | 10 |
| Aug | 91 | 70 | 6.0 | 8 |
| Sep | 87 | 66 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Oct | 79 | 56 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Nov | 68 | 46 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Dec | 61 | 41 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Year | 77 | 55 | 65.0 | 81 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Poplarville Exp Stn, MS (313 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 Wiggins
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 120 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wiggins: 83 thunderstorm wind reports, 32 flash floods and 5 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 16, and the NWS estimated $959,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on March 9, 2011. May has had the most flash floods, 6 of 32. Of the 232 Mississippi cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 182 have had fewer than Wiggins.
July 13, 2021: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Wiggins — 7 injured.
NWS: “Seven people were injured by a lightning strike while boating and swimming at Flint Creek Waterpark in Wiggins, MS.”
June 22, 1996: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Wiggins — 5 injured, $100,000 damage.
August 4, 2010: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Wiggins — 2 injured.
NWS: “Four individuals were struck by lightning at Flint Creek Water Park. Two of them were transported to a hospital.”
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 Wiggins's ZIP code 39577 have filed 17 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $384,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 41% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 133 Mississippi cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 22 have fewer than Wiggins.
Forrest County, which includes Wiggins, has been named in 32 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 20 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on February 6, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Forrest County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, hail and heat waves; Relatively Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.3 million a year, the 13th highest of 82 Mississippi counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $11.1 million (33%), 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 Wiggins
- Brooklyn, MS10 mi
- Mc Henry, MS17 mi
- Perkinston, MS17 mi
- Lumberton, MS20 mi
- Purvis, MS21 mi
- Beaumont, MS23 mi
- Saucier, MS24 mi
- Poplarville, MS25 mi
- Hattiesburg, MS27 mi
- Petal, MS29 mi
- Richton, MS34 mi
- Carriere, MS35 mi
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