NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Zachary, 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
51 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Zachary, Louisiana since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Francine in 2024. Since 1950, 112 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 41
- Tornadoes
- 112
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Zachary
The strongest storm to pass near Zachary was an unnamed storm in 1909, a Category 2 hurricane with 99 mph winds when its centre passed 24 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1860, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Zachary begins with an unnamed storm in 1856; the most recent system was Francine in 2024, a tropical storm 49 miles away. The 1930s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 51 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Of the 245 Louisiana cities on this site, 56% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Zachary. The highest rating among the 112 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on October 14, 1984, passed within a mile of the city centre. The deadliest, an F2 on June 8, 1989, killed 2 people. Of the 112, 13 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 48 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on December 28, 2024. Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 65% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Zachary. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 40 times since 1960, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 245 Louisiana cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Zachary.
Compare Zachary's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Zachary
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | FrancineSep 12 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2021 | IdaAug 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 19 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | CristobalJun 8 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | OlgaOct 26 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | IsaacAug 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | GustavSep 1 | 50 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2003 | BillJun 30 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | LiliOct 3 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1992 | AndrewAug 26 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | BerylAug 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 29 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | BobJul 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1977 | BabeSep 5 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1971 | EdithSep 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1965 | BetsySep 10 | 23 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 21 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | ArleneMay 31 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | EstherSep 18 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormJun 13 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1955 | BrendaAug 2 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormSep 4 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 19 | 21 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 16 | 14 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1931 | Unnamed 1931 stormJul 15 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 22 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormAug 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 16 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 22 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 61 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 13 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 21 | 24 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormOct 9 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1905 | Unnamed 1905 stormSep 29 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 7 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1890 | Unnamed 1890 stormAug 27 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 20 | 9 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 15 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 1 | 22 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1869 | Unnamed 1869 stormSep 6 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormOct 1 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 2 | 3 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 12 | 30 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 Zachary: 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 Zachary
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s24
- 2000s13
- 1990s13
- 1980s20(1 EF3+)
- 1970s18(3 EF3+)
- 1960s5
- 1950s8(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1957 | F3 | 20 mi | 37.9 mi | 1 / 29 |
| Oct 14, 1984 | F3 | in town | 16 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | F3 | 11 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 29, 1972 | F3 | 17 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Sep 16, 1971 | F3 | 8 mi | 7.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 19 mi | 10 mi | 2 / 30 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | EF2 | 19 mi | 14.64 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 7, 2017 | EF2 | 14 mi | 19 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | F2 | 15 mi | 13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1989 | F2 | 8 mi | 9.5 mi | 0 / 60 |
| May 18, 1989 | F2 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 112, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Zachary
The Storm Prediction Center has 40 hail reports within 10 miles of Zachary since 1960, made on 34 separate days. Of these, 31 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently September 28, 2011. The most recent report is from June 11, 2025. May has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Zachary
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA, 8 miles south of Zachary at 64 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 42°F. June is the wettest at 6.5 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 3.9 inches; the year adds up to 62.0 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (31.1 of 62.0 inches). September has brought the most of the 51 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 96 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 18 nights a year. That 62.0 inches is more than at 49 of the 81 Louisiana stations used on this site (60%). Slaughter, 5 miles north, has its own station (Clinton 5 SE, LA): 59.9 inches a year, 2.1 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 | 42 | 6.4 | 7 |
| Feb | 67 | 45 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 73 | 51 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Apr | 79 | 57 | 5.1 | 5 |
| May | 86 | 65 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 6.5 | 8 |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 5.1 | 9 |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 6.4 | 8 |
| Sep | 89 | 69 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 81 | 58 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Nov | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Year | 79 | 58 | 62.0 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA (64 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 Zachary
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 117 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Zachary: 78 thunderstorm wind reports, 32 flash floods, 4 heavy rain events, 2 lightning strikes and 1 flood. They killed 5 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $1.68 billion in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 13, 2024. March has had the most flash floods, 7 of 32. Of the 239 Louisiana cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 182 have had fewer than Zachary.
August 13, 2016: flood 6 miles from the centre of Zachary — 4 killed, $1.68 billion damage.
NWS: “Twenty to thirty inches of rainfall over a 2 day period led to widespread flash flooding in East Baton Rouge Parish, details of which are contained in the flash flood report for the parish.”
June 6, 2019: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Zachary — 1 killed, $750,000 damage.
May 6, 2023: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Zachary — 1 injured, $6,500 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 Zachary's ZIP code 70791 have filed 912 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $42.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Mid-summer severe storms in 2016: 516 claims (57% of all) and $36.5 million, then Flooding in 1993 with 102 and Hurricane Gustav in 2008 with 60. 81% 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, 160 have fewer than Zachary.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-summer severe storms2016 | 516 | $36.5 million |
| Flooding1993 | 102 | $737,000 |
| Hurricane Gustav2008 | 60 | $1.9 million |
| Hurricane Delta2020 | 26 | $1.4 million |
| Tropical Storm Allison2001 | 17 | $57,000 |
East Baton Rouge Parish, which includes Zachary, has been named in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 29 of them major disasters (by incident: 26 hurricanes, 10 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 East Baton Rouge Parish a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively High for hail, inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for strong wind; Relatively Low for coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $266.6 million a year, the 3rd highest of 64 Louisiana counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $103.2 million (39%), 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.