Louisiana has a long and well-documented history of severe storms, with 2,698 confirmed tornadoes, 6,222 hailstorm events and 12,031 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks 11th nationally for tornado frequency, and averages 36 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Louisiana sits inside Dixie Alley, the south-eastern severe-weather corridor known for fast-moving and frequently overnight tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Louisiana from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Louisiana Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 2,698 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 611 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 2 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
- 178 direct tornado deaths and 2,956 direct injuries
- 6,222 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 12,031 damaging-wind events on record
- 36 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- April is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 19.4% of Louisiana tornadoes
- 1,237 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Louisiana Severe Weather Happens
Louisiana tornado activity peaks in spring, with March through June accounting for about 49% of all events. The single busiest month is April, which alone produces around 19.4% of recorded tornadoes.
- April: 523 tornadoes (19.4%) — peak month
- May: 360 tornadoes (13.3%)
- November: 280 tornadoes (10.4%)
- March: 275 tornadoes (10.2%)
- December: 216 tornadoes (8%)
- January: 205 tornadoes (7.6%)
Top 10 Louisiana Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Louisiana is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Calcasieu | 111 |
| Caddo | 105 |
| Acadia | 88 |
| Rapides | 81 |
| De Soto | 77 |
| Bossier | 72 |
| St. Landry | 71 |
| Cameron | 68 |
| Natchitoches | 68 |
| Tangipahoa | 67 |
The Deadliest Tornadoes in Louisiana History
Louisiana has lost 178 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 22 people in Lafourche County in 1964, rated F4 on the Fujita scale.
| Date | Location | Rating | Direct deaths | Direct injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 3, 1964 | Lafourche County | F4 | 22 | 165 |
| February 21, 1971 | Madison County | F5 | 11 | 9 |
| February 12, 1950 | Caddo County | F4 | 9 | 40 |
| February 12, 1950 | Bossier County | F4 | 9 | 37 |
| December 3, 1953 | Vernon County | F4 | 7 | 20 |
| April 3, 1999 | Bossier County (near Bossier City) | F4 | 7 | 90 |
| February 12, 1950 | Sabine County | F3 | 5 | 25 |
| February 12, 1950 | Claiborne County | F2 | 5 | 10 |
| September 12, 1961 | Jackson County | F3 | 5 | 37 |
| April 4, 1952 | St. Landry County | F2 | 4 | 33 |
Louisiana Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Louisiana tornadoes are weak: roughly 77% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 22.9% of rated tornadoes in the state. Louisiana is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 779 tornadoes — 29.1% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 1,283 tornadoes — 48% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 439 tornadoes — 16.4% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 151 tornadoes — 5.6% of rated events
- F4/EF4 (violent): 19 tornadoes — 0.7% of rated events
- F5/EF5 (incredible): 2 tornadoes — 0.1% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Louisiana
Largest hailstone: 4.50 inches in diameter, observed in Caddo County near Shreveport on April 22, 1995. The three largest hailstones on record in Louisiana measured 4.50″, 4.50″, 4.50″.
Highest measured wind gust: 89 knots (102 mph) recorded in St. Mary County near Morgan City on May 22, 2013. Most damaging-wind events in Louisiana are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Louisiana Compares Nationally
Louisiana ranks 11th nationally for tornado frequency since 1950, placing it in the upper third of states by severe-weather activity.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Louisiana tornado total: 2,698 — ranked 11th nationally.
- Louisiana hail total: 6,222 hail events on record since 1950.
- Louisiana wind total: 12,031 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Louisiana have on average per year?
Louisiana averages 36 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
What was the deadliest tornado in Louisiana history?
The October 3, 1964 tornado, rated F4 on the Fujita scale, killed 22 people and injured 165 in Lafourche County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Louisiana modern record.
Where in Louisiana are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Calcasieu County with 111 events. The three most active counties overall are Calcasieu, Caddo, Acadia.
How does Louisiana compare to its neighbors?
Louisiana shares a severe-weather climate with Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Louisiana’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Louisiana to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Louisiana tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Louisiana’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Arkansas severe storm history — ranked 12th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Mississippi severe storm history — ranked 8th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Texas severe storm history — ranked 1st nationally, Gulf-coast and Tornado Alley overlap
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
