Rapides County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Louisiana Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Rapides County is about the same as Louisiana average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Rapides County is lower than Louisiana average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #29
| Rapides County | 0.01 |
| Louisiana | 0.03 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Rapides County | 0.0000 |
| Louisiana | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #38
| Rapides County | 207.90 |
| Louisiana | 235.86 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 8,799 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Rapides County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 2 | Cold: | 7 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 71 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 641 | Hail: | 2,729 | Heat: | 18 | Heavy Snow: | 22 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 18 | Ice Storm: | 24 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 39 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 4,863 | Tropical Storm: | 16 | Wildfire: | 12 | Winter Storm: | 21 | Winter Weather: | 22 |
| Other: | 293 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Rapides County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Rapides County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Rapides County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 70 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Rapides County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.7 | 1975-04-29 | 2 | 31°09'N / 92°30'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 7.1 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°10'N / 92°49'W | 31°23'N / 92°24'W | 28.80 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Rapides |
| 7.2 | 1981-06-05 | 2 | 31°16'N / 92°27'W | 0.10 Mile | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 8.4 | 1999-01-21 | 2 | 31°18'N / 92°28'W | 31°18'N / 92°28'W | 2.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 0 | Rapides |
| Brief Description: A small, yet powerful tornado moved across southern sections of Alexandria. Touching down southwest of Highway 71, the storm moved through the Mayeau subdivision and the MacArthur-Lee business district. The one injury occurred when a man driving down the road had a tree land on his vehicle. Several homes were destroyed, a strip mall lost its entire roof, and at least 30 other homes and businesses received some form of damage. Trees as wide as 15 feet were snapped 20 feet off the ground. | |||||||||||
| 9.7 | 1971-06-22 | 3 | 31°20'N / 92°33'W | 0.10 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 10.0 | 1981-06-05 | 3 | 31°18'N / 92°28'W | 31°19'N / 92°24'W | 4.30 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Rapides |
| 10.3 | 1981-06-05 | 2 | 31°06'N / 92°24'W | 0.10 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 10.4 | 1957-11-07 | 3 | 31°23'N / 92°40'W | 31°18'N / 92°28'W | 13.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 3 | 16 | 2.5M | 0 | Rapides |
| 13.0 | 1951-01-06 | 3 | 31°18'N / 92°28'W | 31°26'N / 92°26'W | 9.50 Miles | 317 Yards | 0 | 11 | 250K | 0 | Rapides |
| 14.5 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 31°23'N / 92°26'W | 0.50 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 16.4 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°23'N / 92°24'W | 31°26'N / 92°26'W | 4.10 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Rapides |
| 17.2 | 1957-11-13 | 2 | 31°09'N / 92°15'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Rapides | |
| 18.1 | 1991-11-19 | 2 | 31°07'N / 92°15'W | 31°11'N / 92°13'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Rapides |
| 18.4 | 1957-10-23 | 2 | 31°06'N / 92°18'W | 31°20'N / 92°09'W | 18.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Rapides |
| 20.3 | 1991-11-19 | 2 | 31°11'N / 92°13'W | 31°13'N / 92°10'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| 21.2 | 1951-01-06 | 3 | 31°26'N / 92°26'W | 31°32'N / 92°24'W | 7.30 Miles | 317 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Grant |
| 22.0 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°26'N / 92°26'W | 31°35'N / 92°32'W | 11.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Grant |
| 22.0 | 1965-01-22 | 2 | 31°14'N / 92°10'W | 2.30 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Avoyelles | |
| 24.0 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°30'N / 92°43'W | 31°31'N / 92°42'W | 1.30 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Grant |
| 24.1 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°04'N / 93°03'W | 31°10'N / 92°49'W | 15.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 7 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Vernon |
| 24.2 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°30'N / 92°45'W | 31°30'N / 92°43'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rapides |
| 26.9 | 2004-11-23 | 2 | 31°20'N / 92°57'W | 31°29'N / 92°53'W | 20.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 1.0M | 0 | Natchitoches |
| Brief Description: A SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM PRODUCED A DAMAGING TORNADO THAT MOVED INTO THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF NATCHITOCHES PARISH. THE STORM MOVED IN A NORTHEAST DIRECTION...CROSSING HWY 119 EAST OF GORUM AND HWY 1 NEAR THE COMMUNITY OF GALBRAITH AND THEN PROCEEDED TO MOVE ALONG HWY 490 FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES BEFORE THE HIGHWAY CURVED AWAY FROM THE STORM'S PATH. THE STORM THEN CROSSED THE CANE RIVER NORTH OF THE COMMUNITY OF MARCO AND CROSSED THE RED RIVER...MOVING INTO GRANT PARISH. THE PATH WIDTH RANGED FROM 100 TO 300 YARDS AND APPEARS TO HAVE STAYED ON THE GROUND CONTINUOUSLY FOR SOME 20 MILES. PRIOR TO IT'S MOVING ALONG HWY 490...IT WAS IN MAINLY RURAL FORESTED AREAS AND OTHER THAN EXTENSIVE TREE DAMAGE...RESULTED IN ONLY ISOLATED MINOR DAMAGE TO FARM OUTBUILDINGS. AS THE STORM MOVED ALONG HWY 490...IT DAMAGED OR DESTROYED TREES AND PROPERTY EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A TWO MILE STRETCH. SEVERAL HOMES SUSTAINED MODERATE TO MAJOR DAMAGE INCLUDING TWO FRAME HOMES WHICH WERE DESTROYED AND TWO MOBILE HOMES DESTROYED. THE ONLY INJURY WAS ONE LADY WHO SUFFERED BROKEN RIBS AND A PUNCTURED LUNG. | |||||||||||
| 26.9 | 1992-11-12 | 2 | 31°35'N / 92°33'W | 1.50 Miles | 57 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Grant | |
| 27.6 | 2000-11-06 | 2 | 30°54'N / 92°13'W | 30°56'N / 92°11'W | 3.00 Miles | 25 Yards | 0 | 3 | 200K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| Brief Description: An F-2 tornado moved across rural sections of Avoyelles Parish, destroying two homes and damaging several other bulidings. The tornado began near a church in Eola, where a home lost part of its roof and the steeple blew off the church. A neighboring home lost its porch and had a window blown out, while some old buildings nearby were flattened. Many trees were also blown down. On Highway 29 south of Bunkie, one permanent home lost a portion of its roof, one outside wall, and the carport. Another permanent home bult on a foundation was swept off its foundation and moved 200 feet. In this home, three people received minor injuries. They were found in debris 300 feet from where the home originally lay. The wood frame home they were in was torn to pieces. Two cars and a horse trailer were thrown over 100 feet into a field. | |||||||||||
| 27.9 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°22'N / 93°05'W | 31°30'N / 92°45'W | 21.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Natchitoches |
| 28.2 | 1968-06-17 | 2 | 30°48'N / 92°40'W | 0.10 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | St. Helena | |
| 28.4 | 1983-01-31 | 3 | 30°56'N / 92°10'W | 30°59'N / 92°07'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| 31.1 | 2004-11-23 | 2 | 31°19'N / 93°04'W | 31°22'N / 93°00'W | 10.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 0 | 3 | 500K | 0 | Vernon |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado formed in rural sections of Vernon Parish, blowing down many trees and power lines, before hitting the small community of Hutton. 10 to 15 homes were damaged or destroyed. Several people were injured, none seriously. | |||||||||||
| 31.3 | 1953-03-22 | 2 | 31°06'N / 93°13'W | 31°42'N / 92°48'W | 48.10 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Vernon |
| 31.8 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°35'N / 92°32'W | 31°43'N / 92°24'W | 12.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Grant |
| 32.2 | 1950-05-01 | 2 | 31°33'N / 92°54'W | 31°34'N / 92°51'W | 3.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Natchitoches |
| 32.8 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°23'N / 93°12'W | 31°29'N / 92°50'W | 22.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Natchitoches |
| 32.9 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 31°12'N / 93°08'W | 31°16'N / 93°03'W | 6.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Vernon |
| 33.0 | 1970-05-24 | 2 | 30°44'N / 92°18'W | 30°48'N / 92°16'W | 5.20 Miles | 417 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Evangeline |
| 33.5 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°43'N / 92°24'W | 31°36'N / 92°21'W | 8.70 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Grant |
| 33.6 | 1983-01-31 | 2 | 30°43'N / 92°22'W | 30°45'N / 92°20'W | 3.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | East Feliciana |
| 34.2 | 1964-11-27 | 2 | 31°08'N / 92°00'W | 31°12'N / 91°55'W | 6.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| 34.4 | 1953-05-18 | 2 | 30°45'N / 92°48'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Allen | |
| 34.4 | 1982-09-11 | 2 | 30°43'N / 92°22'W | 2.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Evangeline | |
| 34.5 | 1984-06-07 | 2 | 31°02'N / 91°59'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Avoyelles | |
| 34.8 | 1982-09-11 | 2 | 31°04'N / 91°58'W | 0.80 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Avoyelles | |
| 35.7 | 2009-12-24 | 2 | 30°46'N / 92°09'W | 30°51'N / 92°07'W | 6.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0K | St. Landry |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: The Whiteville Tornado touched down near Interstate 49 about 2 miles southwest of the community, then moved north-northeastward. Upon reaching Parish Road 5-230, the tornado destroyed an outbuilding and blew down numerous trees along Bayou Boeuf. A home was damaged south of Highway 182 just east of Bayou Boeuf, and two mobile homes received roof damage along Sonnier Road. The tornado then struck the Resurrection Catholic Church, obliterating the building and damaging several tombstones and tombs in the nearby graveyard. A farm located just north of the church received major damage, with one large rice silo blown 50 yards southwestward into the bayou and another rice silo severely damaged. Two tractor trailers at the farm were also damaged, with one blown by the tornado into a jack-knife position, and the other having a large tree fall onto it. Continuing north-northeastward across open fields, the tornado then blew down numerous trees along WPA Road. No damage occurred for the next few miles as the tornado moved across open farmland and crossed into Avoyelles Parish. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A powerful upper level storm system moved across the Southern Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley from Wednesday, December 23, 2009, through Thursday, December 24, 2009. Numerous showers and elevated thunderstorms, including some supercells, repeatedly developed and moved northward across much of southwest Louisiana and the northern Gulf of Mexico from late Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. As the main upper level system approached Louisiana early Thursday morning, a squall line developed across east Texas and moved rapidly eastward across Louisiana, causing several reports of wind damage in southern Louisiana. Meanwhile, some of the elevated supercells became surface-based and tracked north-northeastward across south-central and east-central Louisiana, spawning at least a dozen tornadoes. In addition, the widespread rainfall caused flooding in some of these same areas. In total, at least 12 tornadoes affected portions of Vermilion, Acadia, St. Landry, Evangeline, and Avoyelles Parishes within a two hour timespan from 7-9 AM. Seven tornadoes affected Acadia Parish alone, the biggest single outbreak of tornadoes ever recorded in that parish. Three tornadoes were rated EF2, three were rated EF1, and six were rated EF0. Other tornadoes likely occurred that were reported by area residents but could not be confirmed by NWS storm surveys. These included a likely tornado just east of I-49 in extreme northeastern Evangeline Parish, a possible tornado about 8 miles southwest of Gueydan, and another east of Palmetto in far northeastern St. Landry Parish. This was the largest outbreak of tornadoes in the NWS Lake Charles county warning area since November 23, 2004. | |||||||||||
| 35.7 | 1975-04-29 | 2 | 30°56'N / 93°11'W | 30°56'N / 92°56'W | 14.80 Miles | 50 Yards | 2 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Vernon |
| 36.2 | 1974-02-18 | 2 | 30°58'N / 91°59'W | 0.50 Mile | 23 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Avoyelles | |
| 37.4 | 1999-01-02 | 2 | 30°50'N / 93°04'W | 30°53'N / 93°00'W | 5.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Beauregard |
| Brief Description: This tornado originally touched down 4 miles west of Sugartown, damaging one home. it continued northeast and intersected Highway 113 near the Whiskey Chitto Creek bridge. A large swath of large trees were sheared off and twisted. A few homes in this area received roof damage. A large trampoline was found 20 feet in the air, wrapped around a tree. | |||||||||||
| 38.0 | 1967-01-26 | 2 | 31°24'N / 93°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Grant | |
| 39.0 | 1983-03-04 | 2 | 31°38'N / 92°12'W | 31°42'N / 92°09'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | La Salle |
| 40.0 | 2008-09-12 | 2 | 30°36'N / 92°24'W | 30°39'N / 92°25'W | 3.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0K | Evangeline |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down on the outskirts of Mamou, and damaged 10 to 15 homes near Highway 95 and Fred Street. One home lost its roof. One mobile home was flipped onto the highway. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Hurricane Ike caused wind damage, storm surge flooding, and tornadoes across southwest Louisiana. Ike made landfall near Galveston, TX early in the morning on September 13th as a strong category 2 hurricane. Sustained hurricane force winds were confined to extreme western Cameron Parish. The highest recorded winds in southwest Lousiana were at Lake Charles Regional Airport with sustained winds of 46 kts (53 mph) and gusts of 67 kts (77 mph). The lowest pressure reading occurred at Southland Field near Sulphur, LA, with a low of 994.6 mb. Several tornadoes were reported across southwest Louisiana. The most significant one was near Mamou, where a home lost its roof, and another 10-15 homes were damaged. Storm surge was a significant event. Water levels ranged from 14 ft in western Cameron Parish, to 8 ft in St. Mary Parish. This resulted in widespread flooding of the same areas that flooded in Hurricane Rita in 2005. Most of Cameron Parish was under water. Over 3000 homes were flooded. This extended north into Calcasieu Parish, where another 1000 homes flooded in Lake Charles, Westlake, and Sulphur. In Vermilion Parish, at least 1000 homes flooded in Pecan Island, Forked Island, Intracoastal City, and Henry. This extended east into Iberia Parish, where another 1000 homes flooded south of Highway 14 and Highway 90. In St. Mary Parish, some of the worst flooding occurred in Franklin, where a man-made levee failed, flooding over 450 homes. Maximum storm total rainfall ranged from 6 to 8 inches across Cameron, Calcasieu, and Beauregard Parishes. No fatalities were reported in southwest Louisiana. Total property damages, however, were high. Loses are estimated to be almost 420 million dollars across southwest Louisiana. Agricultural loses were over 225 million dollars. | |||||||||||
| 40.4 | 1983-05-20 | 3 | 30°55'N / 91°56'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Avoyelles | |
| 40.8 | 1967-05-01 | 3 | 30°40'N / 92°56'W | 30°43'N / 92°52'W | 5.20 Miles | 750 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | Allen |
| 41.1 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°16'N / 93°21'W | 31°22'N / 93°05'W | 17.20 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Vernon |
| 41.6 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°22'N / 93°13'W | 31°23'N / 93°12'W | 1.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Sabine |
| 41.6 | 1950-05-02 | 2 | 31°33'N / 91°58'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 5 | 250K | 0 | Catahoula | |
| 42.8 | 2000-04-23 | 2 | 31°42'N / 92°06'W | 31°40'N / 92°05'W | 2.30 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | La Salle |
| Brief Description: A high precipitation supercell produced a tornado as part of an outbreak of tornadoes across the region. Damage consisted of large pine and oak trees snapped and broken as well as damage to homes. Most damage to residences were from falling trees. One manufactured home was completely destroyed. A number of outbuildings were damaged by either falling trees or high wind. | |||||||||||
| 42.8 | 2008-09-03 | 2 | 30°32'N / 92°30'W | 30°37'N / 92°27'W | 7.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 2 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Evangeline |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A strong tornado began near Duralde, and ended near Mamou. Along the way, a home on Valentine Road lost part of its roof, causing one minor injury. A home of Highway 374 was severely damaged when it was knocked off its foundation. Along Duculus Road, two homes lost most of their roofs. One unoccupied, tied-down mobile home was tossed to the northwest over 100 yards and split in half. Another mobile home was thrown in a counter-clockwise motion over 200 yards and was destroyed, resulting in two fatalities and one serious injury. Near the end of the path on Highway 104, a home lost part of its roof. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along the path. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Hurricane Gustav caused wind damage, flash flooding, and several tornadoes across southwest Louisiana. Hustav made landfall in Terrebonne Parish in the morning of September 2nd as a category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 110 mph. Gustav moved northwest, almost up along Highway 90 across St. Mary, Iberia, St. Martin, and Lafayette Parishes. The highest measured wind gusts were 85 mph at a research site near Abbeville, LA in Vermilion Parish. However, wind speeds were estimated between 75 and 85 mph from St. Mary Parish to Evangeline Parish. Storm surge was a minimal impact because southwest Louisiana was on the west side of the onshore winds for most of the event. The highest recorded storm tide was 4.77 at Amerada Pass in St. Mary Parish. However, rainfall was a large impact. In central Louisiana, over 20 inches of rain fell in Rapides Parish, with a CO-OP observer recording 20.43 inches 7 miles east of Alexandria. This resulted in widespread flooding of the Alexandria-Pineville region, where over 200 water rescues were performed. Significant flooding also occurred in New Iberia, where over ten inches of rain fell, resulting in widespread flooding in and around New Iberia. Several tornadoes were seen across southwest Louisiana, with the worst one occurring in Evangeline Parish near Mamou, where two people were killed when their tied-down mobile home was thrown for over 200 yards. Other fatalities in the region were considered indirect. Two men died in Calcasieu Parish from carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator running in their home. A woman died in St. Martin Parish when her home caught fire from burning candles after she lost power. Total property damages were estimated near 750 million dollars in southwest Louisiana. Agricultural loses were estimated to be over 225 million dollars. | |||||||||||
| 43.0 | 1953-12-03 | 4 | 31°46'N / 92°21'W | 31°49'N / 92°19'W | 4.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 2 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | La Salle |
| 43.3 | 1961-03-30 | 2 | 30°57'N / 91°55'W | 30°54'N / 91°50'W | 6.20 Miles | 800 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| 43.3 | 1974-10-28 | 2 | 31°09'N / 93°16'W | 0.20 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 12 | 250K | 0 | Vernon | |
| 44.6 | 2001-11-24 | 2 | 31°03'N / 91°48'W | 31°03'N / 91°48'W | 1.00 Mile | 10 Yards | 0 | 3 | 50K | 0 | Avoyelles |
| Brief Description: A short-lived tornado destroyed a mobile home, injuring 3 people. One man was thrown from the trailer towards the road in front of the house, and his 15 month old daughter was thrown 50 feet to the right of the trailer. A woman was buried in the rubble. All three suffered minor injuries. Trees and power lines were also blown down. | |||||||||||
| 45.0 | 2002-10-29 | 2 | 30°36'N / 92°10'W | 30°38'N / 92°12'W | 5.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 5.0M | 0 | St. Landry |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado moved across the small community of Prairie Ronde, destroying the school. Several neighboring houses also received major damage. | |||||||||||
| 45.8 | 2002-10-29 | 2 | 30°32'N / 92°17'W | 30°36'N / 92°17'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 2 | 3 | 100K | 0 | Evangeline |
| Brief Description: The tornado in St. Landry Parish moved into Evangeline Parish, and picked up a mobile home over 100 yards, before it landed and completely fell apart. Two ladies in the home were killed instantly. Three other people in the home survived with broken bones and bruises. Debris was scattered over a quarter of a mile away from the mobile home. Several other mobile homes were damaged in this area, and many trees and power lines were blown down. F16MH, F33MH | |||||||||||
| 46.7 | 1976-03-30 | 2 | 31°19'N / 93°24'W | 31°22'N / 93°13'W | 11.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Vernon |
| 47.5 | 1969-12-29 | 3 | 31°30'N / 91°51'W | 31°32'N / 91°48'W | 4.10 Miles | 183 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Catahoula |
| 47.8 | 2003-11-26 | 2 | 30°45'N / 93°19'W | 30°51'N / 93°05'W | 16.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 5 | 1.0M | 0 | Beauregard |
| Brief Description: A long-lasting tornado tore across northern Beauregard Parish, staying in mainly rural areas. The worst damage occurred along Highway 26 east of DeRidder, where two mobile homes were flipped over. Debris was strewn for over a half mile. One person was injured after he was thrown from the mobile home. In the Longacre community, a family of 4 climbed into a homemade storm cellar, moments before the tornado destroyed their home. They received minro bumps and brusies when the roof of the storm cellar lifted off and debris landed on them. This tornado continued into Vernon Parish. | |||||||||||
| 47.8 | 2010-11-29 | 4 | 31°47'N / 92°48'W | 31°57'N / 92°39'W | 14.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0K | Winn |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Numerous trees were snapped near the intersection of Collier and Water Well Roads. The tornado then crossed Gum Springs Road, where it completely destroyed one well-built two story brick home and an adjacent brick garage. The home was approximately 4000 sq. ft in size, built in 1997, and its destruction was the basis of the EF-4 rating. Many of the nearby trees were completely snapped, with several near the home snapped off at the base. One single wide mobile home was also destroyed, with its remnants blown into a wooded area about 300 yards away. Another nearby home was moderately damaged, while two other homes suffered minor damage. The tornado then crossed into an open field, before entering a heavily wooded area, traveling northeast across Highways 84 and 167, where sporadic minor tree damage was observed just west and north of Winnfield. Maximum winds are estimated around 170 mph, with a maximum width of 400 yards. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A potent...upper level short wave accompanied a prefrontal feature during the afternoon hours of November 29th across north central Louisiana. These thunderstorms developed in a weakly unstable airmass across the region. However...there was strong wind shear present...especially in the lowest 3 kilometers of the atmosphere. A broken line of thunderstorms developed across east central Texas into northwest Louisiana along the prefrontal trough axis. These thunderstorms quickly became supercells. One of these storms produced a significant tornado in Winn Parish which traveled northeast and dropped again in southern Ouachita Parish. Other storms downed powerlines in northwest Louisiana and minor flooding problems. | |||||||||||
| 48.0 | 1983-05-19 | 3 | 31°52'N / 92°55'W | 31°53'N / 92°28'W | 23.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 10 | 25.0M | 0 | Winn |
| 48.0 | 1974-03-20 | 3 | 31°47'N / 92°58'W | 31°48'N / 92°56'W | 2.70 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Winn |
| 48.1 | 2008-12-09 | 2 | 31°41'N / 92°12'W | 31°55'N / 92°04'W | 18.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 1 | 750K | 0K | La Salle |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A funnel cloud was first observed just west of Pineview by staff members from the local hospital. Shortly afterward, the tornado touched down near Industrial Rd. and snapped or uprooted several trees, causing EF0 damage. The storm path at this location was 75 yards wide. The tornado then traveled northeast to Hwy 127 where it caused EF2 damage. Several modular homes were completely destroyed. One man received minor injuries as he was temporarily trapped in his home after the storm struck. Two brick homes in the immediate area suffered severe roof damage. Several 2 to 3 foot-thick trees were snapped or uprooted and carried up to 50 yards. The path of the storm at this location was about 300 yards wide. The tornado then proceeded to Wilburn Rd. and caused EF1 damage. Several 12 to 18 inch-diameter trees were snapped in this heavily wooded area. One 2 to 3 foot-diameter trees was uprooted. The path of the storm at this location was 100 yards wide. The storm continued northeast, crossing Industrial Rd. 8, where it caused EF0 damage. A few 8 to 12 inch-diameter trees were snapped. The path was 50 yards wide at this location. In northern La Salle Parish, the storm crossed Boneyard Rd just south of Hwy 124, causing EF0 damage. A few 8 to 12 inch-diameter trees were snapped. The top of one tree landed on powerlines along the road. The path of the storm was 50 yards wide at this location. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Strong low level wind shear accompanied a broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms across portions of northwest and north central Louisiana the morning of December 9th. These thunderstorms produced large hail, damaging thunderstorm wind gusts and a few tornadoes across the region. | |||||||||||
| 49.2 | 1974-03-20 | 3 | 31°49'N / 92°57'W | 31°55'N / 92°40'W | 20.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Winn |
| 49.5 | 1992-03-05 | 2 | 30°30'N / 92°19'W | 30°31'N / 92°16'W | 3.00 Miles | 173 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | St. Landry |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.