State history
Tornadoes in Louisiana
Louisiana averages 38 tornadoes per year. Here is the complete history.
The stats
- Average: 38 tornadoes/year.
- Peak season: Feb-April.
- Population and vulnerability considerations.
- Regional patterns.
- Community awareness.
- Skywarn active.
Notable events
- 1908 Amite F4 — 143 dead.
- 1953 Waco impact — TX-LA border.
- 1965 Palm Sunday impact — LA events.
- 1974 Super Outbreak impact — LA.
- 2005 Hurricane Rita tornadoes — multiple.
- 2019 October outbreak — multiple events.
- 2020 outbreaks — Category 4 hurricane season spawn.
- 2024 outbreaks — continued.
Major cities
New Orleans metro
1.3M. Hurricane-spawned tornadoes.
Baton Rouge
200k. Central LA.
Shreveport-Bossier City
400k. NW LA.
Lafayette
125k.
Lake Charles
80k. SW LA.
Monroe
50k. NE LA.
NWS coverage
NWS New Orleans-Baton Rouge
Southern LA.
NWS Shreveport
N LA.
NWS Lake Charles
SW LA.
NWS Jackson MS
NE LA.
Chase community
- Regional chasers active.
- Multi-state coordination.
- Documentation of events.
- Public safety focus.
- Community involvement.
- Skywarn integration.
Preparedness
- Weather radio.
- WEA enabled.
- Family communication plan.
- Community shelter awareness.
- Storm shelter installation.
- Insurance current.
- Regular drills.
- Emergency contact list.
Vulnerabilities
- Population distribution.
- Building code enforcement.
- Mobile home density in specific areas.
- Community shelter access.
- Rural coverage gaps.
- Historical vulnerabilities.
For residents
- Preparedness essential.
- Local NWS office familiarity.
- Community engagement.
- Multi-hazard awareness.
- Family plan.
- Insurance verification.
- Ongoing education.