Youngsville

Population 19,980 (2025)

31 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Youngsville since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1909 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Youngsville Tornado: 99th percentile. Tropical: 87th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 87th percentile. Hail & wind: 77th percentile. Heat: 25th percentile. Cold: 3th percentile. Winter: 11th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950164
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger70
  • Major flood years since 1978, Lafayette Parish4

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Lafayette Parish. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Lafayette Parish.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

164

7 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

31

15 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

6,579

Lafayette Parish

$267 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

February 9, 1983, 21.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1909, 33.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

43

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

110°F

August 27, 2023

Details

Record low

4°F

January 22, 2025

Details

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 7 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

February 9, 1983

F3, 21.0 mile path

150 yards wide.

Deadliest

April 4, 1952

4 killed, F2

33 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

EF0, 0.0 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 7 7 1960s: 15 15 1970s: 23 23 1980s: 23 23 1990s: 32 32 2000s: 32 32 2010s: 18 18 2020s: 14 14 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 18 F: 12 M: 13 A: 15 M: 34 34 J: 11 J: 2 A: 9 S: 15 O: 13 N: 13 D: 9 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Jun 10, 2025EF00.0100
Nov 5, 2024EF15.030000
May 13, 2024EFU4.2100
May 13, 2024EFU3.6100
May 13, 2024EF28.640000
Apr 10, 2024EF10.110000
May 6, 2023EF15.37510
Dec 15, 2022EF10.15000
Dec 14, 2022EFU0.21000
Dec 14, 2022EF25.2300160
May 17, 2021EF00.11000
May 17, 2021EF00.11000
May 17, 2021EF00.21000
Jan 6, 2021EF11.24000
Jun 6, 2019EF11.318600
Dec 27, 2018EF10.62500
Apr 14, 2018EF24.165000
Aug 29, 2017EF00.62500
Aug 27, 2017EF00.12500
Aug 27, 2017EF00.22500
Apr 2, 2017EF10.82002
Apr 2, 2017EF10.11000
Jan 13, 2013EF10.42500
Jan 10, 2013EF15.55000
Jan 10, 2013EF12.15000
Mar 21, 2012EF11.22000
Mar 21, 2012EF00.92000
Jan 25, 2012EF00.11000
Sep 3, 2011EF00.11000
Mar 5, 2011EF27.0250111
Nov 30, 2010EF01.32500
Nov 30, 2010EF01.02500
Jun 2, 2009EF00.12500
May 4, 2009EF10.65030
Sep 12, 2008EF00.21000
Sep 3, 2008EF10.42500
Aug 8, 2008EF00.62000
May 15, 2008EF13.85010
May 15, 2008EF10.810000
May 15, 2008EF00.72500
May 15, 2008EF05.55000
May 15, 2008EF27.620000
Feb 12, 2008EF00.21000
Feb 12, 2008EF00.31000
Feb 13, 2007EF00.52500
Feb 13, 2007EF00.52500
Feb 13, 2007EF24.330030
Feb 13, 2007EF12.25000
Jan 4, 2007EFU15.1100152
Dec 30, 2006F12.410000
Sep 21, 2006F01.02000
Sep 21, 2006F12.05000
Sep 21, 2006F01.02000
Apr 29, 2006F00.21000
Dec 9, 2004F17.05010
Jan 25, 2004F21.01030
Feb 15, 2003F10.51010
Oct 3, 2002F01.01000
Oct 3, 2002F01.01000
Oct 3, 2002F01.02000
Oct 3, 2002F11.02000
Oct 3, 2002F01.02000
Oct 13, 2001F10.51000
Oct 13, 2001F10.51000
Mar 2, 1999F12.05020
Jan 2, 1999F14.020000
Jan 2, 1999F01.010000
Jan 2, 1999F02.020000
Nov 10, 1998F01.03000
Sep 12, 1998F01.03000
Sep 12, 1998F01.03000
Sep 11, 1998F01.03000
Nov 21, 1997F13.020010
May 21, 1997F01.02000
May 9, 1996F02.52000
May 18, 1995F10.53000
Mar 16, 1995F00.52000
Mar 7, 1995F00.32000
Jan 6, 1995F00.22000
Jan 6, 1995F15.03080
May 28, 1994F12.07300
Mar 9, 1994F10.53000
Feb 25, 1993F00.310000
Nov 21, 1992F215.07340
Nov 1, 1992F20.54000
Nov 1, 1992F10.52000
Aug 10, 1992F10.11300
Jun 25, 1992F117.03000
Jun 13, 1992F26.06000
Jan 12, 1992F12.02300
Jun 24, 1991F00.51300
May 15, 1991F00.22000
Mar 1, 1991F10.57310
Aug 21, 1990F00.31300
Mar 29, 1990F10.32300
Feb 15, 1990F10.84050
Aug 7, 1989F10.23000
May 18, 1989F10.33010
May 18, 1989F10.43000
May 18, 1989F10.43000
May 18, 1989F21.04010
Oct 26, 1988F00.33000
Oct 2, 1988F00.22300
Jun 18, 1988F10.42000
May 21, 1988F00.33000
May 21, 1988F00.333000
Mar 2, 1988F10.87300
Feb 1, 1988F00.21000
Nov 16, 1987F00.75000
Aug 2, 1985F10.73310
Dec 10, 1983F10.510030
Nov 24, 1983F10.55000
Apr 7, 1983F01.02000
Feb 9, 1983F321.015070
Jan 31, 1983F36.010001
May 7, 1982F25.010000
May 9, 1981F10.17000
May 9, 1981F10.112000
Oct 18, 1980F20.11040
Apr 21, 1979F15.71020
May 7, 1978F10.11000
Sep 14, 1977F20.22700
Jun 6, 1977F00.11700
Jun 6, 1977F123.15000
Apr 21, 1977F33.8440111
Mar 28, 1977F212.010010
Mar 28, 1977F10.11030
May 9, 1975F211.15000
May 9, 1975F10.11000
May 8, 1975F10.55020
Apr 30, 1975F27.15010
Apr 30, 1975F10.55020
Apr 30, 1975F10.11000
Mar 18, 1975F24.15020
Jan 10, 1975F113.53781
Jan 7, 1975F00.11000
Oct 29, 1974F37.316710
Sep 8, 1974F10.11010
Oct 31, 1973F12.05000
Sep 12, 1973F14.95040
Apr 17, 1973F10.35000
Sep 16, 1971F16.35060
Dec 25, 1969F31.510081
Dec 6, 1969F20.53300
Jul 10, 1969F10.53300
Apr 23, 1968F21.06700
May 21, 1967F10.55000
May 1, 1967F22.05040
Jul 3, 1966F10.23300
May 19, 1966F01.310000
Jan 22, 1965F10.23300
Jan 8, 1965F21.03300
Aug 14, 1964F16.26700
Sep 10, 1961F12.010000
Sep 10, 1961F35.7283551
Apr 29, 1960F133.245000
Feb 17, 1960F110.618300
Jun 14, 1959F117.045020
Nov 7, 1957F12.050132
Nov 7, 1957F39.2200104
Jun 27, 1957F10.53300
Oct 20, 1956F00.53320
Nov 21, 1953F220.430020
Apr 4, 1952F220.467334
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

31 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 15 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 21, 1909

Unnamed storm, Category 2

33.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 106 mph.

Most recent

September 11, 2024

Francine, Category 2

69.1 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 0 80s: 0 90s: 1 00s: 3 10s: 1 20s: 2 30s: 3 40s: 1 50s: 2 60s: 2 70s: 4 4 80s: 2 90s: 1 00s: 2 10s: 3 20s: 1 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Francine202469.1Category 2104Category 2
Ida202177.7Category 190Category 4
Claudette202182.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Delta202049.4Category 182Category 4
Laura202078.1Category 4140Category 4
Cristobal202088.2Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Olga201975.2Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Barry201927.7Tropical storm69Category 1
Harvey201774.4Tropical storm39Category 4
Isaac201244.2Tropical storm63Category 1
Lee20117.8Subtropical storm40Tropical storm
Gustav200813.8Category 183Category 4
Edouard200891.8Tropical storm62Tropical storm
Humberto200781.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Ivan200474.2Tropical storm43Category 5
Bill200378.9Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Lili200219.3Category 178Category 4
Andrew199217.7Category 192Category 5
Juan19859.5Tropical storm69Category 1
Danny198539.4Category 177Category 1
Chris198295.2Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Danielle198087.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Bob197995.0Tropical storm66Category 1
Debra197885.4Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Babe197731.1Tropical storm54Category 1
Carmen197413.9Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed197336.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Edith19715.9Category 182Category 4
Felice197094.5Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Betsy196540.8Category 181Category 4
Hilda196437.1Category 192Category 4
Arlene195928.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Esther195773.9Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Bertha195770.4Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Audrey195795.1Category 2100Category 3
Unnamed195683.7Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed195521.1Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Barbara195455.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed194972.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed194737.0Category 177Category 4
Unnamed194784.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed194197.3Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed194070.1Category 296Category 2
Unnamed193886.4Tropical storm68Category 2
Unnamed193425.0Category 192Category 2
Unnamed193285.8Post-tropical58Tropical storm
Unnamed193216.0Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Unnamed193145.2Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed192641.0Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed192360.3Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed192034.3Category 175Category 2
Unnamed191872.4Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed191236.1Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed190933.8Category 2106Category 3
Unnamed190825.7Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed190554.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed190511.7Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189837.9Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed189756.3Category 186Category 1
Unnamed189381.2Category 193Category 2
Unnamed189076.8Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed188863.7Category 184Category 3
Unnamed188692.3Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed188654.3Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed188277.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187952.4Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed187778.2Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186983.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186768.8Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed186586.2Category 296Category 2
Unnamed186527.3Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed18636.1Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed186041.9Category 298Category 2
Unnamed18569.5Category 181Category 4
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

No large wildfire has been mapped within 25 miles since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 45 days

Heavy smoke on 2 days in 2018, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

13.0 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 18 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 15 2012: 6 2013: 0 2014: 3 2015: 0 2016: 2 2017: 2 2018: 4 2019: 5 2020: 3 2021: 15 2022: 31 2023: 45 45 2024: 16 2025: 7 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

6,579 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $267 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Lafayette Parish, the county that contains Youngsville.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 49 1979: 128 1980: 413 1981: 22 1982: 65 1983: 16 1984: 49 1985: 46 1986: 9 1987: 7 1988: 16 1989: 114 1990: 7 1991: 92 1992: 28 1993: 464 1994: 10 1995: 262 1996: 12 1997: 13 1998: 134 1999: 36 2000: 8 2001: 232 2002: 114 2003: 7 2004: 146 2005: 89 2006: 57 2007: 6 2008: 86 2009: 10 2010: 11 2012: 289 2013: 29 2014: 53 2015: 16 2016: 2,592 2,592 2017: 155 2018: 7 2019: 173 2020: 86 2021: 177 2022: 10 2023: 9 2024: 30 2025: 190 1978198319881993199820032008201420192024
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2016: 2,592 claims

$195 million paid.

2nd most

1993: 464 claims

$5.2 million paid.

3rd most

1980: 413 claims

$2.8 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
705081,196$82.2 million
705061,174$42.3 million
70520761$17.8 million
70592741$38.1 million
70503630$40.1 million
70507516$6.9 million
70501412$8.8 million
70583405$6.5 million
70518320$8.9 million
70529229$8.7 million
7055858$1.2 million
7057838$1.9 million
7055525$1.9 million
19$108,000
7050213$165,000
7050511$467,000
705177$195,000
705096$82,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood53
  • Flood10
  • Heavy Rain3

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).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Lafayette Parish, the county that contains Youngsville.

Most severe crest

August 9, 1940

Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street, 24.87 ft

14.87 feet above the 10.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

May 23, 2021

Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street, 15.25 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Aug 9, 1940Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street24.87+14.87Major
Aug 15, 2016Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street17.62+7.62Major
Mar 13, 1947Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street16.80+6.80Major
Apr 8, 1942Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street16.37+6.37Major
Aug 17, 2016Vermilion River at Lake Martin Road15.00+4.00Major
Jan 20, 1993Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street15.81+5.81Moderate
May 17, 1980Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street15.56+5.56Moderate
Jun 10, 2001Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street15.35+5.35Moderate
May 23, 2021Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street15.25+5.25Moderate
Apr 22, 1977Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.84+4.84Moderate
Jun 10, 2019Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.60+4.60Moderate
Dec 6, 1971Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.56+4.56Moderate
Feb 16, 1966Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.26+4.26Moderate
Oct 4, 1964Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.23+4.23Moderate
Jul 14, 1989Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.22+4.22Moderate
Dec 18, 1995Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.14+4.14Moderate
May 18, 2004Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street14.00+4.00Moderate
Sep 1, 2020Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.97+3.97Minor
Oct 24, 1984Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.95+3.95Minor
Jan 10, 2013Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.95+3.95Minor
Sep 12, 1998Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.74+3.74Minor
Apr 13, 1969Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.55+3.55Minor
Oct 29, 1985Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.53+3.53Minor
May 19, 1953Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.50+3.50Minor
May 28, 2014Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street13.41+3.41Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Vermilion River above I-10 at Lafayette15.0——0
Vermilion River at Lafayette - Surrey Street10.024.87 ftAug 9, 19404
Vermilion River at Lake Martin Road11.015.00 ftAug 17, 20161
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 99 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 12 months.

The drought index is for Lafayette Parish, the county that contains Youngsville.

99

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

33

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

5

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

May 2000

−5.89, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

12 months

September 1924 to August 1925.

Latest month

September 2026

−1.47, mild drought

Last severe month: November 2023.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 1 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 7 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 3 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 2 1918: 9 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 4 1925: 8 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 4 1937: 2 1938: 4 1939: 5 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 1 1953: 0 1954: 2 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 3 1963: 10 10 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 3 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 2 2000: 10 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 1 2006: 8 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 5 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 4 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

391 events in the National Weather Service record for Lafayette Parish, 308 of them since 1996.

52

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

90

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

15

Winter weather events since 1996

4

Heat events since 1996

1

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

April 20, 1992

2.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

January 11, 2020

100 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning1602Jun 14, 2025
Dense fog and smoke1122Jan 12, 2006

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 14, 2016Flood$700 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Stream gages along the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish crested during the 15th at the end of the flash flood event. Major flooding along the Vermilion continued through the 24th-25th and kept some neighborhoods flooded for a couple of weeks. At the Surrey Street Gage 10 feet is flood stage and the Vermilion crested at 17.6 feet which is the 2nd highest recorded crest.

  2. Aug 12, 2016Flash Flood$400 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Street flooding along Ambassador Caffery and a few other poorly drained streets were first reported during the early morning of the 12th. High rainfall rates continued through the day with many streets being flooded and some structures by mid morning. Widespread flooding of vehicles, structures, and high water rescues began during the late morning across Lafayette Parish. The Vermilion River reached major flood stage by sunrise on the 13th and remained above major flood stage for 5 and a half days. Rainfall totals surpassed 20 inches in the southern section of the parish over the 12th and 13th. An estimated 9,376 structures flooded during the event.

  3. Oct 9, 2020Hurricane (Typhoon), Lafayette$300 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Wind gusts of 75 to 80 mph and heavy rainfall lead to numerous downed trees and power lines across the parish. KLFT reported a peak sustained wind of 63 mph with a peak gust of 75 mph.

  4. Mar 12, 2012Flash Flood$164 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A boundary pushed to the coast of Louisiana during March 11th and then slowly lifted into Acadiana and stalled through much of 12th. Storms kept redeveloping over the area north of interstate 10 with some locations receiving more than one foot of rain during the 12th. Flash Flooding was reported across multiple parishes, but were most notable across southern portions of Saint Landry, northern sections of Lafayette, and northwest sections of Saint Martin parishes. Flood levels reached record levels along Bayou Vermilion during the event in Carencro.||The event flooded 690 homes which affected around 2,000 residents in the Carencro area. 77 rescues were made. Many roads were also…

  5. Sep 1, 2008Hurricane (Typhoon), Lafayette$100 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Gustav moved across Lafayette Parish, damaging some homes and businesses. One man was killed when a tree fell through his roof of the house he was living in.

  6. Aug 26, 2020Tropical Storm, Lafayette$80.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    There was a voluntary evacuation for the parish. Scattered trees and power lines were blown down across the parish. Homes and businesses were damaged from fallen trees or wind. There was some minor flooding from the vermilion river. Over 40 percent of the parish was without power immediately after the storm. Wind gusts ranged from 50 to 75 mph.

  7. Oct 3, 2002Hurricane (Typhoon), Lafayette$80.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Lili made landfall the morning of October 3rd near Intracoastal City in Vermilion Parish as a category one hurricane. Over 48,000 claims were filed with FEMA by homeowners who received damage. along the path of Lili, from southwest Louisiana into central Louisiana. Only 3 injuries were reported. One injury in Evangeline Parish at Ville Platte occurred when a policeman on patrol had a tree fall on his vehicle, trapping him inside. He received minor injuries and was treated and released from a local hospital. The other two injuries occurred in Acadia Parish. Two Rayne city employees were moving vehicles to a safer location when a brick facade at the water plant fell on…

  8. Jan 9, 2013Flash Flood$22.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rain fell on saturated ground during the 9th and 10th causing road closures in portions of Lafayette Parish. Over 60 homes had flood waters enter them.

  9. Sep 23, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Lafayette$8.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Rita made landfall around 230 am on September 24th in Cameron Parish near Johnson Bayou as a category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 120 mph. Wind gusts over 110 mph were recorded in Cameron and Calcasieu Parishes. This resulted in numerous trees and power lines downed. In parts of Beauregard, Jeff Davis, and Vermilion Parishes, winds blew over 90 mph. The remainder of southwest Louisiana saw wind gusts in excess of 50 mph. Only one direct fatality has been reported. A man drowned near a sunken shrimping vessel near the Calcasieu ship channel. Estimated damages in southwest Louisiana total near 4 billion dollars, with the bulk of that loss in Cameron and Calcasieu…

  10. Dec 29, 2010Lightning$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    KATC-TV, KLFY-TV, and Lafayette Daily Advertiser reported a lightning strike started a fire that completely destroyed the home of professional tennis star Chanda Rubin, which was located in the River Ranch section of Lafayette. Firefighters required nearly 5 hours to extinguish the blaze. No one was injured.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Lafayette Regional Airport, 7.1 miles from the city centre, with records from 1893.

All-time high
110°FAug 27, 2023
All-time low
4°FJan 22, 2025
Warmest night
84°FAug 24, 2023
Coldest day
17°FFeb 13, 1899
Wettest day
10.40 inAug 13, 2016
Snowiest day
14.0 inFeb 15, 1895
Hottest year
2023mean 72.9°F
Coldest year
1903mean 66.0°F
Wettest year
199381.07 in
Driest year
201135.82 in
Snowiest season
14.0 in1894-95
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Lafayette Regional Airport 32°F 63° 43° 5.0 Jan 67° 47° 3.6 Feb 73° 53° 3.6 Mar 79° 59° 4.5 Apr 86° 67° 6.0 May 91° 73° 7.2 Jun 92° 75° 6.4 Jul 93° 75° 6.2 Aug 89° 71° 5.0 Sep 82° 60° 4.2 Oct 72° 50° 3.9 Nov 65° 45° 5.1 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 2 1977: 17 1978: 11 1979: 4 1980: 14 1981: 7 1982: 6 1983: 9 1984: 6 1985: 14 1986: 14 1987: 6 1988: 5 1989: 11 1990: 31 1991: 6 1992: 4 1993: 24 1994: 0 1995: 40 1996: 10 1997: 26 1998: 35 1999: 26 2000: 31 2001: 0 2002: 1 2003: 2 2004: 18 2005: 47 2006: 28 2007: 13 2008: 8 2009: 30 2010: 32 2011: 53 2012: 11 2013: 17 2014: 1 2015: 36 2016: 20 2017: 10 2018: 27 2019: 18 2020: 13 2021: 20 2022: 30 2023: 84 84 2024: 47 2025: 6 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 23.3.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 0.0 in 1978: 0.0 in 1979: 0.0 in 1980: 0.0 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 0.0 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.5 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 2024: 9.0 in 9.0 2025: 0.0 in 197619861996
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

February 9

Earliest: January 11, 1973

Median last snow

February 10

Latest: February 25, 1914

58 of 68 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Lafayette Regional Airport (USW00013976), 35 ft elevation, 7.1 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

43 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.

Declarations for Lafayette Parish.

Federal disaster declarations
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3638-LA
Sep 10, 2024HurricaneTropical Storm FrancineEmergencyEM-3614-LA
Sep 13, 2021Coastal StormTropical Storm NicholasEmergencyEM-3574-LA
Aug 29, 2021HurricaneHurricane IdaMajor disasterDR-4611-LA
Aug 27, 2021HurricaneTropical Storm IdaEmergencyEM-3568-LA
Jun 2, 2021FloodSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4606-LA
Mar 9, 2021Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormsMajor disasterDR-4590-LA
Feb 18, 2021Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3556-LA
Jan 12, 2021HurricaneHurricane ZetaMajor disasterDR-4577-LA
Oct 27, 2020HurricaneTropical Storm ZetaEmergencyEM-3549-LA
Oct 16, 2020HurricaneHurricane DeltaMajor disasterDR-4570-LA
Oct 7, 2020HurricaneHurricane DeltaEmergencyEM-3547-LA
Sep 14, 2020HurricaneHurricane SallyEmergencyEM-3543-LA
Aug 28, 2020HurricaneHurricane LauraMajor disasterDR-4559-LA
Aug 23, 2020HurricaneTropical Storms Laura and MarcoEmergencyEM-3538-LA
Jun 7, 2020Coastal StormTropical Storm CristobalEmergencyEM-3527-LA
Mar 24, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4484-LA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3459-LA
Aug 27, 2019HurricaneHurricane BarryMajor disasterDR-4458-LA
Jul 11, 2019Coastal StormTropical Storm BarryEmergencyEM-3416-LA
Oct 16, 2017HurricaneTropical Storm HarveyMajor disasterDR-4345-LA
Aug 14, 2016FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4277-LA
Aug 29, 2012HurricaneHurricane IsaacMajor disasterDR-4080-LA
Sep 2, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavMajor disasterDR-1786-LA
Aug 29, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavEmergencyEM-3289-LA
Sep 24, 2005HurricaneHurricane RitaMajor disasterDR-1607-LA
Sep 21, 2005HurricaneHurricane RitaEmergencyEM-3260-LA
Aug 29, 2005HurricaneHurricane KatrinaMajor disasterDR-1603-LA
Sep 15, 2004HurricaneHurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1548-LA
Jun 8, 2004Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1521-LA
Feb 1, 2003OtherLoss of Space Shuttle ColumbiaEmergencyEM-3172-LA
Oct 3, 2002HurricaneHurricane LiliMajor disasterDR-1437-LA
Jun 11, 2001Coastal StormTropical Storm AllisonMajor disasterDR-1380-LA
Feb 2, 1993FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-978-LA
Aug 26, 1992HurricaneHurricane AndrewMajor disasterDR-956-LA
Jul 17, 1989FloodTropical Storm AllisonMajor disasterDR-835-LA
Oct 31, 1984FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-728-LA
May 21, 1980FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-622-LA
May 2, 1977FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-534-LA
Feb 22, 1977SnowstormDrought & FreezingEmergencyEM-3031-LA
Sep 23, 1974HurricaneHurricane CarmenMajor disasterDR-448-LA
Oct 13, 1971HurricaneHurricane EdithMajor disasterDR-315-LA
Sep 10, 1965HurricaneHurricane BetsyMajor disasterDR-208-LA

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).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00013976.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.