Long Beach

Population 17,309 (2025)

48 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Long Beach since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Camille in 1969 (Category 5).

Hazard fingerprint for Long Beach Tornado: 99th percentile. Tropical: 92th percentile. Wildfire: 79th percentile. Flood: 87th percentile. Hail & wind: 52th percentile. Heat: 82th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 7th 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 1950155
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger90
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198477
  • Major flood years since 1978, Harrison County2

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 Harrison County. 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 Harrison County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

155

7 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

48

18 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

15,939

Harrison County

$1.3 billion paid since 1978

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

77

Largest: Unnamed, 2013

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

April 18, 1966, 23.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 5

Hurricane Camille, 1969, 14.6 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

37

Most recent: Tropical Storm Arthur, 2026

Details

Record high

104°F

Reached 5 times, most recently August 26, 2023

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

April 18, 1966

F3, 23.8 mile path

10 yards wide.

Deadliest

October 30, 1967

4 killed, F3

17 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

EF1, 1.5 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 4 4 1960s: 11 11 1970s: 25 25 1980s: 23 23 1990s: 13 13 2000s: 24 24 2010s: 23 23 2020s: 32 32 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 7 M: 15 A: 27 27 M: 25 J: 11 J: 6 A: 26 S: 17 O: 7 N: 9 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Apr 10, 2024EF11.57500
Apr 10, 2024EF04.910000
Apr 10, 2024EF02.87500
Apr 10, 2024EF12.915000
Apr 10, 2024EF12.710000
Apr 10, 2024EF15.220000
Apr 10, 2024EF12.910000
Apr 10, 2024EF110.215000
Mar 15, 2024EFU0.67500
Dec 14, 2022EF12.310000
Oct 29, 2022EF01.65000
Mar 30, 2022EF12.510000
Aug 30, 2021EF01.115000
Aug 30, 2021EF03.512500
Aug 30, 2021EF01.020000
Aug 30, 2021EF00.510000
Aug 30, 2021EF00.510000
Aug 30, 2021EF00.215000
Aug 29, 2021EF00.57500
Aug 29, 2021EF02.920000
Aug 29, 2021EF03.320000
Aug 29, 2021EF010.67500
Aug 29, 2021EF00.75000
Aug 29, 2021EF11.715000
Aug 29, 2021EF12.115000
Jun 19, 2021EF01.27500
Jun 18, 2021EF00.55000
Oct 28, 2020EF02.92500
Jul 14, 2020EF00.22500
Jun 24, 2020EF12.77500
Jun 24, 2020EF03.05000
Jan 11, 2020EFU2.23000
May 11, 2019EF01.33000
May 11, 2019EF01.42500
Apr 25, 2019EF10.22500
Nov 1, 2018EF14.010000
Nov 1, 2018EF17.215000
Apr 14, 2018EF11.67500
Apr 14, 2018EF00.67500
Aug 30, 2017EF02.310000
Aug 30, 2017EF00.13000
Jun 21, 2017EF04.27500
Dec 13, 2016EF04.32000
Sep 30, 2012EF12.210000
Sep 30, 2012EF16.14000
Aug 29, 2012EF10.44000
Aug 29, 2012EF10.52500
Mar 22, 2012EF04.110000
Mar 21, 2012EF11.010000
Mar 21, 2012EF00.35000
Sep 19, 2011EF00.12500
Sep 4, 2011EF13.67500
Sep 3, 2011EF00.13000
Mar 9, 2011EF10.23000
Mar 9, 2011EF11.03000
Apr 2, 2009EF00.22500
Apr 2, 2009EF00.22000
Apr 2, 2009EF01.52500
Mar 27, 2009EF17.020000
Feb 12, 2008EF00.12000
Nov 15, 2006F10.53500
May 29, 2005F00.12000
Apr 6, 2005F11.53000
Nov 24, 2004F21.55000
Jun 22, 2004F00.12000
Aug 12, 2003F00.22000
Jun 30, 2003F00.23000
Oct 3, 2002F00.33000
Oct 3, 2002F00.33000
Jun 11, 2001F10.37000
Jun 11, 2001F11.04000
Mar 12, 2001F00.22000
Mar 12, 2001F00.12000
Sep 2, 2000F00.22000
Sep 2, 2000F00.22000
Jul 22, 2000F00.12000
Jul 22, 2000F00.12000
Jul 22, 2000F00.12000
Jul 16, 2000F00.12000
Sep 20, 1998F00.13000
Aug 13, 1998F00.13000
Nov 21, 1997F10.33000
Nov 21, 1997F10.33000
Oct 25, 1997F10.84000
Nov 7, 1996F00.11000
Apr 14, 1996F00.51000
Apr 13, 1996F00.51000
May 9, 1995F00.32300
May 9, 1995F10.22300
Apr 23, 1995F00.32300
May 3, 1994F01.03000
Apr 12, 1994F22.0100162
Sep 16, 1988F10.52300
May 10, 1988F11.55000
Mar 3, 1988F21.23000
Nov 16, 1987F23.07300
Mar 29, 1987F10.75000
Mar 29, 1987F00.23000
Mar 29, 1987F00.54000
Sep 23, 1985F10.56000
Sep 23, 1985F21.010000
Sep 23, 1985F00.32000
Sep 2, 1985F10.34000
Sep 2, 1985F10.54000
May 21, 1985F23.510000
May 21, 1985F10.75000
May 21, 1985F10.55000
Apr 20, 1982F218.013300
May 19, 1980F27.920000
May 19, 1980F310.680040
May 19, 1980F313.180080
May 16, 1980F311.580000
May 15, 1980F10.53000
Apr 13, 1980F315.9400250
Apr 13, 1980F215.130000
Sep 5, 1977F20.17700
Aug 1, 1977F10.11000
May 2, 1977F25.42000
Oct 15, 1975F00.11000
Aug 30, 1975F00.21700
Jan 10, 1975F10.52700
Sep 8, 1974F00.15000
Aug 16, 1974F10.11000
Apr 7, 1973F20.11000
Feb 13, 1973F11.34010
May 7, 1972F21.23300
May 7, 1972F27.62310
May 7, 1972F10.83300
May 7, 1972F10.83300
May 7, 1972F10.83320
May 7, 1972F20.83300
May 7, 1972F18.33300
Mar 2, 1972F24.120020
Sep 16, 1971F10.11000
Aug 27, 1971F10.11000
May 8, 1971F20.11000
Dec 29, 1970F17.61000
Feb 1, 1970F22.01030
Feb 1, 1970F00.160100
Feb 1, 1970F10.11000
Aug 9, 1969F00.11000
Jul 14, 1969F00.11000
May 17, 1969F00.11000
Apr 13, 1969F10.110000
Nov 3, 1968F32.012350
Jun 12, 1968F00.11000
Jun 11, 1968F10.11000
Oct 30, 1967F32.0400174
Apr 27, 1966F110.510000
Apr 18, 1966F323.81050
Apr 6, 1963F10.11000
Feb 26, 1958F228.43010
Aug 10, 1957F00.11000
Aug 9, 1953F10.11000
Feb 13, 1952F10.11020
  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

48 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 18 at hurricane strength, 6 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

August 18, 1969

Camille, Category 5

14.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 173 mph.

Most recent

September 12, 2024

Francine, Tropical storm

68.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 2 60s: 2 70s: 3 80s: 4 90s: 3 00s: 4 10s: 4 20s: 3 30s: 1 40s: 3 50s: 2 60s: 3 70s: 1 80s: 2 90s: 2 00s: 5 5 10s: 2 20s: 2 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
Francine202468.5Tropical storm52Category 2
Ida202190.9Category 3113Category 4
Claudette202142.8Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Zeta202027.8Category 193Category 3
Sally202081.7Category 2109Category 2
Cristobal202058.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Olga201978.1Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Gordon201834.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Nate20179.3Category 176Category 1
Isaac201299.0Category 181Category 1
Lee201142.7Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ida200950.5Tropical storm55Category 2
Katrina200526.7Category 3119Category 5
Cindy20058.8Tropical storm49Category 1
Arlene200598.5Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Ivan200476.1Category 3120Category 5
Bill200356.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Isidore200243.0Tropical storm60Category 3
Hanna200232.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Allison200127.7Subtropical storm45Tropical storm
Georges199816.0Category 2104Category 4
Danny199746.3Category 181Category 1
Erin199580.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Florence198853.9Tropical storm63Category 1
Beryl198847.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Juan198559.0Tropical storm67Category 1
Elena19853.9Category 3115Category 3
Frederic197948.0Category 3113Category 4
Bob197969.5Tropical storm51Category 1
Camille196914.6Category 5173Category 5
Betsy196597.0Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed196592.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hilda196423.3Tropical storm62Category 4
Ethel196010.2Category 181Category 3
Irene195992.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Esther195791.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Flossy195666.7Category 187Category 1
Unnamed195686.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed195524.6Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Brenda195537.3Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Baker195070.2Category 186Category 2
Unnamed194995.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed194833.6Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed194892.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194755.9Category 2109Category 4
Unnamed194736.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194440.9Tropical storm59Tropical storm
Unnamed19398.8Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed193982.2Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed193782.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed193499.0Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed193227.1Post-tropical53Tropical storm
Unnamed193251.3Category 178Category 1
Unnamed19261.9Tropical storm61Category 4
Unnamed192310.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed192317.3Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191794.6Category 3116Category 4
Unnamed191643.2Category 2101Category 3
Unnamed191558.4Category 177Category 4
Unnamed191412.4Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed191244.2Tropical storm70Category 1
Unnamed191272.4Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed191132.0Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed190714.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed190627.8Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed190582.3Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed190118.6Category 186Category 1
Unnamed190020.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189523.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed189314.4Category 2109Category 4
Unnamed189355.3Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed189213.0Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed189089.2Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed188953.0Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed188711.3Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed188726.4Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed188514.3Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed188587.8Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188579.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188149.8Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Unnamed187930.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed187995.8Category 181Category 3
Unnamed187746.2Category 181Category 1
Unnamed18729.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187070.0Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186981.2Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed186891.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed186779.8Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed186326.3Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed18608.3Category 296Category 2
Unnamed18606.8Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed185956.0Category 181Category 1
Unnamed185511.3Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed185235.1Category 3113Category 3
  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

77 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

February 2, 2013

Unnamed Fire, 7,655 acres

24.3 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 3, 2024

Poor Boy Fire

815 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1986: 2,3471987: 3,7751988: 3,0921990: 3,5101991: 1,6511992: 1,6531994: 3,1791995: 2,5261997: 2,4291998: 2,2162000: 9472001: 2,2832002: 2,2952003: 1,5222004: 5172006: 14,6712007: 1,6102008: 28,3362009: 6662011: 2,6592013: 9,8632015: 1,5642016: 1,1322017: 6,6952020: 2,6142022: 9302023: 9472024: 815 106,444 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Poor Boy Fire202412.6815
Hancock Interstate 10202318.0947
See202221.9930
West Wortham Fire202017.4628
Lake Shore Fire202018.0590
Tillman Road20202.41,396
Unnamed201718.72,915
Unnamed201721.91,680
Unnamed201720.4673
Unnamed201722.61,427
Ansley201621.2529
Lower Bay201622.4603
Bayou Lacroix201517.91,564
Unnamed201320.12,208
Unnamed201324.37,655
Toney Island201119.31,218
Chainbreaker201123.6583
Winch Bumper20119.0858
Unnamed200914.4666
Cpt O 02 S200822.6923
Unnamed200822.35,060
Unnamed200821.12,048
Unnamed200821.31,099
Unnamed200818.31,307
Unnamed200823.63,326
Unnamed200821.91,564
Unnamed200817.11,973
Unnamed200822.41,251
Unnamed200818.65,095
Unnamed200813.51,739
Unnamed200822.61,916
Unnamed200823.41,035
Hickory Creek200724.9705
Branch20072.1905
Unnamed20063.7787
Unnamed200620.9822
Kiln (Bayou Bacon)200619.63,583
Sause200616.11,931
Unnamed200620.81,111
Unnamed200612.11,488
Unnamed200610.61,055
Unnamed200621.9718
Sandy Fox Fire200613.23,176
Unnamed200414.5517
Unnamed200321.3805
Cpt O 10200323.4717
Cpt O 03200222.7655
Cpt O 16 E200222.6985
Unnamed200219.8655
Cpt O 02200122.81,426
Unnamed200121.4857
Fort200023.4947
Cpt O 16199822.12,216
Cpt O 06199722.21,027
Biloxi Fork199712.01,402
Cpt O 07199521.42,526
Unnamed199422.02,182
Unnamed199417.7997
O 02199223.8560
Unnamed199218.8582
Cpt F 01199224.4511
Cpt 0 12199123.4720
Cpt 0 16199121.9931
Unnamed199023.4725
8199020.6614
2199023.21,092
6199022.81,079
Duck Pond198824.4541
Martins198824.4607
All Niter198822.01,132
Unnamed198812.1812
0 4198721.61,241
O 9198723.71,095
Unnamed198721.41,439
Airport198624.4870
7198624.0842
March Hare198623.8635
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 34 days

Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.4 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

5 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 15 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 14 2012: 9 2013: 0 2014: 1 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 3 2019: 3 2020: 6 2021: 11 2022: 13 2023: 34 34 2024: 8 2025: 5 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

15,939 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $1.3 billion paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Harrison County, the county that contains Long Beach.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 56 1979: 133 1980: 406 1981: 12 1982: 57 1983: 187 1984: 15 1985: 423 1986: 6 1987: 52 1988: 43 1989: 27 1990: 23 1991: 244 1992: 59 1993: 143 1994: 66 1995: 556 1996: 43 1997: 55 1998: 1,512 2000: 9 2001: 483 2002: 627 2003: 27 2004: 42 2005: 8,241 8,241 2006: 28 2008: 294 2009: 216 2010: 19 2011: 29 2012: 544 2013: 104 2014: 23 2015: 14 2016: 147 2017: 121 2018: 53 2019: 17 2020: 459 2021: 146 2022: 12 2024: 8 2026: 144 197819831988199319982004201020152020
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2005: 8,241 claims

$1.2 billion paid.

2nd most

1998: 1,512 claims

$18.3 million paid.

3rd most

2002: 627 claims

$6.7 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
395714,576$479 million
395602,083$157 million
395011,866$119 million
395301,611$145 million
395071,575$148 million
395321,333$80.7 million
395031,217$42.5 million
39531749$71.0 million
39540682$42.7 million
3957485$2.8 million
60$484,000
3953328$1.1 million
3950214$404,000
3950013$1.0 million
3950612$237,000
3950511$662,000
395205$319,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood81
  • Flood17
  • Heavy Rain9
  • Coastal Flood1

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

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 Harrison County, the county that contains Long Beach.

Most severe crest

May 9, 1995

Biloxi River near Wortham, 28.94 ft

12.94 feet above the 16.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

June 19, 2026

Wolf River above Gulfport, 15.93 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
May 9, 1995Biloxi River near Wortham28.94+12.94Major
Sep 30, 1998Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville19.00+11.00Major
May 12, 2019Biloxi River near Wortham26.70+10.70Major
Aug 30, 2012Biloxi River near Wortham26.32+10.32Major
May 10, 1995Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville18.10+10.10Major
Aug 29, 2005Biloxi River near Wortham26.00+10.00Major
Sep 29, 1998Biloxi River near Wortham25.43+9.43Major
Apr 8, 1983Biloxi River near Wortham25.30+9.30Major
Jun 19, 2026Biloxi River near Lyman21.21+9.21Major
Sep 26, 2002Biloxi River near Wortham24.99+8.99Major
May 10, 1995Biloxi River near Lyman20.95+8.95Major
Aug 31, 2021Biloxi River near Wortham24.69+8.69Major
Sep 1, 2012Wolf River above Gulfport16.50+8.50Major
Jun 19, 2026Wolf River above Gulfport15.93+7.93Major
May 10, 1995Wolf River above Gulfport15.39+7.39Major
Apr 15, 2021Biloxi River near Wortham23.26+7.26Major
Aug 30, 2012Biloxi River near Lyman19.23+7.23Major
Sep 1, 1957Biloxi River near Lyman18.50+6.50Major
Sep 29, 1998Biloxi River near Lyman18.24+6.24Major
Aug 31, 2012Wolf River near Landon31.31+4.31Major
Aug 16, 1987Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville16.80+8.80Moderate
Apr 2, 2005Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville16.20+8.20Moderate
Aug 30, 2021Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville15.96+7.96Moderate
May 22, 1980Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville15.94+7.94Moderate
Mar 31, 1980Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville15.40+7.40Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Biloxi River near Lyman12.021.21 ftJun 19, 20265
Biloxi River near Wortham16.028.94 ftMay 9, 19959
Tchoutacabouffa River near D Iberville8.019.00 ftSep 30, 19982
Wolf River above Gulfport8.016.50 ftSep 1, 20123
Wolf River near Landon27.031.31 ftAug 31, 20121
  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 82 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 9 months.

The drought index is for Harrison County, the county that contains Long Beach.

82

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

13

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

15

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

August 2000

−5.23, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

9 months

February 2000 to October 2000.

Latest month

September 2026

+1.18, slightly wet

Last severe month: November 2023.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 1 1899: 3 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 3 1903: 0 1904: 4 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 2 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 3 1925: 2 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 3 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 1 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 8 1955: 1 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 4 1963: 5 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 3 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 9 9 1982: 1 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 1 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: 0 2000: 9 2001: 2 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 8 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 4 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 3 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

1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1975; none reached magnitude 4.

0

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

September 9, 1975

Magnitude 2.9

11 km WNW of Saucier, Mississippi; 21.8 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

697 events in the National Weather Service record for Harrison County, 554 of them since 1996.

68

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

138

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

9

Winter weather events since 1996

45

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

January 24, 1997

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 14, 1964

92 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Storm surge and tide2010Sep 11, 2024
Lightning1921Jun 24, 2024

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 29, 2005Storm Surge/Tide, Harrison$5.6 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Storm surge damage across coastal Mississippi was catastrophic and approached or exceeded the surge associated with Hurricane Camille and impacted a much more extensive area. Almost total destruction was observed along the immediate coast in Hancock and Harrison Counties with storm surge damage extending north along bays and bayous to Interstate Highway 10 in some instances. Thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed by the storm surge. Most tide gages were destroyed by the storm surge so storm surge was determined primarily by post storm high water mark surveys conducted by FEMA. An estimated storm surge of approximately 23.0 feet occurred at the Hancock County EOC…

  2. Aug 28, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Harrison$2.9 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Katrina was one of the strongest and most destructive hurricanes on record to impact the coast of the United States. It will likely be recorded as one the worst natural disaster in the history of the United States to date resulting in catastrophic damage and numerous casualties in southeast Louisiana and along the Mississippi coast. Damage and casualties resulting from Hurricane Katrina extended as far east as Alabama and the panhandle of Florida. Katrina developed from a tropical depression southeast of the Bahamas on August 24th. After moving through the Bahamas as a tropical storm, Katrina strengthened to a category 1 hurricane prior to landfall in south Florida…

  3. Sep 27, 1998Hurricane (Typhoon), Harrison$210 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Georges, a strong Category 2 hurricane moved slowly northwest across the Gulf of Mexico toward southeast Louisiana and coastal Mississippi on the September 25 and September 26. As the hurricane approached the mouth of the Mississippi River on September 27, it slowly turned toward the north making landfall along the Mississippi Coast just to the east of Biloxi, MS at 0400 CST on September 28. The hurricane moved only slowly north during the morning hours, at times becoming nearly stationary. The hurricane finally was downgraded to a tropical storm at 1500CST on September 28 when it was located north of Biloxi. The tropical storm then moved very slowly eastward into…

  4. Oct 28, 2020Hurricane (Typhoon), Harrison$40.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Zeta produced hurricane force winds with wind gusts nearing or exceeding 100 mph, especially along the coast. Away from the coast, most places experienced sustained tropical storm force winds with at least a few hurricane force wind gusts. The winds caused widespread damage across the county. Thousands of homes suffered at least minor damage throughout the county with the worst damage near the coast. In that area, numerous homes suffered moderate to major damage, some from falling trees. One direct fatality was the result of a man drowning in storm surge near the Broadwater Marina. One indirect fatality was the result of a motorcyclist hitting a low hanging power line…

  5. Oct 28, 2020Storm Surge/Tide, Harrison$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Storm surge flooded portions of US HWY 90/Beach Boulevard and other low lying areas near the coast. While there are no official gauges on the immediate coast in Harrison county, high water marks suggest peak water levels of at least 10 ft NAVD88, though inundation depths vary by location. The storm surge also resulted in one drowning death in Biloxi.

  6. Sep 1, 2008Hurricane (Typhoon), Harrison$6.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane force wind gusts knocked down numerous tree limbs and a number of trees and utility poles around the county. Nearly 700 hundred structures were affected by the storm with 16 being destroyed and 7 receiving major damage.

  7. Sep 25, 2002Tropical Storm, Harrison$6.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Isidore moved steadily northward across the central Gulf of Mexico on September 24th and September 25th before making landfall near Grand Isle, Louisiana during the early morning of September 26th. The tropical storm moved north across southeast Louisiana and by the evening of the 26th was located in central Mississippi where it was downgraded to a tropical depression. Tropical Storm Isidore had a large circulation with tropical storm force winds extending several hundred miles from its center. Prior to moving onto the Yucatan Peninsula earlier in the week and weakening, Isidore was classified as a major hurricane.The large circulation caused a significant storm…

  8. Jul 5, 2005Tropical Storm, Harrison$3.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Cindy developed from a tropical depression that formed over the extreme western Caribbean Sea on July 3. This depression moved northwest over the Yucatan Peninsula and emerged over the south central Gulf of Mexico on July 4. On July 5th the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and moved north toward the southeast Louisiana coast and reached hurricane strength for a short period of time. Cindy made landfall in southeast Louisiana as a minimal hurricane early on July 6th just to the west of Grand Isle. Cindy then turned toward the northeast and weakened to a tropical storm as it moved onto the Mississippi coast before dissipating inland over central Alabama later…

  9. Nov 24, 2004Tornado$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado traveled east to west on path along Dedeaux Road between Highway 49 and Three Rivers Road in the Orange Grove community. Most of the damage was rated a F1 intensity by a NWS ground survey, however there were areas of F2 damage. A large church under-construction was heavily damaged or destroyed. Three homes and five businesses received major damage while twenty homes had minor damage. Early estimates were that damage would approach 3 million dollars.

  10. Aug 28, 2012Storm Surge/Tide, Harrison$2.1 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Isaac entered the Gulf of Mexico as a tropical storm on August 26, moving northwest after crossing Haiti, Cuba and the Florida Straits. Isaac moved slowly north northwest over the eastern Gulf . Isaac strengthened into a hurricane on the morning of the 28th when it was 75 miles south southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. Isaac made landfall in Plaquemines Parish as a Category 1 Hurricane near Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River on the evening of the 28th. A second landfall occurred near Port Fourchon the following morning. The storm weakened to a tropical storm on the afternoon of the 29th about 50 miles west southwest of New Orleans, and weakened further…

  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 Biloxi, 10 miles from the city centre, with records from 1893.

All-time high
104°F5 times, most recently Aug 26, 2023
All-time low
1°FFeb 12, 1899
Warmest night
88°F2 times, most recently Aug 18, 1975
Coldest day
25°FFeb 12, 1899
Wettest day
11.30 inSep 28, 1998
Snowiest day
6.3 inFeb 15, 1895
Hottest year
2023mean 71.4°F
Coldest year
1895mean 64.9°F
Wettest year
202191.63 in
Driest year
193834.64 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Biloxi 32°F 60° 43° 4.1 Jan 63° 48° 4.2 Feb 70° 54° 5.1 Mar 76° 61° 5.6 Apr 83° 69° 5.1 May 88° 74° 7.3 Jun 90° 76° 7.3 Jul 90° 75° 6.6 Aug 87° 72° 5.4 Sep 80° 62° 3.1 Oct 70° 52° 3.9 Nov 62° 46° 4.9 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: 7 1978: 10 1979: 3 1980: 29 1981: 17 1992: 2 1993: 6 1994: 0 1995: 12 1996: 1 1997: 7 1998: 9 1999: 8 2000: 22 2001: 1 2002: 3 2003: 0 2004: 4 2006: 8 2007: 2 2008: 3 2009: 9 2010: 12 2011: 15 2012: 4 2013: 5 2014: 3 2015: 8 2016: 0 2017: 2 2018: 4 2019: 10 2020: 5 2021: 2 2023: 45 45 2024: 25 2025: 13 1976199720082018
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 8.2.

Station Biloxi (USC00220792), 10 ft elevation, 10.0 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 2, 2026; 96.4% 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

37 since 1953. The most recent: Tropical Storm Arthur, August 3, 2026.

Declarations for Harrison County.

Federal disaster declarations
Aug 3, 2026Tropical StormTropical Storm ArthurMajor disasterDR-4930-MS
Feb 6, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4899-MS
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3640-MS
Oct 22, 2021HurricaneHurricane IdaMajor disasterDR-4626-MS
Aug 28, 2021HurricaneHurricane IdaEmergencyEM-3569-MS
Dec 31, 2020HurricaneHurricane ZetaMajor disasterDR-4576-MS
Oct 28, 2020HurricaneHurricane ZetaEmergencyEM-3550-MS
Oct 8, 2020HurricaneHurricane DeltaEmergencyEM-3548-MS
Sep 14, 2020HurricaneHurricane SallyEmergencyEM-3544-MS
Aug 23, 2020HurricaneHurricane Marco and Tropical Storm LauraEmergencyEM-3539-MS
Apr 5, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4528-MS
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3474-MS
Nov 22, 2017HurricaneHurricane NateMajor disasterDR-4350-MS
Oct 7, 2017HurricaneHurricane NateEmergencyEM-3393-MS
Aug 29, 2012HurricaneHurricane IsaacMajor disasterDR-4081-MS
Aug 28, 2012HurricaneTropical Storm IsaacEmergencyEM-3348-MS
Sep 22, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavMajor disasterDR-1794-MS
Aug 30, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavEmergencyEM-3291-MS
Aug 29, 2005HurricaneHurricane KatrinaMajor disasterDR-1604-MS
Aug 28, 2005HurricaneHurricane KatrinaEmergencyEM-3213-MS
Jul 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane DennisMajor disasterDR-1594-MS
Sep 15, 2004HurricaneHurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1550-MS
Oct 1, 2002HurricaneTropical Storm IsidoreMajor disasterDR-1436-MS
Jun 21, 2001Severe StormTropical Storm AllisonMajor disasterDR-1382-MS
Oct 1, 1998HurricaneHurricane GeorgesMajor disasterDR-1251-MS
Sep 28, 1998HurricaneHurricane GeorgesEmergencyEM-3132-MS
May 12, 1995Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, FloodingMajor disasterDR-1051-MS
May 17, 1991Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-906-MS
Jan 3, 1991Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-888-MS
Feb 28, 1990Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-859-MS
Sep 4, 1985HurricaneHurricane ElenaMajor disasterDR-741-MS
Apr 19, 1980Severe StormStorms, Flood, Mudslides & TornadoesMajor disasterDR-618-MS
Sep 13, 1979HurricaneHurricane FredericMajor disasterDR-599-MS
Feb 22, 1977SnowstormDrought & FreezingEmergencyEM-3032-MS
Apr 18, 1974FloodHeavy Rains & FloodingMajor disasterDR-430-MS
Aug 18, 1969HurricaneHurricane CamilleMajor disasterDR-271-MS
Sep 25, 1965HurricaneHurricane BetsyMajor disasterDR-210-MS

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 USC00220792.
  • 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.