Pascagoula

Population 21,409 (2025)

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

Hazard fingerprint for Pascagoula Tornado: 97th percentile. Tropical: 92th percentile. Wildfire: 88th percentile. Flood: 71th percentile. Hail & wind: 23th percentile. Heat: 83th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 8th 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 1950119
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger92
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198499
  • Major flood years since 1978, Jackson County3

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 Jackson 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 Jackson County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

119

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

50

20 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

99

Largest: Unnamed, 2013

Details

Flood insurance claims

11,325

Jackson County

$721 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

April 18, 1966, 23.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 5

Hurricane Camille, 1969, 48.6 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

36

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Record high

106°F

August 26, 2023

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

April 18, 1966

F3, 23.8 mile path

10 yards wide.

Deadliest

October 27, 2021

1 killed, EF1

0 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Sunday, October 26, 2025

EF0, 1.4 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 1 1 1960s: 7 7 1970s: 19 19 1980s: 11 11 1990s: 12 12 2000s: 13 13 2010s: 23 23 2020s: 33 33 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 4 F: 7 M: 13 A: 19 19 M: 15 J: 13 J: 4 A: 11 S: 3 O: 17 N: 6 D: 7 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Oct 26, 2025EF01.420000
Oct 26, 2025EF111.312500
Apr 6, 2025EF02.72500
Mar 30, 2025EF00.97500
Mar 30, 2025EF02.47500
Dec 27, 2024EF15.310000
Dec 27, 2024EF03.32500
Apr 10, 2024EF02.22500
Jan 9, 2024EF00.73000
Jun 19, 2023EF22.430060
Jun 16, 2023EF03.98000
Dec 14, 2022EF12.310000
Oct 29, 2022EF14.925000
Oct 29, 2022EFU2.82500
Oct 29, 2022EFU3.92500
Oct 29, 2022EF01.82000
Oct 29, 2022EF11.512500
Oct 29, 2022EF03.15000
Oct 29, 2022EF05.17500
Mar 30, 2022EF04.15000
Mar 30, 2022EF12.510000
Mar 9, 2022EF11.85000
Oct 27, 2021EF10.95001
Aug 30, 2021EF010.25000
Aug 30, 2021EF00.510000
Aug 30, 2021EF00.215000
Jun 19, 2021EF10.85000
Jun 19, 2021EF00.52500
Oct 10, 2020EF00.12500
Jun 24, 2020EF02.72500
Jun 24, 2020EF12.77500
Apr 19, 2020EF11.37500
Apr 19, 2020EF02.015000
Oct 25, 2019EF11.37500
Apr 14, 2019EF02.13000
Apr 14, 2019EF11.87500
Nov 1, 2018EF14.810000
Nov 1, 2018EF14.010000
Apr 14, 2018EF02.85000
Apr 14, 2018EF11.95000
Apr 14, 2018EF11.67500
Oct 22, 2017EF13.47510
Aug 30, 2017EF02.310000
Aug 30, 2017EF01.010000
Aug 30, 2017EF00.13000
Jun 21, 2017EF04.27500
Jun 16, 2017EF14.07500
Aug 30, 2012EF20.84000
Aug 29, 2012EF10.44000
Mar 22, 2012EF04.110000
Sep 3, 2011EF00.25000
May 26, 2011EF02.95000
Apr 4, 2011EF10.17500
Mar 9, 2011EF20.910040
Mar 9, 2011EF10.28000
Mar 9, 2011EF10.23000
Dec 24, 2009EF00.32000
Apr 2, 2009EF00.22500
Mar 26, 2009EF00.15000
Oct 22, 2007EF10.720000
Oct 18, 2007EF12.39000
Feb 13, 2007EF00.32500
Nov 15, 2006F10.53500
Oct 3, 2002F00.33000
Aug 7, 2001F00.82000
Nov 6, 2000F21.530020
Aug 20, 2000F00.53000
Jul 22, 2000F00.12000
Jul 16, 2000F00.12000
Mar 13, 1999F00.11000
Apr 29, 1996F05.02000
Jan 18, 1996F00.11000
May 10, 1995F00.15000
May 9, 1995F10.22300
May 9, 1995F11.03000
Apr 23, 1995F00.32300
Dec 3, 1994F00.12300
Mar 1, 1994F01.05000
May 25, 1993F01.05000
May 19, 1990F00.51000
Feb 10, 1990F12.03000
Sep 16, 1988F00.22000
Mar 3, 1988F21.23000
Jun 26, 1987F00.13000
May 21, 1985F10.26010
May 21, 1985F23.510000
Feb 1, 1983F10.37730
Apr 25, 1982F20.11030
Feb 10, 1981F20.55020
May 19, 1980F27.920000
May 15, 1980F00.11000
Apr 13, 1980F315.9400250
Apr 23, 1979F00.25000
Jul 29, 1978F10.54000
Jul 15, 1977F00.11010
Jun 1, 1977F00.110000
May 2, 1977F25.244000
Jun 1, 1976F10.23320
Nov 6, 1975F10.11010
Oct 15, 1975F00.11000
Jan 10, 1975F20.17000
Jan 10, 1975F12.53300
Nov 4, 1974F10.12300
Sep 8, 1974F00.15000
Jun 20, 1974F00.710000
Jun 13, 1974F00.11000
Dec 26, 1973F23.85010
Feb 13, 1973F11.34010
May 8, 1971F10.31000
May 8, 1971F20.11000
Feb 12, 1971F10.51020
Dec 21, 1969F12.712000
Aug 9, 1969F00.11000
May 8, 1969F10.11010
Apr 27, 1966F20.11010
Apr 18, 1966F323.81050
Apr 6, 1963F10.11030
May 7, 1960F20.110000
Feb 26, 1958F228.43010
  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

50 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 20 at hurricane strength, 6 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

August 18, 1969

Camille, Category 5

48.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 170 mph.

Most recent

October 29, 2020

Zeta, Category 1

58.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 3 80s: 5 5 90s: 4 00s: 4 10s: 4 20s: 3 30s: 3 40s: 2 50s: 2 60s: 3 70s: 1 80s: 2 90s: 2 00s: 4 10s: 2 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
Zeta202058.5Category 189Category 3
Sally202048.6Category 2109Category 2
Cristobal202089.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Gordon20185.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Nate201722.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Lee201161.1Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ida200923.6Post-tropical52Category 2
Katrina200562.6Category 3119Category 5
Dennis200579.8Category 298Category 4
Cindy200536.4Tropical storm48Category 1
Arlene200562.7Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Ivan200440.4Category 3120Category 5
Bill200386.1Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Isidore200279.1Tropical storm60Category 3
Hanna20026.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Bertha200276.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Allison200138.8Subtropical storm43Tropical storm
Helene200099.4Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Georges199816.8Tropical storm49Category 4
Danny199729.4Category 181Category 1
Opal199582.4Category 3117Category 4
Erin199555.2Tropical storm63Category 2
Florence198882.2Tropical storm69Category 1
Beryl198868.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Juan198535.8Tropical storm66Category 1
Elena198516.8Category 3116Category 3
Frederic197914.2Category 3117Category 4
Camille196948.6Category 5170Category 5
Unnamed196567.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hilda196417.7Tropical storm60Category 4
Ethel196021.6Category 181Category 3
Irene195957.2Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Debbie195798.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Flossy195652.4Category 190Category 1
Unnamed195537.1Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Brenda195564.7Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Baker195035.0Category 186Category 2
Unnamed194866.4Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed194863.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194771.5Category 2109Category 4
Unnamed194711.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed194415.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed193938.3Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed193994.4Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed193949.6Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed193774.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed193464.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed193253.5Post-tropical51Tropical storm
Unnamed193218.0Category 183Category 1
Unnamed19264.8Tropical storm70Category 4
Unnamed192326.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed192310.0Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed191987.9Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed191771.2Category 3115Category 4
Unnamed191669.0Category 2109Category 2
Unnamed19169.7Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed191594.1Category 175Category 4
Unnamed19148.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19129.0Tropical storm70Category 1
Unnamed191296.2Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Unnamed191120.6Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed190720.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed190786.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed19069.0Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed190481.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190269.7Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed1901100.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed190112.9Category 181Category 1
Unnamed19008.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189510.1Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed189441.2Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189312.9Category 298Category 4
Unnamed189387.2Tropical storm61Category 2
Unnamed189240.0Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed188933.3Tropical storm70Category 2
Unnamed188711.7Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed18879.8Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed18859.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188580.3Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188569.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188286.9Category 3123Category 3
Unnamed188114.2Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed188082.4Tropical storm61Category 2
Unnamed187965.4Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed187734.5Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187597.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187226.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187034.5Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186881.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed186778.0Category 2100Category 2
Unnamed186358.6Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed186040.9Category 189Category 2
Unnamed186019.3Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed185925.4Category 181Category 1
Unnamed185544.5Category 298Category 3
Unnamed18521.9Category 3112Category 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

99 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

February 2, 2013

Unnamed Fire, 7,655 acres

24.6 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 16, 2022

Jackson Co Bayou Cumbest Rd Fire

655 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1985: 1,9981986: 6,0781987: 5,4581988: 4,1091989: 1,2161990: 5,9231991: 4,6621992: 4,3781993: 8,4571994: 5,2341995: 3,5481996: 2,3291997: 3,5221998: 4,2281999: 2,7122000: 3,4952001: 6,3812002: 2,1972003: 3,7162005: 2,9132006: 4,8702007: 3,0642008: 11,5072009: 1,6082011: 6942013: 9,8632014: 6362016: 3,8952017: 1,6802019: 6852020: 9422022: 1,585 123,583 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Jackson Co Bayou Cumbest Rd20225.4655
See202221.6930
Deakle Road Fire202022.0942
The Williams Fire201922.2685
Unnamed201723.91,680
Grand Bature20167.23,895
Highway 613 Fire20149.3636
Unnamed201322.92,208
Unnamed201324.67,655
Dantes Inferno201110.7694
Cpt G 1420096.81,055
Cpt G 0920098.0553
Cpt O 02 S200815.9923
Cpt G 0620088.9659
Unnamed200824.52,231
Unnamed200821.71,564
Unnamed200822.25,095
Unnamed200812.91,035
Bayou Lb200714.13,064
Delaney200621.51,308
Campground Fire200617.22,278
Unnamed200622.71,284
Bay Fire200513.62,913
Cpt G 0620038.9646
Unnamed200316.0805
Unnamed200312.1838
Unnamed20038.2710
Cpt O 10200312.9717
Cpt O 03200215.7655
Cpt O 16 E200214.5985
Cpt G 0920028.0557
Cpt G 1220017.2744
Cpt O 02200115.01,426
Cpt G 0520019.0625
Cpt G 0620018.81,094
Franklin C20019.2983
Unnamed200111.5652
Unnamed200112.8857
Murphy20009.8891
Unnamed200020.8594
Sam Road20007.21,063
Fort200012.9947
Unnamed199923.6515
Unnamed199919.32,197
Cpt O 16199813.32,216
Cpt G 0319989.71,398
Thunder19987.2614
Cpt G 0619979.0668
Cpt G 1219976.41,231
Cpt O 06199715.01,027
Cpt G 14 B19977.7596
Cpt G 0519967.41,342
Unnamed199616.1987
Cpt G 0919956.91,022
Cpt O 07199513.82,526
Unnamed199412.92,182
Cptg 0619947.71,910
Midnight19947.21,142
Cpt G 1419937.41,714
Unnamed199321.16,743
Cpt G 03199210.5517
Cpt G 0919928.0638
O 02199215.9560
Cpt G 0819928.7771
Cpt G 0219928.7782
Cpt F 01199210.3511
Cpt G 1119926.4599
Cpt 0 12199112.9720
Cpt G 0619918.9663
Cpt 0 16199115.0931
Cpt G 1219917.8862
G 0519918.9753
G 1419917.4733
Unnamed199012.9725
8199016.1614
G 819907.41,122
2199015.81,092
G 919906.9577
G 319909.8714
6199014.51,079
Whiskey Ba19896.8570
Ben William19897.9646
Duck Pond198813.0541
Valentine19889.0636
Hebertpast19888.2612
Martins198810.2607
All Niter198815.01,132
Smoke Mountain19886.4581
G 1419877.4819
G 519878.9864
0 4198715.91,241
O 9198713.01,095
Unnamed198715.01,439
Airport198610.3870
G 1519866.91,885
7198614.6842
March Hare198615.9635
G 819867.21,846
G 9 Fire19856.41,998
  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 2 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.3 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

5 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 17 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 12 2012: 8 2013: 1 2014: 3 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 2 2019: 4 2020: 5 2021: 8 2022: 15 2023: 34 34 2024: 9 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

11,325 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $721 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Jackson County, the county that contains Pascagoula.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 22 1979: 271 1980: 188 1981: 118 1982: 23 1983: 134 1984: 11 1985: 156 1987: 38 1988: 7 1990: 47 1991: 15 1992: 7 1993: 41 1994: 11 1995: 44 1996: 44 1997: 27 1998: 1,978 1999: 6 2001: 42 2002: 227 2003: 20 2004: 28 2005: 5,414 5,414 2007: 7 2008: 77 2009: 237 2010: 14 2011: 45 2012: 839 2013: 203 2014: 18 2015: 80 2016: 32 2017: 241 2018: 12 2019: 16 2020: 290 2021: 215 2022: 10 2023: 20 2024: 11 2026: 28 197819831990199520012007201220172022
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2005: 5,414 claims

$640 million paid.

2nd most

1998: 1,978 claims

$30.1 million paid.

3rd most

2012: 839 claims

$16.7 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
395642,984$242 million
395671,819$139 million
395811,553$89.4 million
395631,332$38.5 million
395531,264$76.8 million
395321,092$99.9 million
39562940$29.0 million
39552120$1.9 million
39565100$2.3 million
38$140,000
3956831$900,000
3945221$265,000
395407$256,000
395016$17,000
395696$78,000
395665$5,024

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood42
  • Flood5
  • Heavy Rain3
  • Coastal Flood1

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 Jackson County, the county that contains Pascagoula.

Most severe crest

February 28, 1961

Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry, 20.10 ft

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

Most recent moderate or major crest

June 21, 2026

Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry, 18.53 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Feb 28, 1961Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry20.10+4.10Major
Mar 17, 2016Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry18.58+2.58Moderate
Jun 21, 2026Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry18.53+2.53Moderate
Jan 3, 2019Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry18.44+2.44Moderate
Sep 28, 1998Escatawpa River above Orange Grove11.90+3.90Minor
Aug 31, 2012Escatawpa River above Orange Grove10.90+2.90Minor
Aug 29, 2005Escatawpa River above Orange Grove10.25+2.25Minor
Jul 2, 2003Escatawpa River above Orange Grove10.16+2.16Minor
Mar 30, 2009Escatawpa River above Orange Grove10.08+2.08Minor
Sep 27, 2002Escatawpa River above Orange Grove10.04+2.04Minor
Jun 25, 2017Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.82+1.82Minor
Apr 4, 2009Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.75+1.75Minor
Dec 19, 2009Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.72+1.72Minor
Mar 9, 2001Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.56+1.56Minor
Jun 25, 2017Escatawpa River above Orange Grove9.49+1.49Minor
Sep 5, 2012Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.45+1.45Minor
Feb 17, 2013Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.34+1.34Minor
Jan 6, 2002Escatawpa River above Orange Grove9.12+1.12Minor
Apr 6, 2005Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry17.02+1.02Minor
Jan 13, 1998Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.99+0.99Minor
May 4, 2013Escatawpa River above Orange Grove8.90+0.90Minor
Mar 17, 2011Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.81+0.81Minor
Mar 27, 2021Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.69+0.69Minor
Apr 18, 2021Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.61+0.61Minor
Apr 16, 2014Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.61+0.61Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Escatawpa River above Orange Grove8.011.90 ftSep 28, 19980
Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry16.020.10 ftFeb 28, 19611
  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.

High tide flooding

Tide gauges in Jackson County.

Most in one year, Pascagoula NOAA Lab

17 days

May 2020 to April 2021.

Last ten years

6.4 days a year

At Pascagoula NOAA Lab, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

23 days

Since 2006, 4 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Pascagoula NOAA Lab 2006: 2 2007: 1 2008: 7 2009: 7 2010: 0 2011: 3 2012: 5 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 6 2016: 0 2017: 6 2018: 5 2019: 7 2020: 17 17 2021: 10 2022: 3 2023: 5 2024: 11 2025: 0 20062016
Days at or above NOAA’s minor high tide flooding threshold, each meteorological year (May to April) from 1920. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
  1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 74 of 1,581 months since 1895 (5%); the longest spell lasted 9 months.

The drought index is for Jackson County, the county that contains Pascagoula.

74

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

15

Months in extreme drought

5%

Share of all months, severe or worse

20

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

August 2000

−5.03, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

9 months

February 2000 to October 2000.

Latest month

September 2026

+0.55, incipient wet spell

Last severe month: April 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 1 1899: 3 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 2 1903: 0 1904: 4 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 2 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 2 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 2 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 1 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: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 7 1955: 2 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 7 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 4 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: 2 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: 0 2000: 9 9 2001: 2 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 8 2007: 2 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 5 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 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 and landslides

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

1

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

February 18, 2011

Magnitude 3.5

22 km SSE of Dauphin Island, Alabama; 38.4 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

February 18, 2011

Magnitude 3.5

22 km SSE of Dauphin Island, Alabama; 38.4 miles away.

  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.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Jackson County.

1

Landslides mapped, probable or better

1

With a recorded date

1

Source inventory

Mapped by NASA (1).

  1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

532 events in the National Weather Service record for Jackson County, 408 of them since 1996.

60

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

3

Hail, 2 inches or larger

70

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

10

Winter weather events since 1996

48

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

April 19, 1965

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 14, 2014

75 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Storm surge and tide2000Sep 11, 2024
Lightning1813Jul 12, 2013

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 29, 2005Storm Surge/Tide, Jackson$2.3 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), Jackson$1.1 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), Jackson$370 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), Jackson$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Zeta produced sustained tropical storm force winds across much of the county, with a few unofficial reports of hurricane force wind gusts. Widespread damage to trees and power lines occurred, with several areas becoming inaccessible due to debris. At least minor damage was reported to over 1000 homes, with several suffering moderate to major damage, mainly as a result of falling trees.

  5. Sep 25, 2002Tropical Storm, Jackson$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…

  6. Sep 15, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Jackson$6.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Ivan moved steadily northward across the the north-central Gulf of Mexico on September 15th before turning north-northeast and making landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane during the early morning of September 16th.Hurricane Ivan made landfall far enough to the east of the Mississippi Coast to minimize the damage to the coastal counties, however hurricane force winds did affect Jackson County. An anemometer on top of the Emergency Operation Center in downtown Pascagoula recorded a wind gust to 76 knots (88 mph) as the eye of the hurricane passed to the east of area. Tropical storm force winds occurred over Harrison and Hancock Counties with wind…

  7. Oct 2, 2002Tropical Storm, Jackson$1.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Lili, a major hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, during the daylight hours of October 2, 2002 moved steadily northwest around 15 mph toward the Louisiana coast during the evening hour. The hurricane weakened rapidly to a Saffir Simpson Scale Category 1 Hurricane by the time it made landfall during the morning of October 3rd along the south central Louisiana coast. The hurricane moved north northwest across south central Louisiana before turning northeast across the northern portion of the Louisiana. While Hurricane Lili made landfall in south central Louisiana, tropical storm force wind gusts affected nearly all of south Mississippi during October 3rd as rainbands moved…

  8. May 1, 2013Flash Flood$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rainfall of 7 to 8 inches resulted in flash flooding across portions of Jackson County. The Pascagoula Airport recorded slightly more than 7 inches of rain during the day. Many roadways and some homes were flooded. Emergency response crews rescued 20 people from flooded cars and 70 people were evacuated from Moss Point neighborhoods which flooded. Several residents were also rescued from flooded neighborhoods in Pascagaoula. In Gautier, two businesses and six homes flooded. Damage to county roads was estimated around $1.5 million. ||Evacuations occurred in portions of Moss Point due to flooding of a bayou and drainage canals.

  9. Aug 30, 2012Flash Flood$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Rainbands associated with Tropical Storm Isaac persisted over Jackson County during the overnight and morning hours producing torrential rainfall. Flooding of secondary routes was reported over much of the area. A number of high water rescues were necessary when neighborhoods in the Pascagoula and Escatawpa areas were flooded in the early to mid morning.

  10. Sep 15, 2004Storm Surge/Tide, Jackson$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Ivan moved steadily northward across the the north-central Gulf of Mexico on September 15th before turning north-northeast and making landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane during the early morning of September 16th.Hurricane Ivan made landfall far enough to the east of the Mississippi Coast to minimize the damage to the coastal counties, however hurricane force winds did affect Jackson County. An anemometer on top of the Emergency Operation Center in downtown Pascagoula recorded a wind gust to 76 knots (88 mph) as the eye of the hurricane passed to the east of area. Tropical storm force winds occurred over Harrison and Hancock Counties with wind…

  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 Pascagoula Lott International Airport, 7.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1997.

All-time high
106°FAug 26, 2023
All-time low
7°FJan 22, 2025
Warmest night
84°FAug 10, 2023
Coldest day
34°FJan 29, 2014
Wettest day
9.24 inAug 30, 2021
Hottest year
2024mean 71.1°F
Coldest year
2014mean 65.4°F
Wettest year
202192.28 in
Driest year
200041.48 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Pascagoula Lott International Airport 32°F 63° 40° 3.5 Jan 67° 44° 3.3 Feb 73° 49° 4.1 Mar 79° 55° 4.7 Apr 85° 63° 5.4 May 90° 71° 7.9 Jun 92° 73° 6.7 Jul 92° 73° 7.9 Aug 89° 68° 4.7 Sep 82° 57° 3.7 Oct 72° 46° 3.2 Nov 66° 43° 4.8 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 1998: 18 1999: 8 2000: 25 2001: 3 2002: 6 2003: 0 2004: 7 2005: 14 2006: 30 2007: 20 2008: 5 2009: 14 2010: 13 2011: 32 2012: 8 2013: 1 2014: 5 2015: 23 2016: 16 2017: 6 2018: 26 2019: 63 2020: 42 2021: 22 2022: 31 2023: 60 2024: 73 73 2025: 16 199820082018
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 21.0.

Station Pascagoula Lott International Airport (USW00053858), 9 ft elevation, 7.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1997 to October 27, 2026; 96.5% 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

36 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, February 6, 2026.

Declarations for Jackson County.

Federal disaster declarations
Feb 6, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4899-MS
Jan 24, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3640-MS
Aug 12, 2023Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes.Major disasterDR-4727-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
May 12, 2009Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1837-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
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 USW00053858.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, 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.
  • Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
  • 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.