Caldwell Parish

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Caldwell Parish: 1.
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.

Every storm within 100 miles

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.

Smoke overhead

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.

Claims by ZIP code

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

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.

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.

Costliest events since 1996

1. Mar 8, 2016Flash Flood$4.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A 5-day heavy rainfall event resulted in massive flooding across all of Caldwell Parish in Northern Louisiana. Some of the more impressive 5 day totals across the parish were as follows: Columbia 4.1 NNW: 14.77, Columbia Lock and Dam: 9.60. The Louisiana National Guard was deployed by the Governor of Louisiana to assist local law enforcement in the massive response to the prolonged flooding event. These operations included evacuations, search and rescue, distribution and supply of water and meals, security and shelter support and distribution of sandbags and sandbag filling machines. In addition, 36 high water vehicles and 16 boats were called in to assist in the effort. Numerous…

2. Oct 31, 2009Flood$3.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Ouachita River at Columbia Locks went above flood stage during the morning of October 31st and did not crest until the month of November. Further crest information will be contained in the November Storm Data publication. Late on the 31st, the river was already at a stage of 65.6 feet, nearly a half a foot above the 65 foot flood stage. At this reading, the river reached the top of the lock elevation and the Riverton Recreational Area was flooded and had to be closed. Approximately $500,000 was spent trying to stabilize the levee during the bank stabilization project. Caldwell Parish was approved for federal aid as the parish was included as a Federal Disaster Area as a result…

3. Nov 23, 2004Tornado$800,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   THIS TORNADO EXITED LA SALLE PARISH AND ENTERED THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF CALDWELL PARISH JUST SOUTHWEST OF SPAULDING. NUMEROUS TREES WERE BLOWN OVER AND SNAPPED OFF AT THE PARISH LINE. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN F1 AT THIS LOCATION. THE TORNADO THEN TRACKED NORTHEAST TO THE COMMUNITY OF SPAULDING WHERE A FEW HOMES SUSTAINED ROOF DAMAGE. THREE MILES NORTHEAST OF SPAULDING...HUNDREDS OF TREES WERE SNAPPED OFF IN A RAVINE. THE TORNADO TRACKED FOUR MILES ALONG ROUTE 849 TO PARISH ROAD 730 WHERE TWO MOBILE HOMES WERE BLOWN 125 TO 150 YARDS AND DEMOLISHED. IN THE TOWN OF HOLUM...SEVERAL HOMES WERE HEAVILY DAMAGED WHERE THE ROOF SEPARATED FROM THE HOME. THE TORNADO WAS RATED AN F2 AT THIS…

4. Mar 21, 2012Tornado$500,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   An EF1 tornado touched down in Caldwell Parish west of Grayson along State Route 845 snapping a few trees. The tornado moved north-northwest and intensified to EF1 intensity as it crossed Hwy. 126 and paralleled McCrary Road where most of the damage occurred. 20 homes were damaged and 1 mobile home was destroyed. The majority of the damage was due to falling trees as the area contained numerous large hardwood and softwood trees which were snapped or uprooted. Several outbuildings and sheds were also destroyed, primarily from falling trees. Other damage occurred to homes and structures along Hwy. 165 in Columbia area was due to straight line winds or rear flank winds east of the…

5. Nov 29, 2022Tornado$450,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   An EF-3 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 140 mph touched down along Highway 126 in rural Southeast Caldwell Parish, just southeast of the Holum community. The most intense damage of the tornado occurred here as two residences were essentially destroyed. One residence was a one or two family residence which had its roof and most of its walls removed, with many interior walls collapsed. One injury occurred at this home, but fortunately, was not significant. A nearby single-wide mobile home was also destroyed from this tornado. In addition, many barns and/or outbuildings were destroyed in this general location and at least several livestock were killed. The peak 140 mph EF-3…

6. Oct 16, 2006Flash Flood$290,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Excessive heavy rainfall began during the overnight hours of the 15th and continued into the evening hours of the 16th. The rainfall resulted in widespread flooding problems across the entire parish. Numerous roads were flooded and closed including some secondary roadways which were washed out. Rainfall during the event ranged from near 10 inches in the northern portion of the parish to around 17 inches in the southern portion of the parish. A storm total of 17.06 inches of rainfall was recorded 2 miles southwest of Grayson, Louisiana by a cooperative observer. Flooding was reported in up to 217 homes and businesses across the parish. Water also flooded numerous automobiles across…

7. Apr 13, 2022Tornado$250,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The is a continuation of the Northeast Winn Parish tornado. This tornado intensified to an EF-2 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with estimated maximum winds around 115 mph shortly after entering Western Caldwell Parish in an area that remained inaccessible by vehicle. However, the Fort Polk dopplar radar continued to indicate a tornadic debris signature as the tornado tracked across Childress Road where the strongest winds were observed. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, with a couple falling onto homes in this area. Remarkedly, most of the homes avoided significant damage, as the densely wooded area shielded the higher winds from these homes. The tornado continued northeast…

8. Oct 16, 2006Tornado$200,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Damage consisted of numerous trees snapped and uprooted. Structural damage consisted of roof damage to a garage/workshop...two boats destroyed...two fifth-wheel trailers and one mobile home destroyed and a pre-manufactured home was moved 6 feet laterally from its foundation.

9. Jan 7, 2010Cold/Wind Chill, Caldwell$100,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Bitterly cold temperatures swept into the region during the evening hours of January 7th with a hard freeze being observed nearly through the morning hours of January 10th. During this period of time...overnight and early morning low temperatures were well into the teens with daytime high temperatures struggling to make it to the freezing mark. The cold temperatures froze water pipes of many homes throughout the parish. Some city and parish water lines burst as well resulting in many residents either without water for a short period of time or with reduced water pressure.

10. Sep 1, 2008Tropical Storm, Caldwell$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical storm force wind gusts resulted in widespread trees and power lines downed across the parish. There were also scattered power outages across the parish as well.

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.

All-time high

108°F4 times, most recently Aug 24, 2023

All-time low

−2°FFeb 2, 1951

Warmest night

84°FAug 4, 2010

Coldest day

16°FJan 10, 1962

Wettest day

10.86 inMar 9, 2016

Snowiest day

9.2 inJan 30, 1949

Hottest year

2023mean 69.0°F

Coldest year

1968mean 62.7°F

Wettest year

199178.64 in

Driest year

200531.13 in

Snowiest season

9.2 in1948-49

Station Monroe Regional Airport (USW00013942), 73 ft elevation, 30.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1930 to October 26, 2026; 99.8% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USW00013942.
• 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.