Webster Parish
Population 34,948 (2025) 593 sq mi
Webster Parish has recorded 61 tornadoes since 1950, 16th most of 64 counties in Louisiana; the most recent was on July 8, 2024.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195061
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger18
- Major flood years since 19783
At a glance
The record for Webster Parish in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
8
64th of 64 in Louisiana
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F4
February 12, 1950, 82.6 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm Laura, 2020, 11.9 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 1.2 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
February 12, 1950
F4, 82.6 mile path
100 yards wide; 18 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Monday, July 8, 2024
EF1, 6.5 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 3.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 2024 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 2023 | EF1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 28, 2021 | EF1 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 2020 | EF1 | 6.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2020 | EF2 | 31.8 | 0 | 3 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF1 | 26.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 2019 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2018 | EF1 | 2.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2018 | EF0 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF1 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF2 | 10.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 8, 2011 | EF0 | 2.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 8, 2011 | EF0 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 2011 | EF1 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 29, 2009 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 2009 | EF0 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 9, 2008 | EF1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 13, 2008 | EF0 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 13, 2008 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2007 | EF1 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2005 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2003 | F1 | 7.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 13, 2003 | F0 | 3.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 26, 2001 | F1 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2000 | F2 | 37.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 1, 1999 | F2 | 7.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 1997 | F1 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 3, 1992 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 3, 1992 | F1 | 1.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 21, 1990 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 1990 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 15, 1990 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 1988 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1987 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1986 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1986 | F1 | 0.1 | 2 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1986 | F2 | 0.3 | 5 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1986 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1985 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1985 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 1, 1983 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 1982 | F3 | 23.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 3, 1978 | F3 | 60.0 | 4 | 2 |
| Dec 3, 1978 | F3 | 61.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1978 | F1 | 4.9 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1978 | F2 | 44.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 28, 1974 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 9, 1974 | F2 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 7, 1974 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1973 | F2 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1972 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 10, 1969 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1959 | F1 | 15.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 17, 1959 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 14, 1958 | F2 | 5.6 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 10, 1952 | F3 | 50.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 12, 1950 | F4 | 82.6 | 77 | 18 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Webster Parish: 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
8 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 27, 2020
Laura, Tropical storm
11.9 miles at closest approach, winds near 69 mph.
Most recent
October 10, 2020
Delta, Tropical storm
85.5 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Delta | 2020 | 85.5 | Tropical storm |
| Laura | 2020 | 11.9 | Tropical storm |
| Ike | 2008 | 84.6 | Tropical storm |
| Lili | 2002 | 70.8 | Tropical storm |
| Danny | 1985 | 74.1 | Tropical storm |
| Betsy | 1965 | 59.5 | Tropical storm |
| Audrey | 1957 | 37.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 52.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 10.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 14.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1918 | 68.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 90.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 99.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 73.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 3.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1865 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
- 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 here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 47 days
Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2021, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
13.8 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
6 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 23 so far in 2026.
- 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
223 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $7.2 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2016: 65 claims
$4.4 million paid.
2nd most
1997: 36 claims
$479,000 paid.
3rd most
2009: 36 claims
$1.3 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 71023 | 76 | $2.7 million |
| 71073 | 59 | $2.3 million |
| 71055 | 44 | $853,000 |
| 71039 | 21 | $745,000 |
| 71075 | 17 | $496,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood58
- Flood9
- Heavy Rain2
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
Most severe crest
March 12, 2016
Bayou Dorcheat at Dixie Inn, 25.95 ft
11.95 feet above the 14.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
March 4, 2021
Bayou Dorcheat at Dixie Inn, 22.30 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Bayou Dorcheat at Dixie Inn | 14.0 | 25.95 ft | 4 |
| Bayou Dorcheat near Springhill | 11.0 | 22.79 ft | 3 |
- 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 95 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 12 months.
95
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
24
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
51
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
August 2011
−5.51, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
12 months
October 1924 to September 1925.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.63, severe drought
- 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
3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.9 in 2026.
1
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
21
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
3
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
March 5, 2026
Magnitude 4.9
2026 Red River Parish, Louisiana Earthquake; 24.2 miles away, 1.5 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
August 21, 2026
Magnitude 3.4
0 km NNE of Edgefield, Louisiana; 25.3 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Mar 9, 2026 | 4.4 | 23.6 |
| Mar 9, 2026 | 4.1 | 24.4 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | 4.9 | 24.2 |
- 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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
915 events in the National Weather Service record, 663 of them since 1996.
165
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
21
Hail, 2 inches or larger
232
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
29
Winter weather events since 1996
91
Heat events since 1996
7
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
April 27, 1991
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
March 4, 2025
90 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 14 | 1 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 28, 2021Tornado$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
An EF-1 tornado with estimated maximum winds near 95 mph touched down just southwest of the Minden airport along Methodist Camp Road and tore through Downtown Minden over the course of its 2.5+ mile track. The tornado tracked southeast through the heart of Minden, crossing Main Street/Highway 79 in the Downtown area. Nearly all of the damage was limited to trees being uprooted or having large limbs and the tops of trunks broken with some scattered structural damage in the town due to tree debris falling on these structures. The tornado weakened and lifted as it crossed Fincher Road on the eastern side of the Minden city limits.
- Apr 23, 2000Tornado$800,000
National Weather Service narrative
About 200 houses suffered roof damage and numerous trees were either uprooted or snapped. Tree damage occurred up to 1 mile either side of the tornado track.
- Jan 11, 2020Tornado$750,000
National Weather Service narrative
This is the continuation of the Bossier Parish EF-2 tornado. This tornado weakened slightly as it crossed Pilgrim Rest Road, and tracked northeast before entering the southern sections of Doyline, downing hundreds of trees as it crossed Highways 163 and 164, before entering the extreme southeast corner of Camp Minden. The tornado then tore through the town of Sibley and the northern fringes of Dubberly, where it downed trees and power lines, damaged a metal barn, the roof of a home, and destroyed a shed on Wallraven Road. An 18-wheeler trailer was overturned at the South Webster Industrial Park in Sibley, and a building, fencing, and equipment were damaged at an oil field service…
- Jul 28, 2009Flash Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
The American Legion Hall in Springhill has 3 feet of water in it. Several cars were stranded along 7th street and several homes have water in them.
- Dec 16, 2019Tornado$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
This is a continuation of the Bossier Parish EF-1 tornado. This tornado, with estimated maximum winds near 110 mph, tracked northeast across Fuller Road, with damage confined to trees as it moved over Bayou Dorcheat and over Dorcheat Road. The tornado then crossed Highway 371 and Couchwood Road, where additional trees were snapped and uprooted, with a portion of one tree responsible for minor damage to a shed off of Couchwood Road. The tornado then moved across heavily wooded areas in Central Webster Parish that was inaccessible by vehicle, but tornadic debris signatures from doppler radar remained consistent within the tight rotation in the favorable area of the storm to suggest…
- Oct 4, 2009Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
High water was reported through much of the month as Bayou Dorcheat at Springhill and Dixie Inn, Louisiana rose out of its banks. The bayou at Springhill, Louisiana rose above the 11 foot flood stage during the morning of October 4th and remained above flood stage into the month of November. The river crested on the morning of the 16th at 20.5 feet. Considerable lowland flooding was reported. Below Springhill, Louisiana at Dixie Inn, Louisiana, Bayou Dorcheat went into flood on the morning of the 6th and remained above the 14 foot flood stage into the month of November. The bayou crested at a stage of 23.2 feet on the afternoon of the 18th. At that stage, the boat landing ramp…
- Jul 28, 2009Flash Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Two feet of water was reported over Main Street. Five to six businesses were flooded. Water was reported over 7th Street east bridge and water was nearing the top of second bridge in town. Major damage was done to several culverts and bridges across the city.
- May 2, 1997Flash Flood$325,000
National Weather Service narrative
Slow moving thunderstorms led to 4 to 5 inches of rain over a short period of time. This resulted in flash flooding with numerous roads underwater and flooding of homes in the town. Sixty separate sites were reported by the Public Works Director for the area. Bridges, culverts, blacktop, driveways, and dirt roads suffered extensive damage.
- Apr 5, 2005Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
This was a continuation of the tornado that first formed 4 miles SW of Fryeburg...and then crossed into extreme southern Webster Parish. This storm destroyed two mobile homes and damaged four other homes along with uprooting or snapping several trees along its path. Several power poles were alsodowned.
- Sep 1, 2008Tropical Storm, Webster$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous trees and power lines were downed throughout the parish. One tree fell on top of a home in Minden, Louisiana resulting in a small fire. There were no injuries. However, power outages were widespread across the parish.
- 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 Homer 1N, 17.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 109°FSep 1, 2000
- All-time low
- −1°FJan 12, 1962
- Warmest night
- 82°F2 times, most recently Aug 10, 1992
- Coldest day
- 13°FDec 25, 1983
- Wettest day
- 9.43 inApr 28, 1991
- Snowiest day
- 5.1 inJan 1, 2001
- Hottest year
- 1954mean 67.1°F
- Coldest year
- 2014mean 61.2°F
- Wettest year
- 200479.59 in
- Driest year
- 195430.61 in
- Snowiest season
- 12.5 in2020-21
Median first snow
January 19
Earliest: December 16, 1996
Median last snow
February 2
Latest: March 12, 2022
41 of 62 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Homer 1N (USC00164355), 215 ft elevation, 17.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 26, 2026; 93.2% 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: Severe Winter Storm, February 18, 2026.
| Feb 18, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4900-LA |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3638-LA |
| Sep 10, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3614-LA |
| Sep 13, 2021 | Coastal Storm | EM-3574-LA |
| Aug 29, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4611-LA |
| Aug 27, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3568-LA |
| Mar 9, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-4590-LA |
| Feb 18, 2021 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3556-LA |
| Oct 27, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3549-LA |
| Oct 16, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4570-LA |
| Oct 7, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3547-LA |
| Sep 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3543-LA |
| Aug 28, 2020 | Hurricane | DR-4559-LA |
| Aug 23, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3538-LA |
| Jun 7, 2020 | Coastal Storm | EM-3527-LA |
| Mar 24, 2020 | Biological | DR-4484-LA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3459-LA |
| Mar 13, 2016 | Flood | DR-4263-LA |
| Dec 10, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1863-LA |
| Sep 2, 2008 | Hurricane | DR-1786-LA |
| Aug 29, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3289-LA |
| Sep 24, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1607-LA |
| Sep 21, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3260-LA |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1603-LA |
| Aug 27, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3212-LA |
| Feb 1, 2003 | Other | EM-3172-LA |
| Jan 12, 2001 | Severe Ice Storm | DR-1357-LA |
| Feb 15, 2000 | Snowstorm | DR-1314-LA |
| Apr 9, 1999 | Severe Storm | DR-1269-LA |
| Jan 21, 1999 | Severe Storm | DR-1264-LA |
| Feb 28, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1012-LA |
| May 3, 1991 | Severe Storm | DR-904-LA |
| Apr 23, 1991 | Flood | DR-902-LA |
| Jul 17, 1989 | Flood | DR-835-LA |
| May 20, 1989 | Flood | DR-829-LA |
| Dec 6, 1978 | Tornado | DR-567-LA |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3031-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.
How this compares
Where Webster Parish stands among 64 counties in Louisiana and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 61 | 16 / 64 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 9 / 64 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 8 | 64 / 64 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 223 | 51 / 64 |
| Flood insurance paid | $7.2 million | 41 / 64 |
| Disaster declarations | 37 | 44 / 64 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 69 | 11 / 64 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 377 | 7 / 64 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 29 | 5 / 64 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $8.2 million | 60 / 64 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 7 | 23 / 64 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 95 | 44 / 64 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 13.8 | 11 / 64 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 3 | 5 / 64 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 1 | 5 / 64 |
Neighbouring counties
| Bienville Parish | 46 | 15 |
| Bossier Parish | 76 | 9 |
| Claiborne Parish | 33 | 9 |
| Columbia County AR | 35 | 7 |
| Lafayette County AR | 18 | 6 |
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 USC00164355.
- 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.