Amite County
Population 12,487 (2025) 730 sq mi
38 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Amite County since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was Camille in 1969 (Category 2).
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 195038
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger65
- Wildfire burn scars since 19841
At a glance
The record for Amite County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
38
12th of 82 in Mississippi
6 at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsTornadoes since 1950
38
39th of 82 in Mississippi
About as many as the typical Mississippi county
DetailsAcres burned since 1984
734
28th of 82 in Mississippi
1 large fire; the largest was Unnamed, 1996
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF3
December 16, 2019, 30.3 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane Camille, 1969, 46.6 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
December 16, 2019
EF3, 30.3 mile path
880 yards wide.
Most recent
Saturday, December 28, 2024
EF1, 6.4 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 6.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 8.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | EF1 | 15.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | EF1 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 2024 | EF1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2022 | EF1 | 18.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2019 | EF3 | 30.3 | 3 | 0 |
| May 9, 2019 | EF1 | 5.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 9, 2019 | EF0 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 1, 2018 | EF0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 22, 2017 | EF0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF1 | 5.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF1 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF1 | 2.8 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2010 | EF0 | 4.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 2009 | EF1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 2008 | EF1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 9, 2006 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 1996 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1995 | F1 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 16, 1993 | F1 | 5.0 | 3 | 0 |
| May 18, 1989 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 19, 1988 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 2, 1988 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 1987 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1987 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 21, 1986 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1986 | F2 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 17, 1978 | F2 | 34.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 13, 1977 | F3 | 20.4 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 20, 1972 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1971 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1969 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1961 | F1 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Amite County: 0.
- 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
38 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 6 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 18, 1969
Camille, Category 2
46.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 101 mph.
Most recent
September 12, 2024
Francine, Tropical storm
19.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Francine | 2024 | 19.2 | Tropical storm |
| Ida | 2021 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Claudette | 2021 | 47.3 | Tropical storm |
| Zeta | 2020 | 67.1 | Category 1 |
| Delta | 2020 | 58.2 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 20.4 | Post-tropical |
| Isaac | 2012 | 35.8 | Tropical storm |
| Lee | 2011 | 32.2 | Post-tropical |
| Gustav | 2008 | 69.5 | Category 1 |
| Katrina | 2005 | 56.5 | Category 1 |
| Cindy | 2005 | 83.3 | Tropical storm |
| Bill | 2003 | 37.0 | Tropical storm |
| Lili | 2002 | 65.7 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 2002 | 41.9 | Tropical storm |
| Allison | 2001 | 57.2 | Subtropical storm |
| Georges | 1998 | 95.9 | Tropical storm |
| Andrew | 1992 | 7.6 | Tropical storm |
| Juan | 1985 | 69.5 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Danny | 1985 | 65.7 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1979 | 20.6 | Tropical storm |
| Carmen | 1974 | 96.8 | Category 2 |
| Edith | 1971 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Camille | 1969 | 46.6 | Category 2 |
| Betsy | 1965 | 43.0 | Category 1 |
| Hilda | 1964 | 27.8 | Tropical storm |
| Ethel | 1960 | 88.9 | Tropical storm |
| Esther | 1957 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1955 | 50.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 59.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 44.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1939 | 86.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1934 | 4.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 63.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 12.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 98.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1931 | 33.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 31.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 42.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 89.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 44.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 68.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 30.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 15.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1911 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 34.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 89.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 11.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1905 | 6.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 66.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 38.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 78.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1890 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 98.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 29.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 3.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 74.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1869 | 55.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 39.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 85.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 94.6 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1855 | 81.8 | Category 2 |
- 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
734 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.2% of the land.
Largest
March 23, 1996
Unnamed Fire, 733 acres
734 acres inside Amite County.
Most recent
March 23, 1996
Unnamed Fire
733 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Unnamed | 1996 | 734 | 733 |
- 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: 48 days
Heavy smoke on 2 days in 2018, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
11.0 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
7 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 18 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
24 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $195,000 paid.
Most claims in one year
1979: 10 claims
$88,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 39645 | 15 | $104,000 |
| 39638 | 7 | $66,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood10
- Heavy Rain1
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.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 105 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 12 months.
105
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
34
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
9
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
October 2023
−5.27, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
12 months
November 1999 to October 2000.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.22, moderate drought
Last severe month: October 2024.
- 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 2010; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
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
August 1, 2010
Magnitude 3.0
16 km ESE of Clinton, Louisiana; 17.6 miles away, 0.2 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
August 1, 2010
Magnitude 3.0
16 km ESE of Clinton, Louisiana; 17.6 miles away.
- 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
265 events in the National Weather Service record, 220 of them since 1996.
27
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
1
Hail, 2 inches or larger
50
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
18
Winter weather events since 1996
18
Heat events since 1996
4
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 31, 2005
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 10, 2014
70 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 4 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Aug 28, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Amite$73.0 million
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…
- Oct 2, 2002Tropical Storm, Amite$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…
- Aug 29, 2021Hurricane (Typhoon), Amite$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The county suffered widespread tree damage with mostly minor to moderate damage to homes and other structures as Ida���s center moved through the county. A few homes suffered major damage due to falling trees. Several roads, including some state highways, were blocked by downed trees or other debris. At the peak approximately 54% of the county was without power.
- Aug 12, 2016Flash Flood$590,000
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread rainfall of 8 to 12 inches led to widespread flash flooding across the southwestern half of Amite County. High water rescues were necessary in Gloster and Liberty. One home was completely destroyed and several roads and bridges suffered different degrees of damage.
- Oct 9, 2020Tropical Storm, Amite$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
Delta produced tropical storm force winds with peak gusts estimated in the 50 to 60 |mph range, resulting in mostly minor impacts to the county. Several trees and some power lines were downed. At the peak, roughly half of the county was without power.
- Dec 14, 2022Flash Flood$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
Multiple cars were flooded and water entered a few homes in Crosby.
- Sep 1, 2008Hurricane (Typhoon), Amite$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane force wind gusts knocked down numerous trees and tree limbs as well as a number of utility poles. Several structures received mainly minor damage.
- Aug 28, 2012Tropical Storm, Amite$250,000
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…
- Feb 14, 2026Tornado$180,000
National Weather Service narrative
An EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 100 mph tracked north of Peoria, MS in Amite County. The tornado began near Patterson Rd where minor tree damage was identified. This minor tree damage continued northeast becoming gradually more severe as the tornado approached Peoria Rd. Dozens of trees were snapped and uprooted near and northeast of Peoria Rd as the tornado reached its peak intensity and a width of 200 yards. The tornado tracked northeast, crossing Highway 24 and East Fork Rd. Numerous trees were snapped and uprooted along this portion of the path. Additional minor tree damage was identified beyond East Fork Rd and Pray Rd on high resolution satellite imagery as the tornado…
- Mar 3, 2008Tornado$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado moved along a north northeast path for approximatley 1.5 miles. The path width varied between 75 and 250 yards. Several large trees were blown down and uprooted with numerous large branches broken off. Several houses suffered extensive roof damage and several trailers were damaged.
- 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 Mccomb Airport, 19.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 106°FAug 30, 2000
- All-time low
- 2°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 83°FJul 29, 1990
- Coldest day
- 19°FJan 10, 1962
- Wettest day
- 10.98 inOct 4, 1964
- Snowiest day
- 4.7 inFeb 23, 1968
- Hottest year
- 2023mean 68.3°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 63.3°F
- Wettest year
- 200285.53 in
- Driest year
- 196336.86 in
- Snowiest season
- 7.0 in1967-68
Median first snow
January 19
Earliest: December 14, 1997
Median last snow
January 31
Latest: March 23, 1968
41 of 56 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Mccomb Airport (USW00093919), 405 ft elevation, 19.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 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.
Federal disaster declarations
29 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, February 6, 2026.
| Feb 6, 2026 | Winter Storm | DR-4899-MS |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3640-MS |
| Aug 12, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4727-MS |
| Oct 22, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4626-MS |
| Aug 28, 2021 | Hurricane | EM-3569-MS |
| Oct 8, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3548-MS |
| Sep 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3544-MS |
| Aug 23, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3539-MS |
| Jul 9, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4551-MS |
| Apr 5, 2020 | Biological | DR-4528-MS |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3474-MS |
| Aug 29, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4081-MS |
| Aug 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3348-MS |
| May 12, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1837-MS |
| Sep 22, 2008 | Hurricane | DR-1794-MS |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3291-MS |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1604-MS |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1550-MS |
| Apr 24, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1459-MS |
| Oct 1, 2002 | Hurricane | DR-1436-MS |
| Feb 23, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1360-MS |
| Nov 25, 1992 | Tornado | DR-968-MS |
| Feb 28, 1990 | Severe Storm | DR-859-MS |
| Apr 24, 1978 | Tornado | EM-3063-MS |
| Feb 22, 1977 | Snowstorm | EM-3032-MS |
| Mar 27, 1973 | Severe Storm | DR-368-MS |
| Jan 19, 1972 | Flood | DR-318-MS |
| Aug 18, 1969 | Hurricane | DR-271-MS |
| Sep 25, 1965 | Hurricane | DR-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.
How this compares
Where Amite County stands among 82 counties in Mississippi and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 38 | 39 / 82 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 2 | 64 / 82 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 38 | 12 / 82 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 6 | 12 / 82 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 734 | 28 / 82 |
| Flood insurance claims | 24 | 61 / 82 |
| Flood insurance paid | $195,000 | 65 / 82 |
| Disaster declarations | 29 | 24 / 82 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 11 | 78 / 82 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 123 | 72 / 82 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 18 | 54 / 82 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $79.1 million | 43 / 82 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 105 | 32 / 82 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 11.0 | 61 / 82 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| East Feliciana Parish LA | 18 | 38 |
| Franklin County | 21 | 29 |
| Lincoln County | 61 | 29 |
| Pike County | 34 | 35 |
| St. Helena Parish LA | 24 | 42 |
| Tangipahoa Parish LA | 77 | 52 |
| Wilkinson County | 17 | 33 |
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 USW00093919.
- 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.