Tornado History
Lafayette Tornado History
This county-level tornado history page focuses on Lafayette, Louisiana. The records below identify 41 tornadoes from 1953 through 2018, including a highest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage). NOAA damage estimates in this group total at least $40.6M, with 2 deaths and 33 injuries recorded across the listed events.
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Key Tornado Statistics
Key Tornado Facts for Lafayette, Louisiana
Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.
Average 0.6 tornadoes per year (0.3/yr in last decade)
May is the peak tornado month with 8 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F1 in Lafayette, Louisiana with 2 deaths
1975 was the most active year with 4 tornadoes
The 2000s had the most tornado activity (10 events)
Longest tornado: 12 miles in Lafayette, Louisiana
Widest tornado: 650.0 yards in Lafayette, Louisiana
Most tornadoes in one day: 3 on Oct 3, 2002
Monthly Distribution
Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.
Summary: In Lafayette, Louisiana, May is the most active month with 8 tornadoes.
Annual Tornado Trend
Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.
Summary: 1975 was the most active year with 4 recorded tornadoes.
Property Damage Trends
Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.
Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1988 with at least $25.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.
Historical Track Sketch
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Lafayette, Louisiana.
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Notable Tornado Records
The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.
| Date | Rating | Area | Length | Width | Deaths | Injuries | Min. property damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 29, 1974 | F3 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 7.3 mi | 167 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K |
| March 28, 1977 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 12 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M |
| January 25, 2004 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1 mi | 10 yd | 0 | 3 | $1.0M |
| April 14, 2018 | EF2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 4.13 mi | 650 yd | 0 | 0 | $750K |
| May 15, 2008 | EF2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 5.34 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $300K |
| November 21, 1953 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 6.8 mi | 300 yd | 0 | 2 | $250K |
| October 18, 1980 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 0 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 4 | $250K |
| June 13, 1992 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 6 mi | 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K |
| January 8, 1965 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 1 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| December 6, 1969 | F2 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 0.5 mi | 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| March 2, 1988 | F1 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 0.8 mi | 73 yd | 0 | 0 | $25.0M |
| November 21, 1997 | F1 | Lafayette, Louisiana | 3 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.5M |
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Source And Limits
Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.