Lafayette, Louisiana tornadoes

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50confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lafayette since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: April 14, 2018, EF2.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Fromto

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025

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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Lafayette

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The record

At a glance

Total50within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025

Per year0.7average since 1950

Peak monthMay11 of 50

StrongestF3Apr 21, 1977

Deaths3whole paths, see note

Injuries58whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Lafayette.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

May is the peak month, with 11 of 50 tornadoes.

By time of day

Most often around 5:00 AM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0

EF1

EF2

EF3

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

All 50 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
Date	Rating	Path length	Width	Deaths	Injuries
Apr 14, 2018	EF2	4.13 mi	650 yd	0	0
Aug 29, 2017	EF0	0.6 mi	25 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2017	EF1	0.06 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jan 10, 2013	EF1	2.06 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jan 25, 2012	EF0	0.15 mi	10 yd	0	0
Sep 3, 2011	EF0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 15, 2008	EF1	3.79 mi	50 yd	0	1
May 15, 2008	EF1	0.85 mi	100 yd	0	0
May 15, 2008	EF0	0.69 mi	25 yd	0	0
May 15, 2008	EF2	7.6 mi	200 yd	0	0
Feb 13, 2007	EF2	4.31 mi	300 yd	0	3
Feb 13, 2007	EF1	2.16 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 29, 2006	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Dec 9, 2004	F1	7 mi	50 yd	0	1
Jan 25, 2004	F2	1 mi	10 yd	0	3
Oct 3, 2002	F0	1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 2002	F0	1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 2002	F0	1 mi	20 yd	0	0
Sep 12, 1998	F0	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Sep 11, 1998	F0	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Nov 21, 1997	F1	3 mi	200 yd	0	1
Jan 6, 1995	F1	5 mi	30 yd	0	8
May 28, 1994	F1	2 mi	73 yd	0	0
Jun 13, 1992	F2	6 mi	60 yd	0	0
Jan 12, 1992	F1	2 mi	23 yd	0	0
May 15, 1991	F0	0.2 mi	20 yd	0	0
May 18, 1989	F1	0.4 mi	30 yd	0	0
May 18, 1989	F1	0.4 mi	30 yd	0	0
Oct 2, 1988	F0	0.2 mi	23 yd	0	0
Jun 18, 1988	F1	0.4 mi	20 yd	0	0
May 21, 1988	F0	0.3 mi	330 yd	0	0
Mar 2, 1988	F1	0.8 mi	73 yd	0	0
Dec 10, 1983	F1	0.5 mi	100 yd	0	3
Oct 18, 1980	F2	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	4
May 7, 1978	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 6, 1977	F1	23.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Apr 21, 1977	F3	3.8 mi	440 yd	1	11
Mar 28, 1977	F2	12 mi	100 yd	0	1
May 8, 1975	F1	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	2
Apr 30, 1975	F1	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	2
Apr 30, 1975	F1	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jan 7, 1975	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 29, 1974	F3	7.3 mi	167 yd	0	1
Dec 6, 1969	F2	0.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jul 10, 1969	F1	0.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jan 8, 1965	F2	1 mi	33 yd	0	0
Feb 17, 1960	F1	10.6 mi	183 yd	0	0
Jun 14, 1959	F1	17 mi	450 yd	0	2
Nov 7, 1957	F1	2 mi	50 yd	2	13
Nov 21, 1953	F2	20.4 mi	300 yd	0	2

Nearby

Lafayette and its county

Lafayette is in Lafayette Parish, where NOAA has recorded 43 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.