Rapides Parish, Louisiana tornadoes

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82confirmed tornadoes since NOAA records began in 1950 (the first here in 1951). Most recent: March 4, 2025, EF1. 2026 so far: 4 preliminary reports preliminary

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Map

Every tornado path in the county

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 in Rapides Parish

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The record

At a glance

Total821950 to 2025

Per year1.1average since 1950

Peak monthDecember17 of 82

StrongestF4Dec 3, 1953

Deaths16whole paths, see note

Injuries104whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can extend beyond Rapides Parish.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

December is the peak month, with 17 of 82 tornadoes.

By time of day

Most often around 11:00 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. This year so far: 4 preliminary reports.

By rating

EF0

EF1

EF2

EF3

EF4

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 82 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
Date	Rating	Path length	Width	Deaths	Injuries
Mar 4, 2025	EF1	6.76 mi	100 yd	0	0
Dec 26, 2024	EF1	1.36 mi	100 yd	0	0
Dec 26, 2024	EF1	1.93 mi	150 yd	0	0
May 30, 2024	EF1	4.12 mi	50 yd	0	0
Nov 20, 2023	EF0	2.83 mi	75 yd	0	0
Dec 13, 2022	EF1	7.3 mi	150 yd	0	0
Dec 13, 2022	EF1	2.74 mi	100 yd	0	0
Apr 7, 2021	EF1	0.88 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 22, 2020	EF1	5.36 mi	200 yd	0	0
Apr 22, 2020	EF1	3.85 mi	500 yd	0	0
Apr 22, 2020	EF2	8.98 mi	550 yd	1	0
Apr 22, 2020	EF2	8.43 mi	500 yd	0	0
Dec 16, 2019	EF3	62.61 mi	550 yd	1	0
Dec 16, 2019	EF2	3.56 mi	147 yd	0	0
Jun 20, 2019	EF1	1.76 mi	250 yd	0	0
Jun 20, 2019	EF1	0.94 mi	100 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 2018	EF2	7.81 mi	800 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 2018	EF1	9.17 mi	50 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 2018	EF1	3.34 mi	600 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 2018	EF1	9.49 mi	300 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 2018	EF2	37.89 mi	500 yd	0	2
Apr 2, 2017	EF0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2017	EF1	5.41 mi	500 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2017	EF2	6.11 mi	800 yd	0	0
Apr 2, 2017	EF1	7.29 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jan 2, 2017	EF1	1.4 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jan 2, 2017	EF1	0.54 mi	50 yd	0	0
Dec 21, 2015	EF1	4.26 mi	30 yd	0	0
Dec 21, 2015	EF1	4.5 mi	30 yd	0	1
Oct 31, 2015	EF1	7.03 mi	550 yd	0	0
Mar 28, 2014	EF1	1.52 mi	200 yd	0	0
Dec 25, 2012	EF2	0.77 mi	200 yd	0	0
Dec 25, 2012	EF2	4.62 mi	500 yd	0	1
Jan 25, 2012	EF0	1.35 mi	25 yd	0	0
Jan 25, 2012	EF0	0.88 mi	20 yd	0	0
Jan 25, 2012	EF0	1.79 mi	20 yd	0	0
Mar 8, 2011	EF0	2.71 mi	25 yd	0	0
Mar 8, 2011	EF1	3.47 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 8, 2011	EF1	2.18 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 27, 2009	EF0	2.56 mi	25 yd	0	0
Dec 9, 2008	EF1	3.48 mi	25 yd	0	0
Dec 9, 2008	EF1	6.11 mi	200 yd	0	0
Sep 3, 2008	EF1	0.31 mi	25 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 2002	F0	1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 3, 2002	F0	1 mi	15 yd	0	0
Jan 29, 1999	F0	1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jan 21, 1999	F2	2 mi	400 yd	0	1
Sep 12, 1998	F0	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Apr 14, 1996	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jan 18, 1995	F1	5 mi	20 yd	1	0
Nov 21, 1992	F2	0.5 mi	150 yd	0	0
May 16, 1992	F1	0.2 mi	20 yd	0	0
Nov 19, 1991	F2	10 mi	100 yd	0	1
Dec 21, 1990	F1	8 mi	150 yd	0	0
Feb 20, 1989	F1	7 mi	43 yd	0	0
Feb 20, 1989	F1	1.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jul 4, 1988	F0	0.2 mi	20 yd	0	0
Jul 1, 1987	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 21, 1984	F1	5 mi	100 yd	0	0
Dec 5, 1983	F0	0.5 mi	17 yd	0	0
Nov 19, 1983	F0	0.3 mi	50 yd	0	0
Dec 27, 1982	F1	0.5 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 12, 1982	F1	5 mi	200 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 1981	F3	4.3 mi	40 yd	0	10
Jun 5, 1981	F2	0.1 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 1981	F2	0.1 mi	23 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 1981	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 19, 1977	F1	1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 30, 1976	F2	42.1 mi	77 yd	0	3
Apr 29, 1975	F2	2 mi	50 yd	0	3
Aug 18, 1974	F1	25.6 mi	500 yd	0	0
Apr 12, 1974	F1	5.6 mi	150 yd	0	3
Nov 20, 1973	F1	51 mi	100 yd	0	1
Jun 22, 1971	F3	0.1 mi	17 yd	0	0
Nov 17, 1968	F1	0.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jan 22, 1965	F1	0.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Dec 3, 1964	F0	0.5 mi	33 yd	0	0
Nov 13, 1957	F2	1 mi	33 yd	0	0
Nov 7, 1957	F3	13.3 mi	67 yd	3	16
Oct 23, 1957	F2	18.3 mi	100 yd	1	1
Dec 3, 1953	F4	85.5 mi	300 yd	9	50
Jan 6, 1951	F3	16.8 mi	317 yd	0	11

This year

2026 preliminary reports not yet confirmed

Report date	Location	Rating
Mar 11, 2026	2 NNE Cheneyville	Not yet rated
Feb 14, 2026	2 N Cheneyville	Not yet rated
Feb 14, 2026	1 W Union Hill	Not yet rated
Feb 14, 2026	4 WSW Union Hill	Not yet rated

Preliminary reports from the Storm Prediction Center. One tornado can be reported more than once, and NOAA confirms the final record months later.

Nearby

Nearby counties

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025, and SPC preliminary reports for 2026. Page built October 13, 2026.