Grand Isle, Louisiana's History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Grand Isle most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 31st and September 6th

Years within or near core

1871br
1872ts
1875tsbr
1877
1879ts
1879brm
1885-3ts
1886brm
1887
1888
1889
1890ts
1892ts
1893
1893m
1895ts
1897
1900ts
1901
1909m
1915m
1916brm
1917brm
1920
1923ts
1923br
1926brm
1932tsbr
1934br
1936ts
1939ts
1944ts
1946tsbr
1947tsbr
1948
1949ts
1955ts
1956
1956ts
1957tsbr
1960br
1964brm
1965m
1969m
1974m
1979
1985ts
1988bdts
1988
1992m
1997
1998ts
2002tsbr
2002ts
2004tsbr
2005
2005m
2008
2009tsbr
2011tsbr
2012
2017ts
2019tsbr
2020ts
2020m
2021ts
2021m
2024br

70 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (C storms most likely to impact the area)

Flossy
Esther
Ethel
Hilda
Betsy
Camille
Fern
Carmen
Bob
Juan
Florence
Andrew
Danny
Hermine
Bertha
Isidore
Matthew
Cindy
Katrina
Gustav
Ida
Lee
Isaac
Cindy
Barry
Cristobal
Zeta
Claudette
Ida
Francine

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 33, 47.14%
H = 37, 52.86%

only 23.19% of all tropical systems affecting Grand Isle are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

7 years 1902-1908

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.19 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for at least a few hours)

Once every 5.88 years. (26 hits) State stats (older site)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 15.3 years. (10 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

103 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2026

This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year.

Last affected by

2024 September 11th Hurricane Francine brushes just west by 52 miles at closest approach while moving northeast with 85 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1877 September 18th 80 mph from the west
1887 October 18th 85 mph from the southwest heavy crop damage reported
1888 August `9th 110 mph just west from the south
1889 September 23rd 75 mph from the southwest
1893 September 7th 85 mph winds from the southwest just east of here
1893 October 2nd, 130 mph from the southwest nearly 2,000 killed, estimated 100 mph winds a 16ft storm surge. Hit map
1897 September 12th 80 mph from the east-southeast just south
1901 August 14th, 90 mph from the south-southwest a 6ft storm tide, washed out railroads and sunk several ships in the Pensacola Harbor.According to the Hurricane research division this was a category 1 at landfall.
1909 September 20th, 120 mph from the south, passes 65 miles to the west 353 killed in louisiana causes 5 million dollars damage 16ft storm surge, 110-mph winds propelled a 10-foot wave of water through the town of Dulac.
1915 September 29th 125 mph to 140 mph winds from the south just west 90% of buildings destroyed 275 killed a 12 ft storm surge here pressure 28.11, Burrwood reported 106 mph winds. Many drowned in low lying areas due to to ignoring evacuation warnings. Made landfall around 1:00 pm and moved north towars New Orleans with the eye passing right over Tulane university. Damage in nearby Leeville left only 100 buildings standing. This was the most intense hurricane known to the recorded history of this part of the country.
1920 September 21st 95 mph from the south-southeast, 1 killed here
1948 September 4th 75 mph (HURDAT) from the south-southwest
1956 September 24th Hurricane Flossy 90 mph (HURDAT) gusts to 110 press from the west-southwest, 29.03 very heavy rain & a 13ft storm surge
1965 Betsy September 9th 130 mph from the southeast, 81 killed a 15ftstorm surge pressure 946mb (HURDAT). Betsy page
1969 August 17th 170 mph (HURDAT) Camille hits from the south-southeast with a 17ft storm surge in this location(total devastation from a category 5 to the east of here, gusts here reported over 105 mph. Reanalysis of Camille
1974 September 7th 150 mph winds Hurricane Carmen from the south
1979 Hurricane Bob comes in just west on July 11th with 75 mph winds from the south-southwest. NHC Wallet
1988 September 10th Hurricane Florence hits with 75 mph winds from the south. NHC Wallet
1992 August 25th Hurricane Andrew passes just south while moving northwest with 145 mph winds. NHC Wallet
1997 July 18th Danny 75 mph from the west-southwest, pressure 29.21 inHg, minor damage actually intensified from a tropical storm to a hurricane over marshes. NHC Report
2005 July 6th Tropical storm Cindy briefly becomes a minimal hurricane while moving north.Caused some flooding, downed trees & widespread power outages. NHC Report
2005 August 29th Hurricane Katrina hits just east with 145 mph winds (est) while moving north with very heavy damage and surge. Highest wind in this areas was 114 mph at the Grand Isle C-MAN station 2.5 hrs prior to the eye hitting Buras. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Jim Williams from HurricaneCity.com predicts a hurricane hit for this area on June 1st 2005. | Newspaper article about winds | Color enhanced satellite vapor image | Track and dates | Our coverage as it happened
2008 September 1st Hurricane Gustav comes ashore just west with 110 mph winds while moving northwest 10 ft storm surge.A wind gust of 117 mph was recorded at southwest pass at the mouth of the Mississippi on September 1st. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Hurricane Warning Show | Gustav model history | Final report by NHC | USGS surge info
2012 August 29th, Hurricane Isaac hits from the southeast with 80 mph winds while moving very slowly. Surge & tidal flooding a problem with slow moving system moving north-northwest. Grand Isle gust to 84 mph sustained at 68 mph, Isaac model history | Huricane warning show | Radar at landfall | Final NHC report | USGS surge info
2020 October 28th Hurricane Zeta passes just west by 26 miles while moving north-northeast with 115 mph winds. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Hit map | Our coverage as it happened | NHC report
2021 August 29th Hurricane Ida passes just southwest by 15 miles with 150 mph winds but the right front eye wall hammers them extreme damage, storm tide 11.2ft. Hit map | Aftermath driving through Houma | NHC Report | radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | RAMMB-CIRA Satellite Library

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......