Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi'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)

Bay Saint Louis most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within or near core

1872tsbr
1877br
1879ts
1879br
1881tsbr
1885ts
1887ts
1888br
1889tsbr
1892ts
1893bdts
1893
1895ts
1901
1906
1907ts
1911bdts
1912bdtsbr
1912br
1914bdts
1915br
1916m
1923-2ts
1926ts
1932br
1932bdxts
1936ts
1939ts
1944ts
1947
1948ts
1955-2ts
1956br
1957tsbr
1960
1964bdxts
1965brm
1969m
1979tsbr
1979m
1985m
1985tsbr
1988br
1995brm
1997br
1998
2001bdts
2002ts
2003tsbr
2004brm
2005ts
2005m
2008br
2009tsbr
2011bdxts
2017ts
2017br
2018tsbr
2020ts
2020
2021ts
2021brm
2024bdts

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

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

Brenda
Flossy
Esther
Ethel
Hilda
Betsy
Camille
Bob
Frederic
Elena
Juan
Florence
David
Opal
Danny
Allison
Isidore
Bill
Ivan
Cindy
Katrina
Gustav
Ida
Lee
Cindy
Nate
Gordon
Cristobal
Zeta
Claudette
Ida
Francine

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 37, 57.81%
H = 27, 42.19%

only 14.29% of all tropical systems in Bay Saint Louis are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

6 years 1989-1994

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.39 years

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

Once every 12.75 years. (12 hits) State stats

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

Once every 30.6 years. (5 hits)

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

114 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 12th Tropical Storm Francine passes just west by 47 miles coming from southwest with 50 mph winds at closest approach.

This area's hurricane history

1893, 105 mph October 2nd from the southwest over 1,000 in Mississippi killed bodies washed ashore up to 1 month after landfall.
1901 August 15th 90 mph from the south-southwest passes just east by 24 miles.
1906 September 27th, a 110 mph hurricane weakening to category 2 passes just 33 miles east from the south. Quarantine station on Ship Island was devastated and lives lost. The storm ate one mile off east end of Horn Island, swallowing lighthouse and drowning keeper.
1916 July 5th a 120 mph hurricane hits the area for 16hrs killing 10 passes just east of here.
1947 September 19th 95 mph from the east-southeast passes 26 miles to the south.
1960 September 15th a category one Ethel with 80 mph winds (HURDAT) weakens while moving in. NHC Wallet
1969 Camille August 18th, passes directly over from the south-southeast as a category 5 175 mph (HURDAT) 900mb, major damage with a 22 foot storm surge in this area. kills 137 along the coast. Over 8,000 animals killed, 9,500 injured. | Damage photo | Camille headlines from New York | Newspaper headline | Surge reports | Camille remembered newspaper 20 yrs later | Advisory showing winds & size before landfall | Newspaper headline | Surge animation | Reanalysis of Camille | USGS surge info..
1979 September 13th Hurricane Frederic hits just east of here by 51 miles with 130 mph winds from the south-southeast. NHC Wallet
1985 September 2nd Hurricane Elena hits direct with winds of 115 mph to 125 mph from the east-southeast. Tornado rips off roof at shelter. 8 foot storm surge, heavy damage on shoreline. Gulfport, MS 8:00 am 9/2 60 mph 105 mph -- Ham Radio. Wind map | Newspaper headlines | Average model error
1998 September 28th, Hurricane Georges hit just east of here by 18 miles from the southeast with 105 mph winds pressure 28.76 this area had north winds of 90 mph recorded moderate damage in late September. NHC Report
2005 August 29th Hurricane Katrina hits this area hard with 125 mph winds just west by 15 miles from the south. Record surge accompanies this hurricane & kills well over 1400 in the strike area. Radar animation | Newspaper article about winds | Damage map | Jim Williams from HurricaneCity.com predicts a hurricane hit for this area on June 1st 2005. | Portion of our live coverage | Dramatic before & after photos from Mississippi: #1 | #2 | #3 | #4 | #5 | #6 | #7 | Damage shot | Illinois newspaper 9 months later | Color enhanced satellite vapor image | Track and dates | Surge animation | USGS surge info
2020 October 28th Hurricane Zeta passes just west by 21 miles closest approach while moving north-northeast with 90 mph winds. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) Hit map

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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......