Lake Charles, LA Tornado History — 147 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Lake Charles, LA had?
Lake Charles has had 147 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Lake Charles?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Lake Charles was an EF0 on October 25, 2025.
When is tornado season in Lake Charles?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Lake Charles, with 24 on record. April through June account for 54 of the 147 tornadoes on record near Lake Charles.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Lake Charles
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 58 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Lake Charles since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Tornado touched down west of Hwy 14 on Pinewood Drive where minor damage was observed to mobile homes. It continued southeast across HWY 14... damaging several large li (LCH)
Within 25 miles of Lake Charles. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Lake Charles
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Lake Charles and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on October 25, 2025 and the most recent on October 25, 2025. It is already counted in the Lake Charles totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-0 tornado touched down near the intersection of Palermo Drive and Evangeline Street in Sulphur. The tornado then tracked across McMurry Park and into the Maplewoo (LCH)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Lake Charles
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Lake Charles since 1950, across 1 event. 63 injuries have been reported across all events. 1970 was the deadliest year on record near Lake Charles.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on October 11, 1970, which caused 1 fatality along a 1.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Lake Charles
What the record shows near Lake Charles
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Lake Charles, with 30 of the 147 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 25 so far. The Lake Charles record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Lake Charles, 122 reached EF0 or EF1 and 21 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Lake Charles is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 4 near Lake Charles are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Lake Charles has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 58 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 12, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.