Ponchatoula, LA Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Ponchatoula is about the same as Louisiana average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Ponchatoula is about the same as Louisiana average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #305
| Ponchatoula, LA | 0.01 |
| Louisiana | 0.03 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Ponchatoula, LA | 0.0000 |
| Louisiana | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #226
| Ponchatoula, LA | 226.17 |
| Louisiana | 235.86 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 1,848 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Ponchatoula, LA were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 3 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 4 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 112 | Hail: | 368 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 2 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 5 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 2 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 1,166 | Tropical Storm: | 8 | Wildfire: | 0 | Winter Storm: | 4 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
| Other: | 173 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Ponchatoula, LA.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Ponchatoula, LA.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Ponchatoula, LA.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 70 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Ponchatoula, LA.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 1.7 | 1977-09-05 | 2 | 30°25'N / 90°26'W | 1.70 Miles | 70 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | Tangipahoa | |
| 6.3 | 1953-02-06 | 3 | 30°30'N / 90°33'W | 30°32'N / 90°27'W | 6.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Tangipahoa |
| 6.6 | 1971-09-16 | 2 | 30°28'N / 90°20'W | 30°31'N / 90°22'W | 4.10 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Tangipahoa |
| 8.4 | 1977-11-29 | 2 | 30°30'N / 90°34'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Livingston | |
| 11.4 | 1953-02-06 | 3 | 30°29'N / 90°42'W | 30°30'N / 90°33'W | 9.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 2 | 21 | 2.5M | 0 | Livingston |
| 11.7 | 1992-02-15 | 2 | 30°35'N / 90°33'W | 0.80 Mile | 527 Yards | 0 | 10 | 2.5M | 0 | Tangipahoa | |
| 17.1 | 1971-09-19 | 2 | 30°41'N / 90°30'W | 0.20 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Tangipahoa | |
| 18.2 | 1997-11-21 | 2 | 30°29'N / 90°13'W | 30°29'N / 90°04'W | 9.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 43 | 3.5M | 0 | St. Tammany |
| Brief Description: A severe thunderstorm produced a tornado as it moved into St. Tammany Parish. The tornado was first observed by the State Police on Interstate Highway 12 west of Covington. From data collected on a ground, damage survey by the National Weather Service, the tornado moved on a path slightly north of due east. The tornado moved across the downtown area of Covington and continued east for nearly 2 miles before lifting off the ground. Most of the damage along path indicated F1 damage, however, several areas near downtown Covington were classified as F2 damage. Parish officials reported 43 injuries were reported with tornado, though most were relatively minor. Six persons required and overnight stay in a hospital, including three pregnant women. Most of the damage to homes was due to large pine trees which had been toppled onto houses. In downtown Covington, a few large buildings lost roofs, had windows blown out, or suffered substantial damage. A large parish building suffered $500,000 damage. Media reports indicated cleanup would cost several million dollars. Just east of the downtown area, several cars were lifted and moved tens of feet by the tornado, and an empty tractor-trailer truck rig was blown over. Nearly 50 cars in a parking lot had their windows blown out by debris or by rapid pressure drop. The same parent thunderstorm spawned another tornado just south of Talisheek damaging a barn and a house. The damage path length at Talisheek was estimated. American Red Cross reports indicated 69 single family homes were destroyed or had major damage in St. Tammany Parish. Four public buildings were also heavily damaged. | |||||||||||
| 18.8 | 1964-10-04 | 2 | 30°23'N / 90°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 183 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Tammany | |
| 19.4 | 1973-12-04 | 2 | 30°42'N / 90°34'W | 30°43'N / 90°31'W | 3.60 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Tangipahoa |
| 21.4 | 1972-05-12 | 2 | 30°45'N / 90°25'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Tangipahoa | |
| 21.6 | 2006-11-15 | 2 | 30°45'N / 90°32'W | 30°45'N / 90°28'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0K | St. Helena |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down near the intersection of Louisiana Highways 441 and 1046 and moved northeast to Tangipahoa Parish line west of Arcola. One fatality occurred near the initial touchdown when the tornado struck a small frame house and close-by travel trailer. Both house and travel trailer next to the house were destroyed with debris piled about 25 yards to the northeast. A 43 year-old male in the travel trailer was fataly injured. The tornado continued northeast with damage primarily to trees, powerlines and house roofs. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Severe thunderstorms developed in the vicinity of a warm front that moved north across southeast Louisiana during the afternoon and evening of the 14th and in advance and along a cold front that moved through the area during the morning of the 15th. | |||||||||||
| 21.7 | 1974-11-20 | 2 | 30°38'N / 90°11'W | 30°35'N / 90°05'W | 7.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Tammany |
| 23.7 | 1961-04-09 | 2 | 30°42'N / 90°30'W | 30°50'N / 90°08'W | 23.60 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Tangipahoa |
| 24.7 | 1992-08-25 | 3 | 30°04'N / 90°27'W | 30°07'N / 90°37'W | 9.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 2 | 32 | 25.0M | 0 | St. John The Baptist |
| 25.2 | 1972-05-07 | 2 | 30°48'N / 90°22'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Tangipahoa | |
| 25.3 | 1961-11-22 | 2 | 30°05'N / 90°32'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | St. John The Baptist | |
| 25.3 | 1983-12-06 | 4 | 30°04'N / 90°31'W | 30°05'N / 90°25'W | 7.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 25 | 25.0M | 0 | St. John The Baptist |
| 26.6 | 1969-04-12 | 3 | 30°12'N / 90°54'W | 30°17'N / 90°45'W | 10.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Ascension |
| 27.1 | 1973-12-04 | 2 | 30°28'N / 91°10'W | 30°42'N / 90°34'W | 39.10 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 27.8 | 1989-06-08 | 2 | 30°40'N / 90°51'W | 30°38'N / 90°50'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Helena |
| 28.1 | 1975-05-08 | 2 | 30°45'N / 90°45'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | St. Helena | |||
| 29.5 | 1989-06-08 | 2 | 30°38'N / 90°54'W | 30°40'N / 90°51'W | 2.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Livingston |
| 30.4 | 1974-10-29 | 2 | 30°02'N / 90°15'W | 0.20 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson | |
| 30.7 | 1987-02-15 | 2 | 30°52'N / 90°30'W | 30°54'N / 90°28'W | 3.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Tangipahoa |
| 30.8 | 1972-03-16 | 2 | 30°02'N / 90°14'W | 0.50 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson | |
| 32.2 | 1977-04-20 | 2 | 30°25'N / 90°59'W | 0.20 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | East Baton Rouge | |
| 33.3 | 1980-04-13 | 2 | 29°57'N / 90°29'W | 29°58'N / 90°26'W | 3.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | St. Charles |
| 33.3 | 1968-09-17 | 2 | 30°50'N / 90°07'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Washington | |
| 35.1 | 1971-03-10 | 2 | 29°59'N / 90°13'W | 30°00'N / 90°07'W | 6.20 Miles | 300 Yards | 1 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 36.4 | 1971-09-16 | 3 | 30°27'N / 91°02'W | 30°33'N / 91°04'W | 7.30 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 36.4 | 1971-03-10 | 2 | 30°00'N / 90°07'W | 30°00'N / 90°06'W | 1.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Orleans |
| 36.9 | 1966-01-28 | 3 | 29°55'N / 90°19'W | 0.10 Mile | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | St. Charles | |
| 37.2 | 2004-11-24 | 2 | 30°18'N / 89°51'W | 30°21'N / 89°49'W | 4.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 4 | 750K | 0 | St. Tammany |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down along an intermittent path approximately 4 miles long on the northwest side of Slidell. A NWS ground survey indicated that minor damage occurred to the south of US Highway 190 and near Centennial Park subdivision. The tornado continued to track north-northeast with the greatest damage, F2 intensity, occurring just southwest of the airport. The tornado damaged about 152 houses in the Bel Air subdivision off Airport Road with nine of the homes being declared uninhabitable. Four people received injuries during the storm and were treated at an area hospital and released. A wind gust of 70 mph (61 knots) was recorded at the automated weather equipment (ASOS) at the Slidell Airport. | |||||||||||
| 37.7 | 1964-10-03 | 2 | 29°56'N / 90°13'W | 29°58'N / 90°07'W | 6.50 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Jefferson |
| 37.8 | 1964-10-03 | 2 | 29°58'N / 90°07'W | 30°02'N / 90°01'W | 7.70 Miles | 83 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Orleans |
| 38.3 | 1973-04-26 | 3 | 30°30'N / 91°05'W | 0.30 Mile | 70 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | East Baton Rouge | |
| 38.6 | 2007-02-13 | 2 | 30°00'N / 90°03'W | 30°01'N / 90°01'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 1 | 10 | 1.0M | 0K | Orleans |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado touched down just south of the intersections of Franklin Avenue and Prentiss Street and moved east northeast across the southern portion of Pontchartrain Park to the Industrial Canal. Roofs were blown off of several homes and the upper portions of two story houses were partially collapsed. One fatality occurred when a travel trailer was destroyed and the 86 year old occupant was fatally injured. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours over sections of southeast Louisiana well in advance of a squall line associated with a strong upper air storm system and cold front moving through the lower Mississippi Valley. These rogue rotating supercell storms produced tornadoes as well as large hail and isolated wind damage. A tornado in Jefferson Parish destroyed 23 houses and damaged 231 others. Tornadoes in Orleans Parish destroyed 32 houses and damaged 295 others. | |||||||||||
| 39.0 | 1961-09-11 | 2 | 30°20'N / 89°46'W | 30°20'N / 89°50'W | 4.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 25K | 0 | St. Tammany |
| 39.6 | 2006-02-02 | 2 | 29°57'N / 90°06'W | 29°57'N / 90°06'W | 2.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Orleans |
| Brief Description: The tornado which moved through the east portions of Metaire continued to move northeast through the Lakeview and Lakefront neighborhoods of New Orleans. The area where the tornado impacted had previously been flooded by Hurricane Katrina, and most homes were unoccupied. Several homes suffered substantial damage to roofs, windows blown out, and power poles blown down. Several two story homes suffered substantial damage to the second floor with roof removed and walls blown out. A large communication tower was toppled at a former state policebuilding. The tornado moved into Lake Pontchartrain as a waterspout. | |||||||||||
| 39.8 | 2007-02-13 | 2 | 29°54'N / 90°09'W | 29°58'N / 90°06'W | 6.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.0M | 0K | Orleans |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado crossed the Mississippi River form Jefferson Parish and moved on a northerly course through portions of the Uptown and Carrollton areas with continuous damage noted. The damage path became isolated as the tornado appeared to turn more northeast with damage to a warehouse noted in the Mid City area. Significant damage was observed to houses and commercial structures. The roofs and portions of roofs were removed from a number of houses. The collapse of some exterior walls was also noted. The damage observed indicated an intensity in the mid to upper range of an EF 2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated to be in the 125-130 mph range. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours over sections of southeast Louisiana well in advance of a squall line associated with a strong upper air storm system and cold front moving through the lower Mississippi Valley. These rogue rotating supercell storms produced tornadoes as well as large hail and isolated wind damage. A tornado in Jefferson Parish destroyed 23 houses and damaged 231 others. Tornadoes in Orleans Parish destroyed 32 houses and damaged 295 others. | |||||||||||
| 40.7 | 1950-03-19 | 2 | 30°06'N / 91°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Ascension | |
| 40.7 | 1965-01-22 | 2 | 30°06'N / 91°00'W | 1.00 Mile | 267 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Ascension | |
| 40.7 | 1976-01-25 | 2 | 30°06'N / 91°00'W | 1.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Ascension | |
| 41.2 | 1953-07-17 | 2 | 29°57'N / 90°02'W | 30°01'N / 89°58'W | 6.40 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Orleans |
| 41.2 | 1975-05-08 | 2 | 30°25'N / 91°11'W | 30°24'N / 91°05'W | 6.20 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 41.2 | 1981-06-22 | 2 | 29°57'N / 90°03'W | 2.30 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Orleans | |
| 42.1 | 1989-06-08 | 2 | 30°31'N / 91°11'W | 30°33'N / 91°06'W | 6.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 58 | 2.5M | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 42.1 | 2007-02-13 | 2 | 29°54'N / 90°07'W | 2.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.0M | 0K | Jefferson | |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A tornado moved along a northerly path from Lapalco Boulevard to the Mississippi River roughly following Avenue C and Avenue D. Significant damage was observed to residential and commercial structures that indicated an intensity in the mid to upper range of an EF 2 tornado on the Enhanced Fujita Scale with winds estimated to be in the 125-130 mph range. Some of the most impressive structural damage observed was to an older, two story motel building which had its roof removed and a portion of the second floor walls caved in. The tornado crossed the Mississippi River into Orleans Parish. EPISODE NARRATIVE: Isolated supercell thunderstorms developed in the early morning hours over sections of southeast Louisiana well in advance of a squall line associated with a strong upper air storm system and cold front moving through the lower Mississippi Valley. These rogue rotating supercell storms produced tornadoes as well as large hail and isolated wind damage. A tornado in Jefferson Parish destroyed 23 houses and damaged 231 others. Tornadoes in Orleans Parish destroyed 32 houses and damaged 295 others. | |||||||||||
| 42.1 | 1958-11-14 | 2 | 30°28'N / 91°09'W | 2.00 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | East Baton Rouge | |
| 42.6 | 1983-04-22 | 2 | 29°54'N / 90°06'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Jefferson | |
| 42.6 | 1965-06-27 | 2 | 30°21'N / 91°09'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | East Baton Rouge | |
| 42.8 | 1989-05-18 | 2 | 30°52'N / 91°01'W | 30°52'N / 90°55'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | East Feliciana |
| 43.0 | 1995-05-08 | 2 | 29°57'N / 90°00'W | 0.80 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | St. Bernard | |
| Brief Description: A strong tornado touched down briefly overturning eight railroad tank cars and heavily damaging several commercial buildings. Property damage was estimated. Tornado path width and length estimated. St Tammany Parish | |||||||||||
| 43.7 | 1983-03-20 | 3 | 30°58'N / 90°02'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Washington | |
| 43.7 | 1951-09-27 | 2 | 29°52'N / 90°08'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jefferson | |
| 43.9 | 1984-10-14 | 3 | 30°39'N / 91°09'W | 30°43'N / 91°06'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 44.3 | 1984-10-14 | 3 | 30°43'N / 91°06'W | 30°52'N / 91°02'W | 11.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | East Feliciana |
| 44.9 | 1987-02-15 | 2 | 30°29'N / 89°42'W | 30°31'N / 89°41'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Pearl River |
| 44.9 | 1977-12-13 | 3 | 31°02'N / 90°40'W | 31°07'N / 90°33'W | 9.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Amite |
| 44.9 | 1961-11-13 | 2 | 30°36'N / 91°10'W | 30°39'N / 91°10'W | 3.40 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | East Baton Rouge |
| 46.3 | 1989-06-08 | 2 | 30°31'N / 91°15'W | 30°31'N / 91°11'W | 3.50 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | West Baton Rouge |
| 47.2 | 1987-02-15 | 2 | 31°04'N / 90°09'W | 31°04'N / 90°06'W | 3.00 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Walthall |
| 47.2 | 1983-01-31 | 2 | 30°23'N / 91°14'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | West Baton Rouge | |
| 47.4 | 1960-02-03 | 2 | 29°48'N / 90°48'W | 29°50'N / 90°45'W | 4.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Lafourche |
| 48.2 | 1992-11-21 | 2 | 30°50'N / 91°08'W | 30°52'N / 91°04'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | East Feliciana |
| 48.5 | 2005-04-06 | 2 | 31°03'N / 90°20'W | 31°13'N / 90°17'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 2 | 200K | 0 | Pike |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near the community of Progress in Pike County and moved north northeast to the Barto area before crossing Highway 98 and moving out of Pike County and into Walthall County about 2 miles east northeast of Holmesville. Along its path in Pike County, the tornado destroyed a church and a couple of mobile homes, damaged a number of houses and businesses, and knocked down numerous trees. A meso-cyclone thunderstorm produced a tornado as moved on an intermittent path northeastward across eastern Pike County and northwest Walthall County. | |||||||||||
| 48.6 | 1957-10-23 | 2 | 29°56'N / 91°06'W | 29°56'N / 90°55'W | 11.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Assumption |
| 48.8 | 1982-01-30 | 2 | 29°59'N / 91°04'W | 3.00 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Assumption | |
| 48.9 | 1974-01-19 | 2 | 29°57'N / 91°02'W | 0.30 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Assumption | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.