Discover the Most Powerful Tornado to Ever Hit Louisiana

• Louisiana receives about 25 tornadoes per year or more.
• An F5 Tornado struck Louisiana in 1971, the only recorded F5 in the state.
• Almost 50 people and untold numbers of animals perished during the storm.

Louisiana is a southern state on the Gulf Coast. The state is home to a vibrant culture and marks the endpoint of the Mississippi River. Unfortunately, Louisiana is frequently battered by powerful storms. Strong thunderstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes are common in this area. While Louisiana is not counted among the worst states for tornadoes, it has received a few strong ones. Learn about the most powerful tornado to ever hit Louisiana including the twister’s wind speed, when it struck, and how much damage it did!

Is Louisiana in Tornado Alley?

On average, Louisiana is struck by about 25 tornadoes per year. Yet, Louisiana is not typically considered a part of Tornado Alley. Then again, Tornado Alley is a poorly defined term. In the past, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and South Dakota, were members of Tornado Alley.

These days, more states such as Alabama, Mississippi, and Missouri are counted among the states that receive the most tornadoes or the most powerful ones. So, the range of the alley could be expanding or simply shifting.

What Was the Most Powerful Tornado to Ever Hit Louisiana?

The most powerful tornado to ever hit Louisiana was an F5 that struck Madison and East Carroll Parishes on February 21, 1971. It was the only F5 tornado ever recorded in Louisiana. Meteorologists initially debated the tornado’s power. The twister’s status was eventually confirmed as an F5 on the formerly used Fujita scale based on damage assessments in the area.

The tornado touched down in Delhi, Louisiana while rapidly moving through the area. While it was on the ground, the tornado destroyed several homes and buildings. The tornado stayed on the ground long enough to move into Mississippi where it continued to ravage the area.

By the time the tornado had finished destroying the area, over 47 people were dead, and over 500 people were injured. However, most of those deaths occurred outside of Louisiana.

What Animals Were Harmed by the Most Powerful Tornado to Hit Louisiana?

The parts of the state that were struck by the tornado were home to a wide variety of animals. Given that some of the parish was used for farming and other parts of it were described as swamp-like, it is possible to surmise some of the animals that were hurt or killed by the storm. Not including humans that were impacted by the storm, the following creatures were probably hurt by the storm:

• Alligators
• Frogs
• Black snakes
• Horned owls
• Foxes
• Dogs
• Cats
• Turtles
• Rodents

Any animals caught in the twister’s path would have been harmed or killed. After all, they had little or no protection from the immensely powerful storm.

How Is a Tornado’s Power Measured?

The modern-day measurement of a tornado’s power is the Enhanced Fujita Scale. This measurement tool utilizes wind speeds as well as indicators of damage from the twister to determine the severity of the storm. Generally, the rankings on this scale are between EF0 and EF5 for confirmed tornadoes.

The following wind velocities correlate to the level of the tornado according to the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

The most powerful tornado to ever hit Louisiana was an EF4 or an EF5. Scientists would need more information about the level of devastation in the area. During the year when the tornado hit Louisiana, meteorologists used the Fujita Scale.

This tool ranked tornadoes between an F0 and F5, with an F5 being the strongest. Initially, the tornado was considered an F5. However, that ranking was disputed before it was eventually confirmed by meteorologists familiar with the case. Either way, the tornado was incredibly powerful as it easily destroyed homes and other buildings.

What Was the Deadliest Tornado to Hit Louisiana?

The deadliest tornado to ever hit Louisiana was the October 3, 1964 tornado that hit Lafourche Parish before the landfall of Hurricane Hilda. This tornado killed 22 people in Louisiana. People fleeing the hurricane ended up in Larose, Lafourche Parish.

The tornado struck and leveled several parts of northern Larose, leaving shells of homes and buildings in its wake. Not long after, the hurricane struck the region.  

What Was the Largest Tornado Outbreak to Hit Louisiana?

The largest tornado outbreak to hit Louisiana struck during January 1-2, 1999. A confirmed 13 tornadoes touched down in Louisiana during the event. Three of the tornadoes that touched down in Louisiana were F2 strength, but the rest were weaker. One fatality occurred in Texas during this outbreak, but none occurred in Louisiana.

The most powerful tornado to ever hit Louisiana was a very rare, powerful F5 tornado that claimed lives and property. Tornadoes are striking the area more frequently and possibly with greater power than ever before. However, new advances in technology can help people receive warnings and reach shelter faster than in the past, potentially cutting down on the number of fatalities and injuries.  

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