Hurricane Risk for Lake Charles, LA
INVEST 97L is currently 283 mi from Lake Charles.
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Since 1854, 143 hurricanes and tropical storms have passed within 150 miles of Lake Charles. Here's what you should know.
Local note: Located on a low-lying estuarine lake and near the Gulf, Lake Charles is especially vulnerable to catastrophic storm surge and hurricane-force winds — recent close impacts from Hurricane Laura (2020) and the Cat 4/5 sequence in 2020–2024 underscore surge and extreme wind as the defining risks.
By the numbers
Total storms
143
since 1854
Major (Cat 3+)
33
at closest approach
Hurricanes (Cat 1+)
71
all categories
County
Calcasieu Parish
Louisiana
Most recent hurricane
Francine (2024)
Passed within 130 miles of Lake Charles on September 11, 2024. Peak intensity: Cat 2 (103 mph).
The full risk breakdown for Lake Charles
See the strongest and closest hurricanes ever to pass nearby, the month-by-month climatology of when storms hit Lake Charles, the notable storms of the last 20 years, and any active-storm threat — plus free location-based alerts.
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Preparedness
- Know your zone. Lake Charles is in Calcasieu Parish — look up your evacuation zone here.
- Get alerts early. Sign up below — we'll notify you when storms first form in the basin, not just when they're at your doorstep.
- Have 3+ days of supplies. Water (1 gal/person/day), non-perishable food, medications, flashlights, batteries, cash.
- Have an evacuation plan. Know where you'll go, how you'll get there, what you'll bring.
- Follow official orders. If your zone is told to evacuate, leave. Don't wait.