Hurricane Laura (2020)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

August 20, 2020 to August 29, 2020

Peak strength

Category 4, 130 kt (150 mph)

Lowest pressure

937 mb (27.67 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

12.9

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

180 nmi (333 km, 207 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

60 nmi (111 km, 69 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

15 nmi (28 km, 17 mi)

Overall size

200 nmi (370 km, 230 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

160 kt (184 mph)

Fastest the center moved

28 kt (32 mph)

Identifier

AL132020

Radar at KLCH as it neared land, Aug 27, 06:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

3 (3 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

4

Property damage

$1.6 million

Crop damage

$7,000

Events recorded

238 in 35 reports from 19 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

78 tropical storm, 56 thunderstorm wind, 34 flash flood, 28 marine thunderstorm wind, 12 tornado, 9 storm surge/tide, 6 hurricane (typhoon), 4 strong wind, 4 flood, 3 hail, 2 marine tropical storm, 1 heavy rain, 1 high surf.

12 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 6,072 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 11.74 inches (298 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Two people were trapped along Charco el Moron in Ciales due to a water surge. Between 2 and 5 inches of rain fell across the area according to doppler radar estimates. In addition, Road PR-615 KM 7 in Barrio Toro Negro was reported flooded.

Ciales, Puerto Rico · Flash Flood · Aug 22, 21:30 UTC

Widespread tropical storm force winds in association with Hurricane Laura, which was passing along the south coast of Cuba and later turning northwest across western Cuba while at tropical storm intensity, occurred in the Straits of Florida offshore the Lower Florida Keys. Peak sustained winds were measured at 45 knots (52 mph) with gusts to 50 knots (58 mph) at the new Sand Key Light C-MAN station.

Straits of Florida From West End of Seven Mile Bridge To South of Halfmoon Shoal Out 20 Nm, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 24, 11:00 UTC

Hurricane Laura, while still at tropical storm intensity, passed well south and southwest of the Florida Keys while tracking just off the south coast of Cuba, then turning northwest and crossing western Cuba west of Havana. Sustained tropical storm force winds peaked at 34 knots (39 mph) at Key West International Airport, with a peak gust of 41 knots (47 mph). Other notable peak wind gusts in the Lower Keys of Monroe County included a measured gust of 60 knots (69 mph) at the National Weather Service Office in Key West, 49 knots (56 mph) at the Keys Energy Service Building in downtown Key West, and 48 knots (55 mph) at the U.S. Coast Guard Sector in Key West. Damage was limited to tree limbs and one downed medium-sized schefflera actinophylla (umbrella tree) in Key West. Wind damage was estimated at about $2.5K.

Monroe/Lower Keys, Florida · Tropical Storm · Aug 24, 13:00 UTC

Widespread tropical storm force winds in association with Hurricane Laura, which was passing along the south coast of Cuba and later turning northwest across western Cuba while at tropical storm intensity, occurred in Gulf of Mexico waters beyond 5 fathoms to the northwest of Key West. Peak sustained winds were measured at 41 knots (47 mph) with gusts to 54 knots (62 mph) at an automated WeatherFlow station at Smith Shoal Light.

Gulf of Mexico From East Cape Sable To Chokoloskee 20 To 60 Nm Out and Beyond 5 Fathoms, Gulf of Mexico · Marine Tropical Storm · Aug 24, 14:45 UTC

A marine thunderstorm wind gust of 42 mph/37 knots from a fast-moving thunderstorm was recorded at the Mesonet station 0878w (Weatherstem) at the Frost Museum of Science in Downtown Miami. The anemometer is elevated approximately 60 feet above the surface.

Biscayne Bay, Atlantic South · Marine Thunderstorm Wind · Aug 24, 18:30 UTC

As swell from Hurricane Laura reached the lower Texas coast late on August 26th, the wave energy from this swell combined with high tide (Port Mansfield Channel Entrance) at approximately 2:11 AM CDT on the 27th, likely produced minor coastal flooding in the form of run-up to and just into the dunes at narrow beaches of Willacy County, both south and north of the Mansfield cut. Unknown is the degree of erosion; assumed is erosion similar to what was observed at South Padre Island. A peak water level of 1.8 feet above Mean Higher-High Water (MHHW, or above normally dry ground on the shoreline) occurred at 10:12 AM CST on the 27th at the Realitos Peninsula tide guage, inshore (Laguna Madre) about 11 miles southwest of the Willacy County barrier island line.

Coastal Willacy, Texas · Storm Surge/Tide · Aug 27, 02:00 UTC

As swell from Hurricane Laura reached the lower Texas coast late on August 26th and early on August 27th, the wave energy from this swell combined with high tide (Port Mansfield Channel Entrance and Malaquite Beach) at approximately 2:11 AM CDT on the 27th, likely produced minor coastal flooding in the form of run-up to and just into the dunes at narrow beaches of Willacy County, both south and north of the Mansfield cut. Unknown is the degree of erosion; assumed is erosion similar to what was observed at South Padre Island. Unfortunately, due to heavy erosion from Hurricane Hanna a month earlier, as well as the difficult-to-reach location on Padre Island National Seashore, it is unknown how much additional erosion occurred along the Kenedy County barrier island.

Coastal Kenedy County, Texas · Storm Surge/Tide · Aug 27, 04:00 UTC

Observed scattered to widespread tree damage in the parish, particularly across the southern and eastern portions of the parish (which were impacted by the northern edge and eastern edge of Laura���s center of circulation). The most concentrated damage observed was in the Cloutierville and Natchez and locations between these communities along the Cane River. In Cloutierville, hardwood and softwood trees were snapped and uprooted around many homes. In Natchez, while some trees were snapped, most were uprooted. Damage survey determined peak sustained winds were 70 to 80 mph with gusts in the 80 to 90 mph range in northern and central portions of the parish. The survey also suggest that sustained winds were in the 75 to 85 mph range with gusts up to 90 to 100 mph range in the southern portion of the parish.

Natchitoches, Louisiana · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Aug 27, 09:00 UTC

Damage survey observed scattered damage in the parish, particularly across the southern portion of the parish and to exposed areas along Caney Creek Reservoir in Jimmie Davis State Park. Tree damage in Winnfield was significant with mostly uproots and some snaps. One tree fell into a single wide manufactured home and killed a man on Ayres Loop in Jonesboro. Sustained winds bent trees and brief stronger gusts helped contribute to snaps off of Caney Creek Reservoir. Minor shingle damage was also observed in Jimmie Davis State Park. Tree fall generally ranged from southwest to west-southwest. Storm survey estimated sustained winds were 55 to 65 mph with peak wind gusts to 75 to 90 mph.

Jackson, Louisiana · Hurricane (Typhoon) · Aug 27, 12:00 UTC

A storm survey crew from the NWS Office in Little Rock found tornado damage consistent with an EF0 rating. This tornado formed just northeast of the intersection of highways 37 and 269 north of McCrory, where a covered parking area roof was blown west. At that same residence, a large tree fell southwest onto the home. This tornado continued northwest over cropland, pushing over a power pole off County Road 338, then proceeded to cross State Highway 17 blowing down more trees and tree limbs. This tornado lifted shortly afterwards to the northwest.

Woodruff, Arkansas · Tornado · Aug 27, 23:45 UTC

A tornado developed north of Cash and moved northwest. The tornado pulled metal panels from an airplane hangar west of Highway 18. The tornado damaged the roof of a home and uprooted trees along Highway 91 southeast of Egypt. Trees were uprooted in Egypt, and the tornado dissipated as it moved through the community.

Craighead, Arkansas · Tornado · Aug 28, 01:31 UTC

A damage survey by Warren County Emergency Management along with video by nearby residents indicate a brief and weak EF-0 tornado intermittently touched down in extreme southwest Warren County between Morrison and Viola. One barn sustained significant damage on Cecil Laxson Road and several trees were blown down along the roadway and in adjacent orchards. Another small barn was destroyed on Fred Hoover Road with a damage path noted through adjacent corn fields. This is the first known tornado to occur in Warren County in the month of August.

Warren, Tennessee · Tornado · Aug 28, 22:28 UTC

A damage survey by Putnam County EMA along with radar data indicate a brief EF-0 tornado touched down south of Baxter. One home on Palmer Lane suffered garage door damage near the start of the path and a mobile home lost part of its roof on Thomas Twin Oak Road at Palmer Lane. A barn was damaged on Moss Road north of Alton Boyd Road. Several trees were snapped and uprooted along the intermittent damage path. Additional minor wind damage including snapped tree branches and minor exterior damage to a greenhouse occurred further to the northeast along Ditty Road and Cowan Road, but the damage was too minor to be certain if this was part of the tornado path. This is the first known tornado to occur in Putnam County in the month of August.

Putnam, Tennessee · Tornado · Aug 29, 00:24 UTC

A concentrated area of wind damage occurred along the seafood supplier docks on Shem Creek. Several nets and coolers were blown off a shrimp trawler into the creek. A large piece of metal also fell and punched a hole in the bow of another shrimp trawler above the water line. Two recreational boats broke free from their moorings and drifted into a shrimp trawler, resulting in minor damage. A mobile lavatory was also blown a considerable distance off the dock.

Charleston, South Carolina · Thunderstorm Wind · Aug 29, 22:45 UTC

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A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Laura