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Ponchatoula, LA

Full City Profile · Louisiana · Tangipahoa Parish County

2.9 /5.0
C+ Fair
7,839 Population 1,661/sq mi density
$47,821 Median Income $31,521 per capita
$194,300 Home Value $244,302 Zillow
$1,079 Median Rent 27.5% income on rent
71°F Avg Temperature 313 sunny days/yr
1,043 Violent Crime/100K 6,994 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.9 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B
Economy
3.4 / 5.0
$47,821 median income, 0.8% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.4 / 5.0
$194,300 home value, $1,079/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,043 violent crimes/100K (174% above avg)
C+
Education
2.8 / 5.0
22.4% bachelor's degree or higher
Ponchatoula has a warm climate with an average annual temperature of 71°F (22°C). Winters average 54°F in January while summers reach 84°F in July. The area gets 313 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 60.1 inches. The area receives 0.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42.

Temperature

54°F Jan (12°C) 84°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average70.9°F
31% above US avg
January Average54°F (12°C)
July Average84°F (29°C)
Sunny Days313 days/yr

Geography

Elevation26 ft (8 m)
Area1.8 sq mi (4.8 km²)
Population Density1,661/sq mi
Coordinates30.4406°N, 90.4428°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyTangipahoa Parish County
Nearest AirportLouis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY)
33 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 60.1"
58% above US avg
Snowfall 0.1"
Wettest Month (Jul) 6.65"
Driest Month (Oct) 3.39"

Air Quality

AQI Median42.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.7 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score93.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability73.2 / 100
Community Resilience65.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Moderate
Strong Wind Relatively Moderate
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively Moderate
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

1 earthquake (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.0. Most recent: M3.0 on Aug 2, 2010.

Aug 2, 2010 16 km ESE of Clinton, Louisiana M3.0 57 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

24 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Francine (2024, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2024 Francine Category 2 103 km
2021 Ida Category 4 36 km
2020 Laura Category 4 284 km
2020 Zeta Category 3 59 km
2020 Delta Category 2 239 km
2020 Sally Category 2 249 km
2019 Barry Category 1 189 km
2017 Nate Category 1 134 km
2012 Isaac Category 1 116 km
2009 Ida Category 1 274 km
2008 Gustav Category 2 116 km
2005 Katrina Category 4 82 km
2005 Cindy Category 1 142 km
2004 Ivan Category 4 246 km
2002 Lili Category 3 185 km
1998 Georges Category 2 148 km
1998 Earl Category 2 286 km
1997 Danny Category 1 145 km
1995 Erin Category 1 282 km
1992 Andrew Category 4 121 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

693 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 54 fatalities, 1,105 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 19, 2020 EF4 84 km 1
Apr 12, 2020 EF4 96 km 4
Dec 6, 1983 EF4 42 km 0
Jan 10, 1975 EF4 83 km 9
Oct 3, 1964 EF4 94 km 22
Mar 22, 2022 EF3 72 km 1
Dec 16, 2019 EF3 94 km 0
Feb 7, 2017 EF3 48 km 0
Feb 7, 2017 EF3 64 km 0
Feb 23, 2016 EF3 79 km 0
Dec 25, 2012 EF3 77 km 0
May 26, 2011 EF3 42 km 0
Aug 25, 1992 EF3 41 km 2
Oct 14, 1984 EF3 72 km 0
Mar 20, 1983 EF3 71 km 0
May 19, 1980 EF3 98 km 0
Dec 13, 1977 EF3 69 km 0
Apr 26, 1973 EF3 61 km 0
Feb 29, 1972 EF3 90 km 0
Sep 16, 1971 EF3 56 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: KILN (BAYOU BACON) (3,576 ac, 2006).

Year Name Acres Distance
2006 KILN (BAYOU BACON) 3,576 90 km
2000 UNIT 1 B 2,030 64 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,984 90 km
1998 UNIT 4 CD 1,729 47 km
2015 BAYOU LACROIX 1,714 93 km
2009 SLIDELL AIRPORT 1,663 58 km
1998 UNIT 7 1,623 51 km
2008 UNNAMED 1,594 54 km
2010 BURN BLOCK 14 1,502 94 km
2011 BAD ROMANCE 1,305 67 km
2011 TONEY ISLAND 1,215 91 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,206 21 km
2006 WHITE SANDS FIRE 1,193 88 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,111 96 km
2004 UNITS 1A-1B 1,108 64 km
2006 UNNAMED 1,102 53 km
2006 JUNIPER RELOAD FIRE 955 93 km
2001 UNNAMED 950 43 km
2010 UNNAMED 904 46 km
2006 UNNAMED 866 80 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 54°F (12°C) 5.6 in
February 54°F (12°C) 5.8 in
March 61°F (16°C) 5.8 in
April 67°F (19°C) 5.2 in
May 74°F (23°C) 5.2 in
June 79°F (26°C) 5.2 in
July 84°F (29°C) 6.7 in Warmest, Wettest
August 81°F (27°C) 5.9 in
September 78°F (25°C) 5.2 in
October 68°F (20°C) 3.4 in Driest
November 59°F (15°C) 4.8 in
December 53°F (12°C) 5.5 in Coldest

Ponchatoula has a seasonal temperature swing of 31°F / from 53°F in December to 84°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 64.3 inches, with July being the wettest month (6.7") and October the driest (3.4").

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