Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Branch enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 68°F (20°C). Winters average 51°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 313 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 63.5 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 42. The city sits at an elevation of 29 feet.
Temperature
51°F Jan (11°C)82°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
68.2°F
26% above US avg
January Average
51°F (11°C)
July Average
82°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
313 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
29 ft (9 m)
Area
7.4 sq mi (19.1 km²)
Population Density
46/sq mi
Coordinates
30.3386°N, 92.2857°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Acadia Parish County
Nearest Airport
Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field (LFT) 20 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall63.5"
67% above US avg
Wettest Month (Jan)5.79"
Driest Month (Oct)4.33"
Air Quality
AQI Median
42.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Moderate
Risk Score
88.6 / 100
Social Vulnerability
86.7 / 100
Community Resilience
30.3 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively High
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Very Low
Flood
Relatively Moderate
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively High
Cold Wave
Relatively Moderate
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
1 earthquake (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990.
Strongest on record: M3.0.
Aug 2, 2010
16 km ESE of Clinton, Louisiana
M3.0
147 km
0 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
22 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980.
Strongest on record: Category 4.
Year
Name
Category
Max Wind
Closest
2024
Francine
Category 2
104 mph
150 km
2021
Ida
Category 4
150 mph
145 km
2020
Laura
Category 4
150 mph
108 km
2020
Zeta
Category 3
115 mph
206 km
2020
Delta
Category 2
104 mph
65 km
2019
Barry
Category 1
75 mph
83 km
2012
Isaac
Category 1
81 mph
201 km
2008
Ike
Category 2
109 mph
260 km
2008
Gustav
Category 2
109 mph
37 km
2007
Humberto
Category 1
92 mph
126 km
2005
Katrina
Category 4
144 mph
258 km
2005
Rita
Category 3
127 mph
154 km
2005
Cindy
Category 1
75 mph
246 km
2002
Lili
Category 3
121 mph
38 km
1997
Danny
Category 1
81 mph
263 km
1992
Andrew
Category 4
144 mph
59 km
1989
Jerry
Category 1
86 mph
291 km
1989
Chantal
Category 1
81 mph
208 km
1986
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
200 km
1985
Elena
Category 3
115 mph
242 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
632 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 37 fatalities, 550 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 10, 2021
EF3
48 km
8.7 mi
1
May 17, 2020
EF3
14 km
3.9 mi
1
Nov 21, 1992
EF3
73 km
6.0 mi
0
May 20, 1983
EF3
73 km
2.0 mi
0
Feb 9, 1983
EF3
11 km
3.0 mi
0
Feb 9, 1983
EF3
12 km
21.0 mi
0
Jan 31, 1983
EF3
67 km
5.0 mi
1
Jan 31, 1983
EF3
36 km
6.0 mi
1
Apr 21, 1977
EF3
33 km
3.8 mi
1
Oct 29, 1974
EF3
27 km
7.3 mi
0
Oct 29, 1974
EF3
46 km
31.3 mi
2
Apr 17, 1973
EF3
86 km
0.5 mi
0
Feb 29, 1972
EF3
89 km
1.0 mi
0
Feb 12, 1971
EF3
89 km
3.6 mi
0
Dec 25, 1969
EF3
38 km
1.5 mi
1
Dec 25, 1969
EF3
93 km
13.5 mi
0
May 1, 1967
EF3
72 km
5.2 mi
0
Sep 10, 1961
EF3
38 km
5.7 mi
1
Nov 7, 1957
EF3
90 km
3.6 mi
0
Nov 7, 1957
EF3
8 km
9.2 mi
4
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km.
Largest: LACASSINE POOL (16,640 acres, 2005).
Year
Name
Acres Burned
Distance
2005
LACASSINE POOL
16,640
73 km
2000
UNNAMED
12,496
57 km
2006
UNNAMED
8,563
75 km
2023
HWY 113
7,104
90 km
2005
UNNAMED
6,588
71 km
2021
C-368 366 365 364 75
5,919
96 km
2005
UNNAMED
4,928
82 km
1995
UNNAMED
4,875
63 km
2003
UNNAMED
4,872
79 km
1996
UNNAMED
4,678
82 km
2019
C-371/369/34
4,481
96 km
2005
UNNAMED
4,387
91 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,648
94 km
2010
MIAMI
3,466
96 km
2002
G 1 2 3
3,427
74 km
2015
UNNAMED
3,338
95 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,336
99 km
2018
UNNAMED
3,203
95 km
2024
RX CALE C-34-369
3,183
97 km
2022
C-34/369
3,160
97 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
51°F (11°C)
5.8 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
54°F (12°C)
4.4 in
March
61°F (16°C)
4.6 in
April
67°F (20°C)
4.7 in
May
75°F (24°C)
5.6 in
June
80°F (27°C)
5.5 in
July
82°F (28°C)
5.7 in
Warmest
August
82°F (28°C)
5.1 in
September
78°F (25°C)
5.0 in
October
68°F (20°C)
4.3 in
Driest
November
59°F (15°C)
4.8 in
December
53°F (12°C)
5.6 in
Branch has a seasonal temperature swing of 31°F / from 51°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 61.1 inches, with January being the wettest month (5.8") and October the driest (4.3").