Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Lawtell enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (20°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 83°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 61.6 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 61 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)83°F Jul (28°C)
Annual Average
67.3°F
25% above US avg
January Average
50°F (10°C)
July Average
83°F (28°C)
Sunny Days
313 days/yr
Geography
Elevation
61 ft (19 m)
Area
4.2 sq mi (10.7 km²)
Population Density
252/sq mi
Coordinates
30.5126°N, 92.1832°W
Timezone
America/Chicago
County
Evangeline Parish County
Nearest Airport
Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field (LFT) 24 miles away
Precipitation & Snow
Annual Rainfall61.6"
62% above US avg
Snowfall0.0"
Wettest Month (Jan)5.98"
Driest Month (Feb)4.53"
Air Quality
AQI Median
42.0
Rating
Good
Natural Hazard Risk
Overall Risk
Relatively Low
Risk Score
75.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability
89.6 / 100
Community Resilience
20.1 / 100
Hazard Breakdown
Tornado
Relatively Moderate
Hurricane
Relatively Moderate
Earthquake
Very Low
Wildfire
Relatively Low
Flood
Relatively Low
Hail
Relatively Low
Strong Wind
Relatively Low
Heat Wave
Relatively Low
Winter Weather
Relatively Low
Lightning
Relatively High
Ice Storm
Relatively Moderate
Drought
Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave
Relatively High
Landslide
Very Low
Coastal Flood
No Rating
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
132 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
160 km
2021
Ida
Category 4
150 mph
133 km
2020
Laura
Category 4
150 mph
117 km
2020
Zeta
Category 3
115 mph
211 km
2020
Delta
Category 2
104 mph
83 km
2019
Barry
Category 1
75 mph
102 km
2017
Nate
Category 1
86 mph
295 km
2012
Isaac
Category 1
81 mph
204 km
2008
Ike
Category 2
109 mph
277 km
2008
Gustav
Category 2
109 mph
36 km
2007
Humberto
Category 1
92 mph
138 km
2005
Katrina
Category 4
144 mph
249 km
2005
Rita
Category 3
121 mph
170 km
2005
Cindy
Category 1
75 mph
248 km
2002
Lili
Category 3
121 mph
58 km
1997
Danny
Category 1
81 mph
264 km
1992
Andrew
Category 4
144 mph
46 km
1989
Chantal
Category 1
81 mph
228 km
1986
Bonnie
Category 1
86 mph
215 km
1985
Elena
Category 3
115 mph
229 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
648 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950.
Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 37 fatalities, 634 injuries.
Date
Rating
Distance
Path
Fatalities
Apr 10, 2021
EF3
27 km
8.7 mi
1
May 17, 2020
EF3
10 km
3.9 mi
1
Nov 21, 1992
EF3
88 km
6.0 mi
0
May 20, 1983
EF3
51 km
2.0 mi
0
Feb 9, 1983
EF3
13 km
21.0 mi
0
Feb 9, 1983
EF3
17 km
3.0 mi
0
Jan 31, 1983
EF3
55 km
6.0 mi
1
Jan 31, 1983
EF3
46 km
5.0 mi
1
Jun 5, 1981
EF3
92 km
4.3 mi
0
Apr 21, 1977
EF3
33 km
3.8 mi
1
Oct 29, 1974
EF3
66 km
31.3 mi
2
Oct 29, 1974
EF3
39 km
7.3 mi
0
Apr 17, 1973
EF3
99 km
0.5 mi
0
Feb 29, 1972
EF3
77 km
1.0 mi
0
Jun 22, 1971
EF3
97 km
0.1 mi
0
Dec 25, 1969
EF3
58 km
1.5 mi
1
Dec 25, 1969
EF3
91 km
13.5 mi
0
May 1, 1967
EF3
74 km
5.2 mi
0
Sep 10, 1961
EF3
58 km
5.7 mi
1
Nov 7, 1957
EF3
69 km
3.6 mi
0
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
93 km
2000
UNNAMED
12,496
52 km
2006
UNNAMED
8,563
96 km
2023
HWY 113
7,104
82 km
2005
UNNAMED
6,588
91 km
2021
C-368 366 365 364 75
5,919
83 km
2013
UNNAMED
5,381
93 km
1995
UNNAMED
4,875
85 km
2003
UNNAMED
4,872
100 km
2013
UNNAMED
4,777
89 km
2019
C-371/369/34
4,481
81 km
2024
RX CALV C-262-265
4,445
95 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,648
79 km
2000
UNNAMED
3,599
91 km
2013
UNNAMED
3,430
96 km
2002
G 1 2 3
3,427
94 km
2015
UNNAMED
3,338
81 km
2017
UNNAMED
3,336
91 km
2019
C-265
3,336
94 km
2018
UNNAMED
3,203
81 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
Month
Avg Temperature
Precipitation
Summary
January
50°F (10°C)
6.0 in
Coldest, Wettest
February
53°F (12°C)
4.5 in
Driest
March
60°F (16°C)
5.0 in
April
67°F (19°C)
4.8 in
May
74°F (24°C)
5.8 in
June
80°F (27°C)
5.4 in
July
83°F (28°C)
5.3 in
Warmest
August
82°F (28°C)
4.8 in
September
78°F (25°C)
4.9 in
October
68°F (20°C)
4.5 in
November
59°F (15°C)
5.0 in
December
53°F (11°C)
5.9 in
Lawtell has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 50°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 61.9 inches, with January being the wettest month (6.0") and February the driest (4.5").