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Weather & Climate in Opelousas, LA
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Opelousas 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 65 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 | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Area | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,620/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 30.5249°N, 92.0817°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Lafayette Parish County |
| Nearest Airport | Lafayette Regional/Paul Fournet Field (LFT) 23 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 42.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 95.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 32.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 72.8 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High |
| 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 | 122 km | 0 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
23 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 | 153 km |
| 2021 | Ida | Category 4 | 150 mph | 123 km |
| 2020 | Laura | Category 4 | 150 mph | 126 km |
| 2020 | Zeta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 205 km |
| 2020 | Delta | Category 2 | 104 mph | 92 km |
| 2019 | Barry | Category 1 | 75 mph | 104 km |
| 2017 | Nate | Category 1 | 86 mph | 286 km |
| 2012 | Isaac | Category 1 | 81 mph | 197 km |
| 2008 | Ike | Category 2 | 109 mph | 286 km |
| 2008 | Gustav | Category 2 | 109 mph | 31 km |
| 2007 | Humberto | Category 1 | 92 mph | 148 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 4 | 144 mph | 239 km |
| 2005 | Rita | Category 3 | 121 mph | 179 km |
| 2005 | Cindy | Category 1 | 75 mph | 241 km |
| 2002 | Lili | Category 3 | 121 mph | 62 km |
| 1997 | Danny | Category 1 | 81 mph | 257 km |
| 1992 | Andrew | Category 4 | 144 mph | 37 km |
| 1989 | Chantal | Category 1 | 81 mph | 236 km |
| 1988 | Florence | Category 1 | 81 mph | 292 km |
| 1986 | Bonnie | Category 1 | 86 mph | 224 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
644 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 38 fatalities, 638 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 10, 2021 | EF3 | 20 km | 8.7 mi | 1 |
| May 17, 2020 | EF3 | 19 km | 3.9 mi | 1 |
| Nov 21, 1992 | EF3 | 97 km | 6.0 mi | 0 |
| Oct 14, 1984 | EF3 | 90 km | 16.0 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1983 | EF3 | 46 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1983 | EF3 | 17 km | 21.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 9, 1983 | EF3 | 26 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | EF3 | 46 km | 5.0 mi | 1 |
| Jan 31, 1983 | EF3 | 59 km | 6.0 mi | 1 |
| Jun 5, 1981 | EF3 | 94 km | 4.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 21, 1977 | EF3 | 28 km | 3.8 mi | 1 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | EF3 | 74 km | 31.3 mi | 2 |
| Oct 29, 1974 | EF3 | 38 km | 7.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | EF3 | 96 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Feb 29, 1972 | EF3 | 67 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | EF3 | 83 km | 13.5 mi | 0 |
| Dec 25, 1969 | EF3 | 61 km | 1.5 mi | 1 |
| May 1, 1967 | EF3 | 83 km | 5.2 mi | 0 |
| Sep 10, 1961 | EF3 | 62 km | 5.7 mi | 1 |
| Nov 7, 1957 | EF3 | 23 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: UNNAMED (12,496 acres, 2000).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 12,496 | 60 km |
| 2023 | HWY 113 | 7,104 | 89 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 6,588 | 99 km |
| 2021 | C-368 366 365 364 75 | 5,919 | 87 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 5,381 | 100 km |
| 1995 | UNNAMED | 4,875 | 91 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 4,777 | 93 km |
| 2019 | C-371/369/34 | 4,481 | 85 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,648 | 83 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 3,599 | 97 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 3,338 | 85 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,336 | 98 km |
| 2018 | UNNAMED | 3,203 | 85 km |
| 2024 | RX CALE C-34-369 | 3,183 | 86 km |
| 2022 | C-34/369 | 3,160 | 86 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 3,143 | 89 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 3,113 | 86 km |
| 2019 | C-237 | 3,023 | 99 km |
| 2022 | C371/372 | 2,944 | 82 km |
| 2018 | C-29 | 2,883 | 94 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F (10°C) | 6.1 in | Coldest, Wettest |
| February | 53°F (12°C) | 4.6 in | |
| March | 60°F (16°C) | 5.0 in | |
| April | 67°F (19°C) | 5.0 in | |
| May | 74°F (23°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) | 4.7 in | |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 4.8 in | |
| October | 68°F (20°C) | 4.5 in | Driest |
| November | 59°F (15°C) | 5.1 in | |
| December | 52°F (11°C) | 5.8 in |
Opelousas has a seasonal temperature swing of 33°F / from 50°F in January to 83°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 62.0 inches, with January being the wettest month (6.1") and October the driest (4.5").