Apopka

Population 65,552 (2025)

48 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Apopka since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was David in 1979 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Apopka Tornado: 88th percentile. Tropical: 98th percentile. Wildfire: 87th percentile. Flood: 22th percentile. Hail & wind: 66th percentile. Heat: 19th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 0th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950156
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger94
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198461
  • Major flood years since 1978, Orange County5

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Orange County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Orange County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

48

14 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

156

5 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

61

Largest: Stagecoach Complex, 2001

Details

Flood insurance claims

2,271

Orange County

$73.1 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

EF3

February 2, 2007, 26.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane David, 1979, 49.6 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

39

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

103°F

September 8, 1921

Details

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

February 2, 2007

EF3, 26.0 mile path

450 yards wide; 13 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Monday, May 26, 2025

EF0, 0.1 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 7 7 1960s: 14 14 1970s: 44 44 1980s: 33 33 1990s: 18 18 2000s: 14 14 2010s: 11 11 2020s: 15 15 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 11 F: 16 M: 13 A: 19 M: 18 J: 25 25 J: 17 A: 14 S: 7 O: 5 N: 5 D: 6 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
May 26, 2025EF00.11500
May 12, 2025EFU1.55000
Mar 10, 2025EF24.030000
Aug 21, 2024EF01.3500
Jun 6, 2024EF00.0500
Aug 18, 2020EF00.17000
Jun 7, 2020EF00.52000
Jun 7, 2020EF00.02500
Jun 6, 2020EF02.020000
Jun 6, 2020EF15.150000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.02000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.01000
Apr 20, 2020EF02.72500
Jan 4, 2020EF14.426500
Jan 4, 2020EF02.417510
Jan 24, 2019EF00.517500
Dec 9, 2018EF00.15000
Jul 4, 2018EF01.07500
Sep 10, 2017EF13.850000
Jul 7, 2017EF00.11500
Sep 1, 2016EF01.515000
Jun 1, 2015EF00.11000
Dec 10, 2012EF04.25000
Jun 24, 2012EF03.710000
Sep 19, 2011EF00.11500
Aug 5, 2011EF00.41000
Jul 15, 2009EF00.15000
May 19, 2009EF00.15000
Aug 13, 2008EF00.13000
Aug 13, 2008EF00.13000
Sep 20, 2007EF11.830000
Jul 24, 2007EF01.03000
Feb 2, 2007EF326.04505113
Feb 2, 2007EF310.5450108
Dec 25, 2006F00.35000
Nov 7, 2006F12.310000
Nov 7, 2006F00.85000
Oct 7, 2006F00.13000
Jul 6, 2006F02.04000
Jun 13, 2006F00.12000
May 28, 1999F00.23000
Feb 22, 1998F316.02003613
Feb 22, 1998F318.0200703
Feb 16, 1998F00.13000
Jun 1, 1997F00.23000
Apr 23, 1997F00.33000
Apr 23, 1997F00.33000
Oct 7, 1996F00.12000
Oct 7, 1996F00.13000
Oct 7, 1996F00.12000
Oct 7, 1996F00.13000
Mar 30, 1996F01.02000
Jan 7, 1995F12.04000
Jun 17, 1994F00.11000
Mar 12, 1993F230.0200601
Feb 25, 1992F10.550110
Mar 3, 1991F10.12000
Nov 9, 1990F116.05090
Apr 19, 1988F12.05000
Apr 15, 1987F212.025000
Apr 15, 1987F23.010071
Dec 23, 1986F00.53000
May 20, 1986F02.03000
Aug 31, 1985F02.02000
Aug 31, 1985F25.05000
Jun 26, 1984F00.51000
Apr 9, 1984F01.01000
Feb 27, 1984F11.01000
Jul 5, 1983F10.53000
Apr 23, 1983F16.04000
Apr 23, 1983F13.03000
Apr 15, 1983F11.03000
Feb 2, 1983F25.05090
Feb 2, 1983F00.22010
Feb 2, 1983F21.02000
Sep 10, 1982F00.31000
Jun 18, 1982F15.05000
May 25, 1982F10.52000
Apr 29, 1982F10.52000
Apr 9, 1982F23.02010
Apr 8, 1982F23.050100
Aug 27, 1981F00.12000
Jul 8, 1981F11.05000
Jun 21, 1981F00.12000
Jun 21, 1981F10.53000
Jun 20, 1981F00.12000
Jun 10, 1981F00.12000
Mar 19, 1981F38.010010
Mar 18, 1981F20.53310
Feb 11, 1981F10.51000
Jun 24, 1980F00.13000
Aug 23, 1979F10.13000
May 14, 1979F10.23000
May 5, 1979F16.23000
Dec 24, 1978F10.32000
Dec 24, 1978F10.32000
Sep 4, 1978F00.22000
Aug 13, 1978F10.12010
Jul 1, 1978F00.11000
Jun 10, 1978F00.52000
Apr 18, 1978F11.05000
Jan 25, 1978F00.52020
Jan 19, 1978F10.52000
Jan 8, 1978F219.3200230
Jan 8, 1978F22.010000
Sep 21, 1977F00.11000
Aug 18, 1977F00.21300
Feb 24, 1977F00.11000
May 25, 1976F00.11000
May 23, 1976F00.51000
May 12, 1976F00.31010
Mar 9, 1976F05.42000
Aug 6, 1975F10.12000
Jun 11, 1975F10.53000
May 15, 1975F00.25000
Apr 14, 1975F00.12300
Apr 11, 1975F10.55000
Feb 6, 1975F154.95050
Aug 6, 1974F10.550000
May 15, 1974F00.11000
May 15, 1974F11.03300
May 12, 1974F02.03300
Jul 12, 1973F00.21000
Jan 28, 1973F22.7300160
Jul 5, 1972F20.35000
Mar 31, 1972F10.52000
Mar 31, 1972F00.22000
Mar 31, 1972F10.22000
Mar 31, 1972F10.22000
Feb 3, 1972F10.230000
Feb 3, 1972F10.210000
May 13, 1971F02.03000
Mar 7, 1971F20.33000
Jul 9, 1970F10.11000
Jun 25, 1970F10.11000
Jul 6, 1969F00.11000
Jul 6, 1969F00.11000
Apr 19, 1969F15.650000
Nov 11, 1968F10.11000
Nov 9, 1968F169.31030
Jun 5, 1967F20.117300
Aug 23, 1966F20.11030
Jun 15, 1966F10.11000
Apr 28, 1964F20.11000
Jul 29, 1963F10.11000
Jul 7, 1963F10.11000
Jun 8, 1963F10.11000
Feb 25, 1961F10.11000
Mar 3, 1960F20.11060
Jul 12, 1959F00.11000
Apr 2, 1959F20.110091
Jan 8, 1955F10.15000
Jul 24, 1953F10.11710
Jan 9, 1953F10.11000
May 15, 1950F10.11000
May 15, 1950F20.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

48 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 14 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 4, 1979

David, Category 2

49.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 98 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 1

43.9 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 0 70s: 5 5 80s: 2 90s: 3 00s: 1 10s: 3 20s: 5 30s: 3 40s: 3 50s: 3 60s: 5 70s: 1 80s: 2 90s: 2 00s: 3 10s: 2 20s: 2 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Milton202443.9Category 181Category 5
Nicole202238.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Ian202259.1Tropical storm70Category 5
Eta202087.7Tropical storm48Category 4
Irma201749.2Tropical storm71Category 5
Matthew201673.8Category 3119Category 5
Julia201626.7Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Fay200845.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Ernesto200657.7Tropical storm44Category 1
Tammy200559.1Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Jeanne200452.6Tropical storm67Category 3
Frances200459.2Tropical storm67Category 4
Charley200412.8Category 186Category 4
Gabrielle200110.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Irene199998.3Category 175Category 2
Jerry199526.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Erin199541.0Tropical storm62Category 2
Marco199091.5Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Keith198852.8Tropical storm41Category 1
Chris198880.6Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Isabel198596.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Bob198568.6Tropical storm61Category 1
Isidore198442.8Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198496.8Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed198260.1Subtropical storm49Tropical storm
Dennis198144.3Tropical storm40Category 1
David197949.6Category 298Category 5
Dottie197692.9Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed197499.3Subtropical storm58Tropical storm
Gladys196844.6Category 189Category 2
Dolly196860.7Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196827.3Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196854.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed196695.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed196536.9Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Dora196484.0Category 2109Category 4
Cleo196429.4Tropical storm54Category 4
Donna19606.0Category 178Category 4
Unnamed195915.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195653.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hazel195395.6Tropical storm72Category 1
King19507.3Category 181Category 4
Easy19509.2Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed194952.6Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194772.0Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed194657.6Tropical storm72Category 2
Unnamed19458.3Category 179Category 4
Unnamed194535.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed194428.7Category 181Category 4
Unnamed193959.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed193737.2Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed193717.1Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed193633.4Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed193352.6Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed192838.2Category 184Category 5
Unnamed192835.2Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed192643.2Category 186Category 4
Unnamed192574.2Post-tropical66Category 1
Unnamed19215.3Category 186Category 4
Unnamed192049.0Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed191637.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191533.3Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed191022.6Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed190942.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189911.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189722.2Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed18946.0Tropical storm70Category 3
Unnamed189369.9Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189377.0Category 3120Category 3
Unnamed189255.0Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed188974.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188887.0Category 298Category 2
Unnamed188858.1Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed188713.8Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed188660.6Tropical storm70Category 1
Unnamed188566.3Category 298Category 2
Unnamed188055.8Category 176Category 1
Unnamed188021.3Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed187954.9Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed187844.0Category 183Category 2
Unnamed187765.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187696.9Category 192Category 3
Unnamed187483.0Category 177Category 1
Unnamed187382.1Category 297Category 3
Unnamed187318.3Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed187214.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187185.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187114.5Tropical storm72Category 3
Unnamed187121.7Category 181Category 3
Unnamed186793.9Tropical storm54Category 2
Unnamed186166.4Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed185934.9Category 189Category 1
Unnamed185822.2Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185496.8Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed185233.5Tropical storm58Category 1
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

61 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

February 22, 2001

Stagecoach Complex, 14,069 acres

24.9 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 5, 2024

Hinson Fire

2,204 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1986: 8,6301988: 2,5851989: 3,2871990: 1,2901991: 2,5821992: 7,5621993: 3,3501994: 3,1551995: 7501997: 3,2751998: 1,2861999: 2,1852000: 12,3292001: 17,4392003: 4,8552005: 2,3362006: 3,4932007: 8,6772008: 10,5402009: 2,3562012: 1,0952015: 9322016: 3,4392017: 9002020: 6622024: 2,204 111,194 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Hinson202423.92,204
South202024.8662
Sod Farm 2201714.5900
Springs20163.5551
Midnight201624.22,888
Unnamed201522.4932
Thompson Road201218.41,095
Max Hooks200917.62,356
Unnamed20086.5550
Unnamed200824.8815
Unnamed200819.42,031
Unnamed200824.3962
Unnamed200821.41,766
Thompson200818.52,209
Tracy200822.61,183
Unnamed200817.81,024
Unnamed200718.5898
Unnamed200722.9783
Lee House200710.22,365
Red Oak Fire200715.5837
Unnamed200723.92,384
Unnamed200722.51,410
Unnamed200620.91,515
Unnamed200620.01,197
Far Reach Ii Fire200611.9781
Unnamed200510.4753
Unnamed200511.01,583
Unnamed200323.71,231
South Marsh 1200324.82,880
Unnamed20036.4744
S Marsh200124.23,370
Stagecoach Complex200124.914,069
Unnamed200017.8678
Unnamed200021.4885
Unnamed200021.62,284
Unnamed200023.92,372
Unnamed200023.71,122
Unnamed200017.81,665
Unnamed20004.52,813
Unnamed20005.3510
Unnamed199924.22,185
Unnamed199822.0667
Unnamed199819.6619
Lw M 1199724.23,275
Pittman 1199523.0750
Southmarsh199424.23,155
Unnamed199324.83,350
Unnamed199210.62,301
Unnamed199224.43,583
Unnamed199210.41,678
Southmarsh199124.22,582
Unnamed199024.21,290
Unnamed198924.82,476
Unnamed198922.5811
Scoggin Creek198824.31,328
Unnamed198821.2549
Unnamed198819.5708
Unnamed198622.2501
Unnamed198622.32,784
Unnamed198624.21,755
Unnamed198624.53,590
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 16 days

Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

3.4 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

2 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 2 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 9 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 1 2021: 2 2022: 8 2023: 16 16 2024: 2 2025: 2 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

2,271 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $73.1 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Orange County, the county that contains Apopka.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 10 1980: 5 1982: 12 1983: 6 1984: 13 1986: 5 1987: 7 1988: 7 1991: 13 1992: 16 1993: 5 1994: 47 1995: 39 1996: 18 1997: 21 1998: 19 1999: 12 2000: 10 2001: 19 2002: 26 2003: 21 2004: 322 2005: 14 2006: 13 2007: 7 2008: 99 2009: 32 2010: 19 2011: 13 2012: 12 2013: 22 2014: 25 2015: 12 2016: 24 2017: 219 2018: 17 2019: 13 2020: 13 2021: 9 2022: 909 909 2023: 8 2024: 106 2025: 11 197919861993199820032008201320182023
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2022: 909 claims

$59.7 million paid.

2nd most

2004: 322 claims

$1.8 million paid.

3rd most

2017: 219 claims

$3.9 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
32822188$5.6 million
32809183$6.8 million
32811163$2.2 million
32825161$9.8 million
32789115$4.5 million
3280691$5.1 million
3280491$3.3 million
3281786$5.9 million
3283683$274,000
3282879$1.1 million
3478770$760,000
3281266$2.3 million
3280765$3.7 million
3280563$1.7 million
3283962$538,000
3478656$611,000
3281951$1.8 million
3283249$930,000
3279249$5.2 million
3280344$1.8 million
3283743$351,000
3280838$303,000
3282437$1.2 million
3282936$3.1 million
3476134$250,000
3281029$882,000
3280127$741,000
3282626$645,000
3275125$229,000
3281823$768,000
3270323$248,000
3283321$235,000
3282018$128,000
3282117$9,786
3283516$45,000
3271214$28,000
328275$40,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Heavy Rain11
  • Flood9
  • Flash Flood6

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Orange County, the county that contains Apopka.

Most severe crest

October 6, 2017

St. Johns River near Cocoa, 17.43 ft

1.43 feet above the 16.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 11, 2022

St. Johns River near Cocoa, 16.56 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 6, 2017St. Johns River near Cocoa17.43+1.43Major
Aug 31, 2008St. Johns River near Cocoa17.11+1.11Major
Oct 5, 2004St. Johns River near Cocoa16.96+0.96Moderate
Oct 3, 1979St. Johns River near Cocoa16.73+0.73Moderate
Oct 23, 1999St. Johns River near Cocoa16.64+0.64Moderate
Oct 11, 2022St. Johns River near Cocoa16.56+0.56Moderate
Sep 25, 1960St. Johns River near Cocoa16.48+0.48Minor
Oct 21, 1995St. Johns River near Cocoa16.47+0.47Minor
Oct 29, 2011St. Johns River near Cocoa16.45+0.45Minor
Oct 29, 1969St. Johns River near Cocoa16.39+0.39Minor
Nov 4, 2005St. Johns River near Cocoa16.36+0.36Minor
Feb 25, 1998St. Johns River near Cocoa16.12+0.12Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
St. Johns River near Cocoa16.017.43 ftOct 6, 20172
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 124 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.

The drought index is for Orange County, the county that contains Apopka.

124

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

40

Months in extreme drought

8%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

February 2001

−5.46, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

16 months

June 1998 to September 1999.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.27, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 2 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 8 1928: 2 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 2 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 2 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 2 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 3 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 3 1962: 9 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 3 1971: 6 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 1 1981: 2 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 2 1987: 1 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 4 1991: 2 1992: 0 1993: 2 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 7 1999: 9 2000: 8 2001: 6 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 2 2007: 10 10 2008: 5 2009: 0 2010: 3 2011: 1 2012: 2 2013: 2 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 2 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the city centre in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.

Severe weather and other events

782 events in the National Weather Service record for Orange County, 593 of them since 1996.

137

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

6

Hail, 2 inches or larger

217

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

1

Winter weather events since 1996

3

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 25, 1992

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 4, 1966

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning41450Aug 15, 2023
Dense fog and smoke100Apr 26, 2018

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 13, 2004High Wind, Orange$881 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Charley made landfall over southwest Florida as a category four hurricane with estimated sustained wind speeds of 150 mph. Moving north northeast at about 25 mph Charley crossed central Florida maintaining hurricane intensity through Osceola, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties. In Osceola County, widespread power outages and damage were reported, mostly to roofs, pool enclosures, awnings, weak buildings, and mobile homes. Much of the damage was due to the thousands of trees blown down. The greatest damage occurred in northwest Osceola County as the eye wall passed over the communities of Poinciana, Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Dozens of planes and numerous hangars were…

  2. Sep 28, 2022Flood$206 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Rainfall totals averaging between 8 to 12 inches, with locally higher amounts of up to 16 inches were reported, resulting in widespread and historic street, residential, urban, and poor drainage flooding throughout the county. The combined effects of Ian led to total estimated damages of approximately $206M across 1727 properties, mainly due to widespread and historic flooding.

  3. Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Orange$110 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples during the late afternoon of September 10. Irma then moved northward across west-central Florida during the evening and overnight while weakening to a Category 2 hurricane approximately 60 miles west of Orlando. A long duration of damaging winds occurred across Orange County, with a period of gusts to minimal hurricane force. The highest measured sustained wind was recorded at the Orlando International Airport ASOS (KMCO; 59 mph from the east at 0019LST on September 11) and the highest measured peak gust was 79 mph from the northeast at 1744LST on September 10. A peak wind gust of 91 mph was recorded at the top of the Disney…

  4. Sep 25, 2004Strong Wind, Orange$40.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    As the center of Hurricane Jeanne crossed Okeechobee County and moved into west Central Florida, wind gusts to near 80 mph crossed the county. No direct wind or pressure observations were available in the county from Jeanne. Winds gusting to hurricane force damaged and destroyed residences and mobile homes, damaged roofs and out buildings. Damage estimates were near $10 million. In Osceola County gusts to hurricane strength damaged and destroyed residences with an estimated $11 million in damage. Agricultural damage, mainly to citrus, was $8 million. Orange County was also hit hard by the rain bands on the north side of Hurricane Jeanne. Extensive damage to residences, businesses…

  5. Jul 31, 2001Heavy Rain$20.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The roof collapsed at a flight training center when excessive water collected on the roof due to a clogged drain. Flight simulators valued at over 30 million dollars were damaged. Around 2.5 inches of rain fell in the Orlando area that day.

  6. Feb 22, 1998Tornado$15.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Lake County tornado moved into Orange County about 5 miles southwest of Winter Garden moving northeast at 45 mph. It rapidly intensified to a category F3 tornado with estimated winds near 200 mph. The tornado moved through Winter Garden between 11:47 pm and 11:55 pm destroying a mobile home community in Winter Garden. There were three fatalities and 70 injuries. Five hundred structures were either damaged or destroyed.

  7. Oct 9, 2024Flood$15.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Orange County Emergency Management reported significant urban, street, and low-lying flooding as a result of 3 to 6 inches (southeast) 8 to 12 inches (northwest) of rain in association with Hurricane Milton. A period of very heavy rainfall rates associated with the core of the storm led to flash flooding during the overnight period (Oct 9 - 10).

  8. Sep 4, 2004High Wind, Orange$7.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The center of category 2 Hurricane Frances reached the Florida East near Sewall's point in Martin County early on September 5th but began spreading hurricane force wind gusts across most of Central Florida by 11 pm on September 4th. Frances entered Central Florida moving west northwest at 7 mph and maintained hurricane strength as it crossed the east half of the Florida Peninsula. Frances was downgraded to a tropical storm in the afternoon on the 5th when it was about 50 miles east of Tampa Bay. In Okeechobee County, little direct observational wind data is available, but wind estimates from the Hurricane Research Division show sustained hurricane force winds over most of the…

  9. Feb 23, 1998Tornado$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Kissimmee tornado moved into Orange County southeast of Orlando International Airport as a category F3. The tornado affected rural swampy areas, striking few structures except for lakeside neighborhoods on the shores of Lake Hart and Lake Mary Jane. The tornado lifted as it approached the St. Johns River on the east central border of Orange County in the Tosohatchee State Preserve.

  10. Aug 22, 2010Lightning$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Frequent to excessive cloud to ground lightning erupted within a cluster of storms over western Orange County between 1530 and 1600 LST. During the next two hours, three homes in Windermere caught fire due to earlier lightning strikes. The first house, damaged by fire, was reported at 1644 LST. One fireman sustained minor indirect injuries due to smoke inhalation while fighting the fire. At 1652 LST, a fire was reported within a large estate home. The fire destroyed the home. A third house fire was reported nearby at 1740 LST and this home was damaged by fire. The following day, shortly before 0900 LST and 15 hours after the lightning storm, another estate home in Windermere…

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Orlando Executive Airport, 16 miles from the city centre, with records from 1892.

All-time high
103°FSep 8, 1921
All-time low
18°FDec 28, 1894
Warmest night
83°F2 times, most recently Aug 7, 2024
Coldest day
38°FJan 2, 1898
Wettest day
8.43 inSep 16, 1945
Hottest year
2020mean 76.4°F
Coldest year
1897mean 69.9°F
Wettest year
190574.79 in
Driest year
200027.44 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Orlando Executive Airport 71° 51° 2.1 Jan 75° 55° 1.7 Feb 80° 59° 2.4 Mar 84° 63° 2.4 Apr 89° 69° 4.0 May 91° 74° 7.8 Jun 92° 75° 7.8 Jul 92° 76° 8.3 Aug 90° 74° 7.1 Sep 85° 68° 3.1 Oct 78° 60° 1.9 Nov 74° 55° 2.2 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1999: 17 2000: 25 2001: 4 2002: 5 2003: 2 2004: 9 2005: 10 2006: 19 2007: 26 2008: 7 2009: 11 2010: 22 2011: 28 2012: 5 2013: 2 2014: 17 2015: 20 2016: 22 2017: 20 2018: 19 2019: 34 2020: 43 2021: 15 2022: 61 61 2023: 33 2024: 42 2025: 33 199920092019
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 20.4.

Station Orlando Executive Airport (USW00012841), 104 ft elevation, 16.0 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1892 to October 27, 2026; 94.5% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

39 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.

Declarations for Orange County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 11, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonMajor disasterDR-4834-FL
Oct 7, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonEmergencyEM-3622-FL
Aug 10, 2024Tropical StormHurricane DebbyMajor disasterDR-4806-FL
Aug 3, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyEmergencyEM-3605-FL
Aug 31, 2023HurricaneHurricane IdaliaMajor disasterDR-4734-FL
Aug 28, 2023Tropical StormTropical Storm IdaliaEmergencyEM-3596-FL
Dec 13, 2022HurricaneHurricane NicoleMajor disasterDR-4680-FL
Nov 8, 2022Tropical StormTropical Storm NicoleEmergencyEM-3587-FL
Sep 29, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanMajor disasterDR-4673-FL
Sep 24, 2022HurricaneTropical Storm IanEmergencyEM-3584-FL
Aug 1, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3533-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Oct 8, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4283-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Aug 24, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayMajor disasterDR-1785-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3220-FL
Sep 26, 2004HurricaneHurricane JeanneMajor disasterDR-1561-FL
Sep 16, 2004HurricaneHurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1551-FL
Sep 4, 2004HurricaneHurricane FrancesMajor disasterDR-1545-FL
Aug 13, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disasterDR-1539-FL
Apr 17, 2001FireFl - Orlando Complex FireFire managementFM-2357-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
May 28, 2000FireFl, Orlando District Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2301-FL
Oct 20, 1999HurricaneFl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-ReqMajor disasterDR-1306-FL
Oct 15, 1999HurricaneTropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergencyEM-3150-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 15, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2253-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Jul 8, 1994FloodTropical Storm AlbertoEmergencyEM-3114-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Mar 18, 1985FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-732-FL
Mar 29, 1984FreezingFreezing TemperaturesMajor disasterDR-698-FL
Jan 31, 1977FreezingSevere Winter WeatherMajor disasterDR-526-FL

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00012841.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.