Belle Glade
Population 17,241 (2025)
54 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Belle Glade since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1928 (Category 3).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195082
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger99
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198471
- Major flood years since 1978, Palm Beach County7
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 Palm Beach 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 Palm Beach County.
Strongest tornado
EF3
October 9, 2024, 32.9 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 3
Hurricane (unnamed), 1928, 19.2 miles away
Tornadoes
About one tornado a year since 1950, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
October 9, 2024
EF3, 32.9 mile path
457 yards wide.
Deadliest
October 19, 1958
1 killed, F3
24 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, May 24, 2025
EFU, 0.0 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| May 24, 2025 | EFU | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 2025 | EF0 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 32.9 | 7 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 65.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EFU | 16.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF0 | 15.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 17.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 6, 2024 | EFU | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | EF1 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | EF1 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 2020 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 2019 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 24, 2019 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2018 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 2018 | EF0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2018 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 2017 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 23, 2017 | EF1 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 2015 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 2015 | EF0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 6, 2014 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2013 | EF0 | 20.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2013 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 2010 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 18, 2008 | EF2 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 20, 2006 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 2005 | F0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 2004 | F2 | 42.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 3, 2003 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2003 | F1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 27, 2003 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 5, 2001 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 29, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 10, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 29, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1999 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 1999 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 3, 1998 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 3, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 1997 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 4, 1997 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 28, 1997 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 9, 1997 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 26, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 4, 1987 | F0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Dec 31, 1986 | F1 | 1.0 | 7 | 0 |
| Dec 31, 1986 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1986 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 26, 1986 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1986 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 24, 1985 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1980 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1980 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 30, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | F3 | 9.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 29, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1978 | F0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| May 17, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 1976 | F1 | 0.1 | 6 | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1976 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 1975 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 23, 1973 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1972 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 13, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1969 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 15, 1969 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1969 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 11, 1968 | F2 | 65.4 | 3 | 0 |
| Sep 10, 1968 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1968 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 1963 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1960 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 19, 1958 | F3 | 20.2 | 24 | 1 |
| May 13, 1957 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 2, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 30, 1955 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 8, 1954 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- 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
54 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 24 at hurricane strength, 6 as major hurricanes.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 17, 1928
Unnamed storm, Category 3
19.2 miles at closest approach, winds near 129 mph.
Most recent
November 10, 2022
Nicole, Category 1
64.6 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Nicole | 2022 | 64.6 | Category 1 |
| Ian | 2022 | 69.2 | Category 1 |
| Alex | 2022 | 20.4 | Disturbance |
| Isaias | 2020 | 70.9 | Tropical storm |
| Gordon | 2018 | 93.8 | Tropical storm |
| Irma | 2017 | 64.2 | Category 2 |
| Matthew | 2016 | 87.3 | Category 3 |
| Fay | 2008 | 33.1 | Tropical storm |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 16.5 | Tropical storm |
| Wilma | 2005 | 13.4 | Category 3 |
| Tammy | 2005 | 72.8 | Tropical storm |
| Katrina | 2005 | 58.9 | Category 1 |
| Jeanne | 2004 | 41.9 | Category 3 |
| Frances | 2004 | 43.8 | Category 2 |
| Charley | 2004 | 88.5 | Category 4 |
| Irene | 1999 | 19.1 | Category 1 |
| Harvey | 1999 | 32.7 | Tropical storm |
| Mitch | 1998 | 9.2 | Tropical storm |
| Jerry | 1995 | 35.6 | Tropical storm |
| Erin | 1995 | 67.8 | Category 1 |
| Gordon | 1994 | 49.4 | Tropical storm |
| Andrew | 1992 | 79.1 | Category 4 |
| Keith | 1988 | 92.1 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1985 | 7.7 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 32.5 | Tropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 27.8 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 42.7 | Category 2 |
| Dottie | 1976 | 30.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1974 | 53.9 | Subtropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 83.7 | Tropical storm |
| Isbell | 1964 | 19.6 | Category 1 |
| Cleo | 1964 | 19.9 | Category 1 |
| Florence | 1960 | 9.6 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 72.2 | Category 3 |
| Judith | 1959 | 23.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 1.3 | Tropical storm |
| Hazel | 1953 | 49.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1953 | 97.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1952 | 24.8 | Tropical storm |
| How | 1951 | 37.9 | Tropical storm |
| King | 1950 | 6.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 15.7 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 62.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1948 | 4.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 53.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 38.7 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 22.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 45.0 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 89.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 61.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1939 | 45.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 77.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 60.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 60.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 87.7 | Category 5 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 30.7 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 28.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 74.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 19.2 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 49.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 96.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 57.0 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 69.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 47.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 51.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 87.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 4.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 46.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 80.9 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 10.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 5.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 59.7 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 67.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1904 | 42.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 17.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 13.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 88.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 86.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 34.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 76.8 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 98.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 92.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 42.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 8.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1891 | 75.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 20.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 57.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 18.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 37.0 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 51.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 67.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 53.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 15.0 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1876 | 78.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 56.9 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 36.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 36.5 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1870 | 19.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1865 | 31.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1863 | 70.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 40.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 8.9 | Tropical storm |
- 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
71 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
April 19, 1999
State Fire, 171,183 acres
24.6 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
July 7, 2025
13 Mile Fire
17,446 acres in total.
Every large fire
| 13 Mile Fire | 2025 | 18.5 | 17,446 |
| Bobcat | 2021 | 17.8 | 28,828 |
| 2020-18-0155-L-6 | 2020 | 22.5 | 764 |
| Two Trail (50) | 2019 | 22.8 | 831 |
| Lonebird | 2018 | 16.5 | 625 |
| G-205 (50) | 2018 | 18.4 | 10,751 |
| Three Mile | 2017 | 17.6 | 26,664 |
| Holiest Land | 2017 | 22.4 | 3,963 |
| Powerline 2 | 2015 | 17.5 | 1,183 |
| Alligator | 2014 | 24.7 | 50,625 |
| L 4 Cutout | 2014 | 17.6 | 23,037 |
| Holey Land 1 Fire | 2013 | 18.5 | 7,813 |
| West Holey Lands | 2012 | 18.7 | 9,097 |
| Unnamed | 2012 | 25.0 | 5,959 |
| Cinco De Mayo | 2012 | 24.6 | 3,180 |
| 3A North | 2011 | 24.7 | 6,946 |
| Camp G | 2011 | 22.3 | 1,194 |
| Trail 3 | 2011 | 17.8 | 6,852 |
| Deep Cypress | 2010 | 17.5 | 655 |
| Compartment D | 2010 | 17.5 | 1,430 |
| The Holyland | 2008 | 19.1 | 3,874 |
| Myakka Cut | 2008 | 19.1 | 36,847 |
| Grassy Island | 2008 | 17.8 | 1,961 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 18.2 | 765 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 24.0 | 1,282 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 18.8 | 962 |
| Midnight Special | 2007 | 18.0 | 872 |
| Scared Armadillo | 2007 | 15.4 | 4,681 |
| Surprise | 2007 | 18.5 | 810 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 24.9 | 2,360 |
| Aprils Fools | 2007 | 19.0 | 13,266 |
| Moonshine Bay | 2007 | 19.1 | 38,633 |
| Twenty Mile Deuce | 2006 | 16.8 | 1,372 |
| Berg Fire | 2006 | 17.6 | 28,965 |
| Corbett Trail | 2006 | 18.2 | 5,881 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 24.4 | 701 |
| Hillsboro Canal | 2004 | 21.4 | 5,464 |
| Rx Sw 1 | 2004 | 19.8 | 4,022 |
| Rottonberg | 2004 | 21.0 | 9,794 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 20.4 | 1,216 |
| The Friday 2 Fire | 2003 | 22.5 | 2,537 |
| Unnamed | 2001 | 24.6 | 9,717 |
| Unnamed | 2001 | 24.2 | 1,368 |
| March Fire | 2001 | 16.5 | 1,853 |
| Nw Fire | 2000 | 15.8 | 2,232 |
| North End | 2000 | 18.3 | 638 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 22.5 | 2,803 |
| State Fire | 1999 | 24.6 | 171,183 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 24.4 | 954 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 23.0 | 646 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 19.0 | 2,145 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 21.8 | 1,158 |
| Unnamed | 1996 | 20.6 | 2,341 |
| Unnamed | 1996 | 24.5 | 11,792 |
| Unnamed | 1995 | 24.5 | 2,078 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 20.9 | 11,003 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 15.3 | 49,672 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 18.4 | 19,089 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 20.7 | 2,790 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 24.9 | 1,568 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 22.5 | 4,685 |
| Unnamed | 1988 | 20.6 | 4,864 |
| Unnamed | 1988 | 22.3 | 1,575 |
| Unnamed | 1988 | 20.7 | 4,740 |
| Unnamed | 1987 | 17.6 | 546 |
| Unnamed | 1986 | 19.2 | 504 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 24.8 | 1,892 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 24.6 | 34,995 |
| Unnamed | 1984 | 17.6 | 4,627 |
| Unnamed | 1984 | 20.6 | 17,951 |
| Unnamed | 1984 | 18.3 | 1,624 |
- 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: 18 days
Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
5.1 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
4 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 11 so far in 2026.
- 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
10,758 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $72.3 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Palm Beach County, the county that contains Belle Glade.
Most claims in one year
2004: 1,926 claims
$16.5 million paid.
2nd most
1999: 1,500 claims
$8.6 million paid.
3rd most
2005: 814 claims
$1.4 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 33480 | 1,354 | $16.6 million |
| 33428 | 559 | $1.4 million |
| 33433 | 503 | $2.4 million |
| 33435 | 450 | $2.5 million |
| 33410 | 401 | $3.0 million |
| 33445 | 395 | $1.1 million |
| 33462 | 386 | $3.2 million |
| 33483 | 380 | $2.0 million |
| 33458 | 378 | $2.7 million |
| 33404 | 351 | $2.5 million |
| 33487 | 284 | $1.7 million |
| 33408 | 272 | $1.3 million |
| 33418 | 272 | $1.4 million |
| 33477 | 259 | $1.9 million |
| 33426 | 252 | $682,000 |
| 33432 | 237 | $7.3 million |
| 33414 | 237 | $647,000 |
| 33461 | 231 | $1.5 million |
| 33437 | 192 | $461,000 |
| 33406 | 189 | $1.1 million |
| 33436 | 188 | $285,000 |
| 33446 | 184 | $876,000 |
| 33411 | 178 | $1.1 million |
| 33401 | 177 | $1.8 million |
| 33460 | 175 | $1.0 million |
| 33467 | 171 | $531,000 |
| 33469 | 161 | $752,000 |
| 33496 | 139 | $1.3 million |
| 33405 | 137 | $583,000 |
| 33409 | 129 | $723,000 |
| 33431 | 128 | $1.8 million |
| 33484 | 127 | $725,000 |
| 33444 | 124 | $355,000 |
| 33486 | 118 | $570,000 |
| 33403 | 106 | $668,000 |
| 33470 | 105 | $518,000 |
| 33498 | 103 | $306,000 |
| 33407 | 84 | $387,000 |
| 33463 | 79 | $251,000 |
| 33434 | 78 | $447,000 |
| 33472 | 75 | $202,000 |
| 33478 | 71 | $467,000 |
| 33415 | 66 | $380,000 |
| 33417 | 54 | $121,000 |
| 49 | $53,000 | |
| 33449 | 40 | $214,000 |
| 33412 | 37 | $87,000 |
| 33476 | 16 | $46,000 |
| 33413 | 11 | $1,258 |
| 33430 | 11 | $27,000 |
| 33473 | 10 | $23,000 |
| 33777 | 10 | $15,000 |
| 33400 | 8 | $368,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood56
- Flash Flood47
- Coastal Flood34
- Heavy Rain11
2 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
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 Palm Beach County, the county that contains Belle Glade.
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for 5 gauges here but lists no crests for them.
River gauges
| Atlantic Ocean Tide Gauge at Ibis Way Bridge (in MHHW) | 1.3 | — | 0 |
| Atlantic Ocean Tide Gauge at Lake Worth (in MHHW) | 1.3 | — | 0 |
| Atlantic Ocean Tide Gauge at Town Marina Palm Beach (in MHHW) | 1.3 | — | 0 |
| Juno Beach Park Pier (in MHHW) | 1.3 | — | 0 |
| Loxahatchee River 500 ft downstream of US 1 at Jupiter (in MHHW) | 1.3 | — | 0 |
- 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.
High tide flooding
Tide gauges in Palm Beach County.
Most in one year, Lake Worth Pier, Atlantic Ocean
7 days
May 2025 to April 2026.
Last ten years
3.9 days a year
At Lake Worth Pier, Atlantic Ocean, 2016–26.
- High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 116 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 24 months.
The drought index is for Palm Beach County, the county that contains Belle Glade.
116
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
38
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
122
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
November 1989
−5.27, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
24 months
January 1989 to December 1990.
Latest month
September 2026
−3.85, severe drought
- 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
1,505 events in the National Weather Service record for Palm Beach County, 1,296 of them since 1996.
98
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
3
Hail, 2 inches or larger
252
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
0
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
41
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 7, 1962
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
August 11, 1963
115 mph
More event types since 1996
| Rip currents | 98 | 40 |
| High surf and sneaker waves | 14 | 3 |
| Storm surge and tide | 7 | 0 |
| Lightning | 83 | 10 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Oct 24, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Palm Beach$10 billion
National Weather Service narrative
Wilma was a classic October hurricane which struck South Florida as a Category 3 hurricane on October 24th, 2005. Wilma developed from a tropical depression near Jamaica, a typical source region for October tropical cyclones, on the afternoon of October 15, 2005. It became the 21st named storm of the season during the morning hours of October 17, 2005, which tied the record for the most named storms in one season originally set back in 1933. Wilma underwent a rapid intensification cycle which began on October 18th and ended in the early morning hours of October 19th, with a central pressure decrease of an incredible 88 mb in only 12 hours! The central pressure reached 882 mb,…
- Sep 4, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Palm Beach$500 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Frances formed from a tropical depression in the deep tropical Atlantic on August 25 about 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles and reached hurricane strength on August 26. Frances became a Category 4 Hurricane on August 28 while about 700 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. Frances then moved generally west northwest and weakened to a Category 2 hurricane while crossing the northwest Bahamas. After stalling for about 12 hours on September 4 in the Florida Straits between Grand Bahama Island and the southeast Florida coast, the center of the nearly 70-mile diameter eye crossed the Florida coast near Sewalls Point, at 1 A.M. EDT, September 5, 2004 with the southern…
- Sep 9, 2017Tropical Storm, Metro Palm Beach County$300 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Irma produced maximum sustained winds generally between 50 and 70 mph with stronger gusts across metro Palm Beach County. Highest measured wind gust in the county was 91 mph at Palm Beach International Airport at 455 PM EDT and at Lake Worth Pier at 500 PM EDT. Widespread tree and fence damage occurred county-wide, with only minor structural damage. 566,240 customers lost power, about 75% of total customers. Around 17,300 people evacuated to county shelters.
- Sep 25, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Palm Beach$260 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Jeanne formed from a tropical depression just east of the Leeward Islands on September 13. She moved across Puerto Rico and Hispaniola then turned north into the Atlantic and became a hurricane on September 20. Jeanne made a clockwise loop for three days in the Atlantic north of Hispaniola before moving west northwest. It strengthened to a Category 3 Hurricane while over the northwest Bahamas and then make landfall around 11 P.M., September 25 near the south end of Hutchinson Island, nearly coincident with the landfall point of Hurricane Frances nearly three week before. The 40-mile diameter eye was not quite as large as Frances, but the southern eyewall again affected…
- Oct 9, 2024Tornado$81.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado originated in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, where there was an observed radar-based circulation and a video of a tornado captured in this area from western Delray Beach. The tornado moved north-northeast, eventually affecting several western Palm Beach County communities. A National Weather Service survey identified the southernmost surveyed point in the Rustic Ranches section of Wellington where a double-wide mobile home on Deer Path Lane was left practically unrecognizable, rated as an EF-3 at this location with 7 injuries reported. The tornado tracked north-northeast over the far western portion of Wellington, across the Lakefield West, Meadowwood, and…
- Aug 7, 2003Tornado$80.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A SKYWARN spotter sighted a funnel cloud that touched down near North Lake Boulevard and North Military Trail. The tornado moved south through the Garden Walk Mobile Home Park then turned southeast and crossed I-95, overturning a semi-tractor trailer. The tornado proceeded east through Riviera Beach damaging the roofs of many houses and businesses. Twenty-eight persons suffered minor injuries, 58 homes were destroyed, 21 homes suffered major damage and 150 homes had minor damage. Several cars and trucks were overturned and damage was estimated at $70-80 million.
- Oct 14, 1999Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Palm Beach$68.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
After lingering as a broad area of low pressure in the western Caribbean Sea for four days, a tropical depression formed just after midnight EDT on October 13 and became tropical storm Irene in the northwest Caribbean Sea later that morning. Irene moved north across western Cuba on October 14 and strengthened to hurricane intensity early on October 15 in the Straits of Florida. It then made its first landfall in south Florida in the lower Florida Keys around 9 AM EDT, October 15. After crossing Florida Bay the center of Irene made landfall on the peninsula near Cape Sable around 4 PM EDT, October 15 as a Category One intensity hurricane. It moved northeast across central…
- Oct 15, 1999Flash Flood$60.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Widespread flooding from hurricane Irene inundated most of the metropolitan areas of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
- Oct 6, 2016High Surf, Coastal Palm Beach County$21.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
High surf caused by Hurricane Matthew pounded the beaches of Palm Beach County, resulting in moderate beach erosion. Beaches from Singer Island to Jupiter were the most affected by the high surf. Damage estimates from the beach erosion were $21 million.
- Jul 21, 2007Lightning$15.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The landmark Casa Amado mansion at 455 North County Road which was undergoing renovations was severely damaged by an apparent lightning strike. The mansion was totaled, with damage estimated at $15 million or more. ||The fire department was called in at 1135 PM after calls reporting smoke were received. Storms affected the area sometime around 230 PM, which is the time the lightning strike was believed to have occurred.
- 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 Canal Point Usda, 12.1 miles from the city centre, with records from 1953.
- All-time high
- 100°FJul 17, 1981
- All-time low
- 25°F4 times, most recently Dec 26, 1989
- Warmest night
- 83°FJul 10, 2020
- Coldest day
- 42°FDec 25, 1989
- Wettest day
- 9.68 inMay 30, 1993
- Hottest year
- 2020mean 77.8°F
- Coldest year
- 1966mean 71.6°F
- Wettest year
- 199474.33 in
- Driest year
- 200731.92 in
Station Canal Point Usda (USC00081276), 30 ft elevation, 12.1 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1953 to October 2, 2026; 94.2% 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
41 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.
Declarations for Palm Beach County.
| Oct 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834-FL |
| Oct 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622-FL |
| Dec 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680-FL |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Tropical Storm | EM-3587-FL |
| Sep 29, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4673-FL |
| Sep 24, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3584-FL |
| Aug 1, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3533-FL |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4486-FL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3432-FL |
| Oct 21, 2019 | Hurricane | DR-4468-FL |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3419-FL |
| Sep 10, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4337-FL |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3385-FL |
| Oct 8, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4283-FL |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3377-FL |
| Oct 18, 2012 | Hurricane | DR-4084-FL |
| Aug 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1785-FL |
| Aug 21, 2008 | Severe Storm | EM-3288-FL |
| Oct 24, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1609-FL |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3220-FL |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1561-FL |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1551-FL |
| Sep 4, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1545-FL |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1539-FL |
| Feb 5, 2001 | Freezing | DR-1359-FL |
| Oct 20, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1306-FL |
| Oct 15, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3150-FL |
| Sep 22, 1999 | Hurricane | DR-1300-FL |
| Sep 14, 1999 | Hurricane | EM-3143-FL |
| Apr 27, 1999 | Fire | EM-3139-FL |
| Apr 18, 1999 | Fire | FM-2256-FL |
| Nov 6, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1259-FL |
| Sep 25, 1998 | Hurricane | EM-3131-FL |
| Jun 18, 1998 | Fire | DR-1223-FL |
| Oct 27, 1995 | Flood | DR-1074-FL |
| Jan 15, 1990 | Freezing | DR-851-FL |
| Mar 18, 1985 | Freezing | DR-732-FL |
| May 6, 1980 | Human Cause | EM-3079-FL |
| Jan 31, 1977 | Freezing | DR-526-FL |
| Mar 15, 1971 | Freezing | DR-304-FL |
| Sep 14, 1965 | Hurricane | DR-209-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 USC00081276.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, 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.