Brooksville
Population 10,145 (2025)
48 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Brooksville since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1878 (Category 2).
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 1950136
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger89
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198442
- Major flood years since 1978, Hernando 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 Hernando 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 Hernando County.
Strongest tornado
F3
April 9, 1983, 10.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 13.2 miles away
Tornadoes
About 2 tornados a year since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 9, 1983
F3, 10.0 mile path
80 yards wide; 3 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, July 20, 2024
EF0, 0.0 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 20, 2024 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 15, 2022 | EF1 | 10.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 2022 | EF1 | 5.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 10, 2021 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 30, 2020 | EFU | 12.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 6, 2020 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2020 | EF0 | 7.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 9, 2018 | EF1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 2, 2018 | EF1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2016 | EF0 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2011 | EF1 | 2.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 2010 | EF0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 23, 2009 | EF0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 14, 2009 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 16, 2007 | EF1 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 2007 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 16, 2007 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | F2 | 0.8 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 20, 2006 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 31, 2005 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 2004 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 14, 2004 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 14, 2004 | F0 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 29, 2003 | F0 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 21, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 29, 2001 | F0 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2001 | F0 | 4.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 28, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 28, 2000 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1999 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2, 1999 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2, 1998 | F0 | 21.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2, 1998 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 16, 1998 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 2, 1998 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1997 | F0 | 16.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1997 | F0 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1997 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1997 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1997 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1996 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1996 | F0 | 20.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 1996 | F0 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1995 | F0 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 24, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1995 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1995 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1995 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 10, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1995 | F0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 1, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 1, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 14, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 30, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 30, 1993 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 5, 1993 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1993 | F0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1993 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 1, 1992 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 5, 1992 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1991 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1991 | F0 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1990 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1990 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1990 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 9, 1989 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 25, 1988 | F2 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 5, 1988 | F0 | 0.5 | 2 | 0 |
| Jul 6, 1987 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 7, 1987 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1987 | F2 | 12.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 29, 1987 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 1987 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1986 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 14, 1986 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 8, 1986 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 1985 | F0 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1984 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1984 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 25, 1983 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1983 | F3 | 10.0 | 2 | 3 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 10, 1982 | F1 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 1982 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 9, 1982 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1982 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 1981 | F1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 23, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 23, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1979 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 23, 1979 | F1 | 4.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Dec 5, 1978 | F1 | 0.4 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 1, 1978 | F2 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 26, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 12, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 7, 1977 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 30, 1976 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 1, 1976 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 28, 1976 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 27, 1976 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 11, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 18, 1975 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 6, 1975 | F1 | 54.9 | 5 | 0 |
| May 16, 1974 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1974 | F1 | 25.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 19, 1974 | F1 | 45.9 | 55 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1973 | F2 | 0.3 | 1 | 0 |
| Jan 28, 1973 | F1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1972 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1971 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 4, 1970 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 13, 1969 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 1969 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 9, 1968 | F2 | 29.6 | 4 | 0 |
| Jun 30, 1964 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1959 | F2 | 0.1 | 12 | 0 |
| Jan 9, 1953 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 1952 | F0 | 0.1 | 1 | 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
48 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 16 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 10, 1878
Unnamed storm, Category 2
13.2 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.
Most recent
October 10, 2024
Milton, Category 2
60.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Milton | 2024 | 60.2 | Category 2 |
| Debby | 2024 | 97.2 | Category 1 |
| Nicole | 2022 | 10.4 | Tropical storm |
| Ian | 2022 | 95.7 | Category 1 |
| Elsa | 2021 | 69.7 | Tropical storm |
| Eta | 2020 | 48.6 | Tropical storm |
| Irma | 2017 | 9.3 | Tropical storm |
| Emily | 2017 | 70.3 | Tropical storm |
| Julia | 2016 | 80.2 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 88.9 | Tropical storm |
| Fay | 2008 | 73.0 | Tropical storm |
| Jeanne | 2004 | 4.1 | Tropical storm |
| Frances | 2004 | 22.2 | Tropical storm |
| Charley | 2004 | 56.8 | Category 1 |
| Gabrielle | 2001 | 49.9 | Tropical storm |
| Gordon | 2000 | 65.9 | Tropical storm |
| Erin | 1995 | 12.7 | Tropical storm |
| Marco | 1990 | 37.6 | Tropical storm |
| Keith | 1988 | 69.1 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 86.8 | Category 2 |
| Isidore | 1984 | 6.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 27.1 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 94.3 | Tropical storm |
| Gladys | 1968 | 20.0 | Category 1 |
| Brenda | 1968 | 78.9 | Tropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 81.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1966 | 41.6 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1966 | 88.6 | Category 2 |
| Cleo | 1964 | 83.4 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 45.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1959 | 21.4 | Tropical storm |
| Love | 1950 | 88.1 | Tropical storm |
| King | 1950 | 50.7 | Category 1 |
| Easy | 1950 | 12.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 1.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 27.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 8.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 42.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 14.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 20.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 83.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1939 | 23.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1937 | 63.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1937 | 7.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 66.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 60.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 3.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 13.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 77.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 2.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 89.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1921 | 8.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 40.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 16.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 83.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 31.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 5.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 63.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 93.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 86.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 22.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 94.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 34.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 62.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 58.0 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 53.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 55.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 50.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 63.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 7.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 10.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 26.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 68.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 79.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 32.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 6.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 37.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 13.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 64.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 48.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 14.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 27.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 59.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 29.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 31.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 84.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 41.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 98.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1858 | 48.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 30.6 | 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
42 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
February 22, 1995
Unnamed Fire, 5,475 acres
21.3 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
May 18, 2022
Mine (27) Fire
638 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Mine (27) | 2022 | 8.9 | 638 |
| Sludge Pit | 2021 | 5.1 | 721 |
| Cod Dr | 2017 | 18.7 | 640 |
| Anclote Branch | 2017 | 20.6 | 2,510 |
| Lead Place | 2017 | 22.7 | 1,867 |
| Trail 12 | 2015 | 18.0 | 1,039 |
| Cement | 2013 | 5.5 | 655 |
| South Road Fire | 2013 | 11.0 | 1,044 |
| Unnamed | 2009 | 18.4 | 675 |
| Bayport | 2009 | 13.6 | 1,117 |
| Old Fifty | 2009 | 15.4 | 665 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 21.7 | 839 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 7.9 | 544 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 20.6 | 602 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 18.4 | 660 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 21.5 | 779 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 16.3 | 668 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 17.6 | 1,188 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 22.9 | 653 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 19.0 | 631 |
| Kerry Tully | 2007 | 21.4 | 571 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 13.1 | 810 |
| Holder Fire | 2007 | 18.4 | 663 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 16.4 | 528 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 22.5 | 660 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 20.9 | 1,259 |
| Big Fish Fire | 2006 | 9.2 | 2,002 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 21.7 | 3,044 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 16.9 | 1,668 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 20.5 | 1,210 |
| Compressco Fire | 2004 | 21.4 | 788 |
| Crane 3 | 2001 | 20.2 | 839 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 20.3 | 1,242 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 21.3 | 659 |
| Unnamed | 1998 | 18.2 | 750 |
| Unnamed | 1998 | 19.9 | 1,065 |
| Unnamed | 1997 | 23.1 | 1,058 |
| Unnamed | 1995 | 21.3 | 5,475 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 22.0 | 1,064 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 24.4 | 2,790 |
| Mason Ck | 1989 | 19.3 | 2,249 |
| Unnamed | 1986 | 24.8 | 2,338 |
- 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: 15 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
1 day
Medium or heavy smoke. 2 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
3,245 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $138 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Hernando County, the county that contains Brooksville.
Most claims in one year
2024: 1,058 claims
$81.8 million paid.
2nd most
1993: 830 claims
$23.0 million paid.
3rd most
2023: 291 claims
$16.5 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 34607 | 2,530 | $115 million |
| 33523 | 268 | $13.3 million |
| 34601 | 123 | $3.7 million |
| 34602 | 48 | $1.4 million |
| 33597 | 42 | $1.1 million |
| 34679 | 41 | $953,000 |
| 34606 | 29 | $315,000 |
| 34613 | 26 | $300,000 |
| 34609 | 25 | $262,000 |
| 34604 | 22 | $769,000 |
| 33512 | 20 | $282,000 |
| 33526 | 13 | $111,000 |
| 34614 | 10 | $440,000 |
| 34608 | 10 | $17,000 |
| 7 | $96,000 | |
| 33525 | 6 | $18,000 |
| 34661 | 5 | $27,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood26
- Heavy Rain8
- Flash Flood3
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 Hernando County, the county that contains Brooksville.
Most severe crest
June 21, 1934
Withlacoochee River at US 301 Trilby (in NAVD88), 68.65 ft
8.35 feet above the 60.3 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
October 19, 2024
Withlacoochee River (FL) at Croom (in NAVD88), 51.17 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Gulf of America Near Bayport (in MHHW) | 2.0 | — | 0 |
| Little Withlacoochee River at Rerdell (in NAVD88) | 65.0 | — | 0 |
| Withlacoochee River (FL) at Croom (in NAVD88) | 47.2 | 53.37 ft | 5 |
| Withlacoochee River at US 301 Trilby (in NAVD88) | 60.3 | 68.65 ft | 8 |
- 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 138 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 29 months.
The drought index is for Hernando County, the county that contains Brooksville.
138
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
42
Months in extreme drought
9%
Share of all months, severe or worse
Lowest reading
June 2026
−6.38, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
29 months
February 1999 to June 2001.
Latest month
September 2026
−4.72, extreme 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
466 events in the National Weather Service record for Hernando County, 396 of them since 1996.
12
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
0
Hail, 2 inches or larger
66
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
1
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
93
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
July 5, 1961
1.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
March 30, 2011
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Storm surge and tide | 6 | 0 |
| Lightning | 17 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 53 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Sep 5, 2004Tropical Storm, Hernando$23.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Frances made landfall just after midnight on September 5th near Vero Beach as a Category 2 storm. The hurricane continued to move slowly west northwestward across central Florida to near Bartow by 2 pm, and just northeast of Tampa by 8 pm, when it was downgraded to a tropical storm. It then emerged back into the Gulf of Mexico near Hudson shortly before midnight. Hurricane Frances took almost 24 hours to move through the Florida peninsula. Frances continued northwestward through the northern gulf of Mexico, making a second landfall on the afternoon of September 6th in the Florida big bend near Tallahassee as a tropical storm. In Lee County the observation at Big Carlos…
- Sep 26, 2004Tropical Storm, Hernando$10.8 million
National Weather Service narrative
Hurricane Jeanne followed the nearly the same path across Florida as Hurricane Frances three weeks earlier and was the unprecedented fourth hurricane to damage Florida during the 2004 hurricane season. The hurricane moved ashore along the east coast of Florida near Stuart late on September 25th with an eye 30 to 40 miles across. Jeanne took a course north of Lake Okeechobee and decreased to a tropical storm in easter Polk County around 9 AM EDT on the 26th. The center of Jeanne curved north of Tampa Bay during the afternoon and traveled north along the coastal counties before exiting north through Levy County around 10 PM. In Hillsborough County the observation from the Vandenburg…
- Sep 1, 2016Storm Surge/Tide, Coastal Hernando$7.8 million
National Weather Service narrative
In Hernando County, storm surge generally ranged from 4 to 6 feet above normal high tide. Damage was estimated at $7,800,000, with 128 properties with minor damage, and 65 with major damage. The storm tide flooded roads and stranded about 975 households in the Hernando Beach community, some of which called 911 to be rescued.
- Sep 11, 2017Flood$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Heavy rains from Hurricane Irma caused the Withlacoochee River at Trilby to rise above flood stage on the 11th, with flooding continuing through the rest of the month. The water level crested at 17.67 feet on September 21st, 1.17 feet above the major flooding threshold. This marks the 5th highest river crest on record for the Withlacoochee River at Trilby.||Farther upstream on the Withlacoochee River, flooding begin at Croom on the 13th and continued through the rest of the month. The river level crested at 11.27 feet on the 22nd, 0.47 feet above the moderate flood stage.||The flood waters entered numerous homes, with Hernando County reporting that 4000 residents were impacted by…
- Oct 7, 1996Tropical Storm, Hernando$3.9 million
National Weather Service narrative
Tropical Storm Josephine moved northeast across the Gulf of Mexico and brought low to moderate range tropical storm force winds to mainly coastal areas of West Central and Southwest Florida. Maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts as high as 71 mph were observed at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at the mouth of Tampa Bay.Tropical Storm Josephine moved onshore in the Big Bend area of Florida and caused storm surges of 8 to 9 feet at Cedar Key in Levy county shortly after midnight on the 8th. Storm surges of 4 to 6 feet were common from Citrus county south to the Tampa Bay metro area. Storm surges of 2 to 4 feet were common from Anna Maria Island in Manatee county south to Ft.…
- Dec 18, 1997Flood$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Withlacoochee River at Croom crested at 10.9 feet, nearly two feet above the flood stage of nine feet on the 31st. Several homes along Hernando-Pasco county line, from Croom south to Ridge Manor, were damaged by floodwaters. The most heavily damaged areas were near County Road 575 and U.S. Highway 301 at the Talisman Estates along the eastern Pasco-Hernando county line. Fifty-four homes were damaged by floodwaters of which ten were destroyed and another 27 incurred major damage.
- Jun 24, 2012Flood$940,000
National Weather Service narrative
Part of the Suncoast Parkway between State Road 50 and US 98 was closed due to flooding from heavy rains in Tropical Storm Debby from June 24th through July 4th. Some parts of the Parkway were under 5 feet of water.
- Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Inland Hernando$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
In inland portions of Hernando County, winds from Hurricane Irma were estimated to be around 34 to 50 knots based on surrounding observations. Rainfall was generally around 6 inches or greater. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes and businesses, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. Hernando County Emergency Management reported that 26 homes or businesses were destroyed by Irma, 45 sustained major damage, 103 had minor damage, and an additional 112 were affected throughout the county.||The total property damage in Hernando County was estimated at $6.1 million, including $800,000 in individual assistance claims and $5.3 million in public assistance claims.…
- Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Coastal Hernando$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
In coastal portions of Hernando County, winds from Hurricane Irma were estimated to be around 34 to 50 knots, with the highest wind reported being a gust to 36 knots at the WeatherFlow station XWKI in Weeki Wachee. Rainfall was generally around 5 inches or greater, with the highest rain total being 10.31 inches at a mesonet station near the Withlacoochee River at Trilby. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes and businesses, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. Hernando County Emergency Management reported that 26 homes or businesses were destroyed by Irma, 45 sustained major damage, 103 had minor damage, and an additional 112 were affected.||The total damage…
- Apr 23, 1997Tornado$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado sporatically touched down along a 16 mile path and damaged up to 50 homes from near U.S. HIghway 41, four miles southwest of Brooksville, east to the Ridge Manor area. Several trees and power lines were also downed from the tornado before it lifted and dissipated. Most damage to homes in the path of the tornado consisted of minor to moderate roof damage, destroyed porch and pool enclosures and downed trees.
- 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 Brooksville Hernando County Airport, 4.2 miles from the city centre, with records from 1996.
- All-time high
- 100°F4 times, most recently Aug 13, 2023
- All-time low
- 14°FJan 11, 2010
- Warmest night
- 81°FAug 7, 2024
- Coldest day
- 39°FJan 9, 2010
- Wettest day
- 10.24 inJun 24, 2012
- Hottest year
- 2022mean 73.9°F
- Coldest year
- 2010mean 67.9°F
- Wettest year
- 200368.66 in
- Driest year
- 202533.21 in
Station Brooksville Hernando County Airport (USW00012818), 65 ft elevation, 4.2 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1996 to October 26, 2026; 98.7% 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
40 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.
Declarations for Hernando County.
| Oct 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834-FL |
| Oct 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622-FL |
| Sep 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828-FL |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615-FL |
| Aug 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806-FL |
| Aug 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605-FL |
| Aug 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734-FL |
| Aug 28, 2023 | Tropical Storm | EM-3596-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 |
| Jul 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | EM-3561-FL |
| Nov 11, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3551-FL |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4486-FL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3432-FL |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3419-FL |
| Oct 9, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3405-FL |
| Sep 10, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4337-FL |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3385-FL |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3377-FL |
| Sep 28, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4280-FL |
| Jul 3, 2012 | Severe Storm | DR-4068-FL |
| Aug 21, 2008 | Severe Storm | EM-3288-FL |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3220-FL |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1561-FL |
| Sep 4, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1545-FL |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1539-FL |
| Jul 29, 2003 | Severe Storm | DR-1481-FL |
| Feb 5, 2001 | Freezing | DR-1359-FL |
| May 19, 2000 | Fire | FM-2299-FL |
| Sep 25, 1998 | Hurricane | EM-3131-FL |
| Jun 18, 1998 | Fire | DR-1223-FL |
| Jan 6, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1195-FL |
| Oct 15, 1996 | Severe Storm | DR-1141-FL |
| Mar 13, 1993 | Tornado | DR-982-FL |
| Jan 15, 1990 | Freezing | DR-851-FL |
| Sep 29, 1979 | Flood | DR-607-FL |
| Jan 31, 1977 | Freezing | DR-526-FL |
| Nov 7, 1968 | Hurricane | DR-252-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 USW00012818.
- 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.