Davenport

Population 18,110 (2025)

46 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Davenport since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1928 (Category 1).

Hazard fingerprint for Davenport Tornado: 94th percentile. Tropical: 96th percentile. Wildfire: 86th percentile. Flood: 24th percentile. Hail & wind: 26th percentile. Heat: 4th percentile. Cold: 91th 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 1950158
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger91
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198471
  • Major flood years since 1978, Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

46

16 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

158

3 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

71

Largest: Stagecoach Complex, 2001

Details

Flood insurance claims

1,671

Polk County

$45.8 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

April 4, 1966, 135.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 1

Hurricane (unnamed), 1928, 28.5 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

42

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

101°F

July 2, 1998

Details

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

April 4, 1966

F4, 135.8 mile path

300 yards wide; 11 killed along the whole path.

Deadliest

February 22, 1998

25 killed, F3

150 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Thursday, September 26, 2024

EF0, 1.1 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 7 7 1960s: 14 14 1970s: 28 28 1980s: 26 26 1990s: 43 43 2000s: 18 18 2010s: 17 17 2020s: 5 5 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 10 F: 10 M: 16 A: 14 M: 17 J: 33 33 J: 24 A: 9 S: 11 O: 2 N: 5 D: 7 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Sep 26, 2024EF01.12500
Jul 23, 2024EF00.12500
Apr 11, 2021EF01.45000
Dec 16, 2020EF112.925000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.02000
Oct 18, 2019EF211.452500
Dec 20, 2018EF00.13010
Sep 10, 2017EF20.65000
Jul 7, 2017EF00.72500
Jul 7, 2017EF00.11500
Jun 14, 2017EF00.01000
Sep 1, 2016EF01.515000
Jul 8, 2016EF00.23000
Jun 1, 2016EF00.73000
Aug 27, 2012EF00.83000
Jun 24, 2012EF03.710000
Jun 24, 2012EF26.215000
Jun 24, 2012EF00.92500
Mar 31, 2011EF09.46000
Mar 31, 2011EF05.55000
Mar 11, 2010EF11.47000
Mar 11, 2010EF00.42000
Aug 12, 2009EF00.13000
Jul 15, 2009EF00.15000
May 12, 2009EF00.01500
Nov 30, 2008EF00.12000
Aug 22, 2008EF00.73000
Apr 15, 2007EF02.030000
Jun 12, 2006F00.54000
Jun 30, 2005F00.54000
Apr 23, 2005F17.015000
Sep 4, 2004F03.65000
Sep 4, 2004F00.12000
Aug 13, 2004F12.03,00000
Aug 13, 2004F01.03000
Aug 13, 2004F01.03000
Feb 24, 2004F00.33000
Jul 25, 2002F01.04000
May 17, 2002F00.53300
Jul 30, 2000F00.2000
May 21, 1999F11.55000
Sep 25, 1998F00.53000
Mar 9, 1998F00.25000
Mar 9, 1998F210.425040
Feb 22, 1998F328.025015025
Feb 22, 1998F318.0200703
Feb 17, 1998F11.63000
Feb 16, 1998F01.53000
Dec 27, 1997F10.48000
Dec 27, 1997F25.8150180
Dec 27, 1997F01.03000
Jul 11, 1997F00.33000
Jul 5, 1997F00.18000
Jul 4, 1997F10.54000
Jun 11, 1997F00.11000
Jun 5, 1997F00.11000
May 28, 1997F00.11000
May 22, 1997F00.81000
Oct 7, 1996F052.01000
Mar 30, 1996F02.51000
Nov 8, 1995F01.27300
Aug 2, 1995F10.34000
Jun 4, 1995F116.05000
Sep 19, 1994F00.11000
May 18, 1994F00.11000
May 18, 1994F00.11000
May 18, 1994F00.11000
Apr 7, 1994F00.11000
Jan 3, 1994F01.01300
Mar 13, 1993F00.11000
Jan 4, 1993F00.11000
Dec 10, 1992F00.11000
Jun 28, 1992F00.11000
Jun 21, 1992F10.54000
Jul 17, 1991F00.11000
Jun 24, 1991F00.11000
Apr 25, 1991F00.55000
Apr 25, 1991F00.54000
Mar 18, 1991F12.010020
Jan 19, 1991F00.84000
Aug 13, 1990F00.21000
Jul 7, 1990F00.21000
Jun 22, 1990F00.21000
Jun 10, 1989F00.21000
Jun 10, 1989F00.21000
Apr 13, 1989F00.21000
Sep 1, 1987F11.03030
Jun 29, 1987F02.03010
Jun 22, 1987F00.23000
Jul 5, 1986F01.03000
Jun 19, 1986F00.53000
May 9, 1986F00.53000
Feb 11, 1986F10.51040
Feb 8, 1986F22.01000
Jul 1, 1984F00.53000
Sep 6, 1983F01.010000
Mar 24, 1983F10.88020
Jul 31, 1982F10.31000
Jul 26, 1982F10.11000
Jul 19, 1982F11.01000
Jun 18, 1982F10.51000
Jun 17, 1982F10.31000
Jun 15, 1982F01.01000
Apr 15, 1982F00.52000
Sep 16, 1981F01.02000
Jun 13, 1981F10.53000
Jun 10, 1981F00.12000
May 17, 1981F11.03000
Mar 19, 1981F25.450110
Sep 24, 1979F00.12000
May 8, 1979F24.0200401
Jun 10, 1978F00.52000
Jan 8, 1978F22.010000
Jun 5, 1977F00.11300
Feb 24, 1977F00.31000
Jan 10, 1977F10.22300
Jun 8, 1976F10.13000
May 16, 1975F17.35000
May 14, 1975F114.37000
May 9, 1975F12.55000
Apr 14, 1975F00.12300
Jun 18, 1974F10.21000
May 6, 1974F12.02000
Apr 16, 1974F00.51020
Mar 17, 1973F10.55000
Mar 17, 1973F20.32000
Jan 28, 1973F214.010070
Jan 22, 1973F11.52000
Jul 13, 1972F10.25000
Jun 18, 1972F10.35030
Nov 29, 1971F20.55000
Aug 24, 1971F10.35000
Jul 26, 1971F11.050000
Jul 2, 1971F01.05000
Jun 28, 1971F00.35000
Mar 3, 1971F10.55000
Feb 3, 1970F10.11000
Jul 14, 1969F10.11000
Nov 11, 1968F157.21000
Nov 9, 1968F169.31030
Jun 5, 1968F10.11000
Jan 24, 1968F00.11000
Dec 11, 1967F10.11000
Apr 4, 1966F2123.315000
Apr 4, 1966F4135.830053011
Jun 6, 1964F20.11000
Jan 12, 1964F14.72000
May 29, 1963F20.13020
Feb 19, 1963F20.21000
Apr 12, 1961F114.610010
Mar 15, 1960F11.010000
Jul 21, 1958F00.11000
Jan 21, 1958F10.21700
May 16, 1957F00.115000
Mar 4, 1957F00.52000
Jul 2, 1956F00.11000
Apr 30, 1954F00.11000
Jul 24, 1953F10.11710
  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

46 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 16 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 17, 1928

Unnamed storm, Category 1

28.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 94 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 1

13.8 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 0 70s: 4 4 80s: 3 90s: 4 00s: 1 10s: 2 20s: 3 30s: 3 40s: 3 50s: 3 60s: 3 70s: 0 80s: 3 90s: 2 00s: 4 10s: 2 20s: 3 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
Milton202413.8Category 186Category 5
Nicole202211.2Tropical storm63Category 1
Ian202243.4Category 174Category 5
Alex202297.0Disturbance45Tropical storm
Irma201733.6Category 178Category 5
Matthew201693.5Category 3122Category 5
Julia201646.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Fay200859.7Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Ernesto200655.7Tropical storm40Category 1
Tammy200580.7Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Jeanne200422.6Category 178Category 3
Frances200424.4Tropical storm68Category 4
Charley20044.3Category 186Category 4
Gabrielle20014.3Tropical storm49Category 1
Irene199995.5Category 175Category 2
Jerry19952.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Erin19953.4Tropical storm62Category 2
Marco199080.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Keith198826.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Chris198895.5Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Bob198574.3Tropical storm58Category 1
Isidore198413.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed198281.3Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Dennis198143.3Tropical storm40Category 1
David197963.1Category 298Category 5
Dottie197698.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed197498.2Subtropical storm58Tropical storm
Gladys196869.7Category 190Category 2
Dolly196861.6Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196830.1Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed196687.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Cleo196445.5Tropical storm52Category 4
Donna19607.7Category 178Category 4
Judith195991.5Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed195923.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195655.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hazel195367.8Category 174Category 1
How195179.4Tropical storm55Category 2
King195017.4Category 184Category 4
Easy195024.1Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed194923.9Category 183Category 4
Unnamed194781.2Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed194656.8Category 178Category 2
Unnamed19457.5Category 183Category 4
Unnamed194561.5Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed194434.0Category 186Category 4
Unnamed193925.1Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed193774.2Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed193742.5Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed193667.5Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed193598.0Category 3124Category 5
Unnamed193322.6Tropical storm71Category 4
Unnamed193378.4Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed192828.5Category 194Category 5
Unnamed19281.0Tropical storm51Category 2
Unnamed192670.6Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed192558.3Post-tropical61Category 1
Unnamed192136.8Category 189Category 4
Unnamed192081.6Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed191624.9Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191561.6Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed191017.6Tropical storm71Category 4
Unnamed190912.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190366.6Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed190192.1Tropical storm45Category 1
Unnamed189931.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18978.0Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Unnamed189681.9Tropical storm44Category 2
Unnamed18944.3Category 178Category 3
Unnamed189395.8Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189396.3Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189222.6Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed188999.6Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed188829.8Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed188738.2Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed188679.5Category 181Category 1
Unnamed188579.9Category 194Category 2
Unnamed188082.5Category 178Category 1
Unnamed188016.4Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed187984.1Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed187865.1Category 190Category 2
Unnamed187681.8Category 192Category 3
Unnamed187359.0Category 2101Category 3
Unnamed187341.1Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed187220.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187119.2Category 177Category 3
Unnamed18711.7Category 183Category 3
Unnamed187094.6Category 177Category 2
Unnamed186155.4Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed18592.8Category 189Category 1
Unnamed185967.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18585.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed18521.6Tropical storm60Category 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

71 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

February 22, 2001

Stagecoach Complex, 14,069 acres

6.2 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

June 2, 2021

Kelly Lane Fire

915 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1984: 7581985: 5,4471986: 6,3811989: 1,9941990: 1,6041991: 2,7841992: 5,3471993: 3,2341994: 8,6141995: 3,7291996: 1,5211997: 8301998: 6671999: 1,4682000: 5,8212001: 15,6122004: 10,2682006: 2,1142007: 12,6692008: 2,4222009: 1,9512012: 9412017: 9962021: 1,412 98,584 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Kelly Lane202115.8915
Calvin Lee Rd202124.9497
South Waters201721.3996
Double Gate201212.8941
Vbs Command200916.5556
Unnamed200912.8583
Sink Hole200923.2812
Unnamed200819.21,096
Unnamed200822.9675
Unnamed200810.8651
Unnamed200718.8697
Unnamed200713.3702
Unnamed200724.0610
Unnamed200724.8975
Unnamed200711.8927
Unnamed200724.5829
53 Early Morning200721.6604
Unnamed200718.8802
Unnamed200712.91,568
Unnamed200713.71,232
Unnamed200719.53,723
Unnamed200623.32,114
Unnamed200410.9625
Unnamed200413.61,138
Unnamed200423.7895
Sweet Gum200423.01,889
Unnamed200424.91,607
Unnamed200416.81,572
Unnamed200419.51,803
Unnamed200424.6739
Unnamed200113.41,543
Stagecoach Complex20016.214,069
Unnamed200020.72,350
Unnamed200015.82,284
Unnamed200012.71,187
Unnamed199922.81,468
Unnamed199815.8667
Unnamed199720.2830
Unnamed199616.6692
Unnamed199624.1829
Unnamed199525.03,729
Unnamed199423.32,174
Unnamed199422.91,368
Unnamed199418.71,508
Unnamed19946.02,031
Unnamed199423.6608
Unnamed199420.2925
Unnamed199321.1576
Unnamed199322.1621
Unnamed199321.82,037
Unnamed199217.81,132
Unnamed199224.1643
Unnamed199224.0872
Unnamed199218.3660
Unnamed199216.8667
Unnamed199211.31,373
Unnamed199124.9646
Unnamed199117.1927
Unnamed199123.3707
Unnamed199110.6504
Unnamed199018.21,016
Unnamed199024.3588
Unnamed19893.31,183
Unnamed198920.1811
Unnamed198615.82,784
Unnamed198611.3670
Unnamed198617.81,014
Unnamed198619.81,913
Unnamed198519.21,083
Unnamed198518.24,364
Unnamed198424.4758
  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: 14 days

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

Last 10 years

3.0 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

0 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 2 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 8 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 3 2022: 9 2023: 14 14 2024: 1 2025: 0 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

1,671 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $45.8 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Polk County, the county that contains Davenport.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 17 1988: 10 1991: 11 1994: 10 1995: 26 1997: 20 1998: 51 1999: 6 2001: 8 2002: 30 2003: 15 2004: 418 418 2005: 75 2008: 10 2009: 7 2010: 9 2011: 23 2012: 11 2013: 8 2014: 10 2015: 12 2016: 17 2017: 252 2019: 7 2020: 11 2021: 5 2022: 146 2023: 12 2024: 396 2025: 5 197919972003201020152021
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2004: 418 claims

$3.7 million paid.

2nd most

2024: 396 claims

$27.8 million paid.

3rd most

2017: 252 claims

$7.2 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
33810308$15.2 million
34759148$450,000
33809127$5.4 million
33844124$917,000
33898109$2.6 million
3388481$1.1 million
3381170$3.3 million
3388066$429,000
3380160$1.8 million
3382357$606,000
3381557$5.4 million
3381354$1.1 million
3388147$323,000
3383046$998,000
3386846$528,000
3380537$1.1 million
3380334$1.2 million
3384333$592,000
3386022$316,000
3381220$681,000
3385917$118,000
3384116$270,000
3383715$40,000
3385314$260,000
3385010$67,000
338979$384,000
338278$88,000
338497$101,000
338386$23,000
338966$40,000
338555$409

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood30
  • Heavy Rain17
  • Flash Flood8

1 death 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 Polk County, the county that contains Davenport.

Most severe crest

September 12, 2004

Peace River at SR 60 Bartow, 11.13 ft

3.13 feet above the 8.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 2, 2022

Peace River at SR 60 Bartow, 10.80 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 12, 2004Peace River at SR 60 Bartow11.13+3.13Major
Sep 13, 1960Peace River at SR 60 Bartow11.01+3.01Major
Sep 29, 2022Peace River at Fort Meade81.00+3.00Major
Sep 12, 2004Peace River at Fort Meade80.84+2.84Major
Oct 2, 2022Peace River at SR 60 Bartow10.80+2.80Major
Sep 11, 2017Peace River at Fort Meade79.84+1.84Major
Jun 22, 1959Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.73+1.73Moderate
Mar 20, 1960Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.72+1.72Moderate
Sep 17, 2017Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.48+1.48Moderate
Aug 2, 1960Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.16+1.16Minor
Mar 22, 1959Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.07+1.07Minor
Feb 23, 1998Peace River at SR 60 Bartow9.03+1.03Minor
Oct 11, 1953Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.97+0.97Minor
Mar 24, 1998Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.85+0.85Minor
Oct 15, 2024Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.84+0.84Minor
Aug 12, 1995Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.83+0.83Minor
Sep 18, 1959Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.80+0.80Minor
Sep 30, 1994Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.75+0.75Minor
Jul 14, 1959Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.73+0.73Minor
Dec 18, 2002Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.70+0.70Minor
Oct 4, 1979Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.66+0.66Minor
Aug 17, 2019Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.64+0.64Minor
Sep 29, 1998Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.62+0.62Minor
Aug 27, 2004Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.53+0.53Minor
Sep 24, 1947Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.52+0.52Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Peace River at Fort Meade78.081.00 ftSep 29, 20223
Peace River at SR 60 Bartow8.011.13 ftSep 12, 20043
  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 126 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.

The drought index is for Polk County, the county that contains Davenport.

126

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

35

Months in extreme drought

8%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

August 2026

−5.60, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

17 months

February 2000 to June 2001.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.56, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 1 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 3 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: 4 1928: 3 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 8 1933: 2 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 1 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 1 1950: 1 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 3 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 3 1962: 6 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 1 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 2 1972: 2 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 2 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 1 1981: 8 1982: 1 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 5 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 1 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 7 2000: 11 11 2001: 6 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 2 2007: 10 2008: 6 2009: 2 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 2 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 7 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 3 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

1,028 events in the National Weather Service record for Polk County, 742 of them since 1996.

126

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

10

Hail, 2 inches or larger

118

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

0

Winter weather events since 1996

1

Heat events since 1996

51

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 30, 1996

4.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

September 6, 1989

104 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning42750Jun 15, 2018
Dense fog and smoke54738Jan 9, 2008

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Aug 13, 2004High Wind, Polk$674 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The collective effects of Hurricane Charley in southwest and west central Florida during August 13th resulted in 8 direct fatalities, 16 indirect fatalities, 792 injuries, eight tornadoes, an eight foot storm surge in Lee County, an estimated $11.2 billion in property damage (estimated to be about twice that of the insured damage), and $460 million in crop damage. The fast movement of Hurricane Charley limited rain fall totals to 4 to 6 inches along the track of the hurricane's eye wall. River flooding of one to three feet above flood stage was found on area rivers south of Interstate 4. In Hardee County there were 6 injuries, zero fatalities, and damage was estimated at $750…

  2. Sep 25, 2004High Wind, Polk$250 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 eastern Polk County around 9 AM EDT on the 26th. The center of Jeanne curved north of Tampa Bay during the afternoon and travelled north along the coastal counties before exiting north through Levy County around 10 PM. In Highlands County there were 140 homes destroyed and…

  3. Sep 5, 2004High Wind, Polk$94.0 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. The damage totals listed were caused by trees…

  4. Sep 10, 2017Hurricane (Typhoon), Polk$69.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    In Polk County, the highest wind reported from Hurricane Irma was a gust to 75 knots at the APRS station AR663 near Bartow. Rainfall was generally around 6 inches or greater, with the highest rain total being 17.61 inches at the CWOP station E1114 in Davenport. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes and businesses, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. Most notably, the wind removed a 7 story tall section of facade from the Winter Haven Senior Living Center. Polk County Emergency Management reported that 96 homes or businesses were destroyed by Irma, 1604 sustained major damage, 7710 had minor damage, and an additional 18537 were affected.||The total property…

  5. Sep 28, 2022Tropical Storm, Polk$50.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The highest wind reported in Polk County was a gust to 78 mph in Bartow at 1:58 AM EST on September 29. Rainfall generally ranged from 6 to 12 inches, with a maximum total of 12 inches reported in Frostproof. The Peace River in Bartow reached its third highest level on record at 10.8 feet at 6 AM EST on October 2. 192 structures received major damage, 789 received minor damage, with another 1500 structures affected. There were 2 fatalities directly attributed to Hurricane Ian by the medical examiner.

  6. Mar 30, 1996Hail$24.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hail, most the size of baseballs and few the size of softballs, severely damaged the roofs and knocked out windows in nearly 600 homes in Lake Wales. The local fire station reported hail covered the ground nearly six inches deep during the peak of the hailstorm which lasted 15 minutes. Most of the damage was on the north side of homes and buildings. Estimated damage to homes and businesses was nearly $15 million dollars.Hail severely damaged the surfaces and knocked out the windshields of up to 3,000 vehicles in the Lake Wales area. Hail damage to vehicles was estimated at nearly $9 million dollars.Several trees were stripped of leaves and small branches by mostly baseball sized…

  7. Oct 18, 2019Tornado$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A long, continuous path of damage was found in western Polk County from a tornado, causing extensive EF-2 damage. An NWS survey and subsequent Civil Air Patrol aerial survey found numerous homes and businesses with damage to roofs, fascia, awnings, and screen enclosures, as well as fences and trees knocked down. One home was completely destroyed. Kathleen Middle School sustained significant roof damage, with rain water and sprinkler systems causing additional water damage. A camper was lifted into a residence near the middle school. The tornado crossed Interstate 4, overturning a tractor trailer. No injuries were reported.

  8. Dec 27, 1997Tornado$6.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A strong F2 tornado touched down in the Lake Region mobile home park along U.S. Highway 27 and County Road 544 in Polk county. Several mobile homes sustained major to severe damage. Residents of Haines City who heard the tornado described that the sound resembled a high-pitched whine.The F2 tornado moved northeast and travelled across U.S. Highway 27 and caused significant wall and roof damage to several well built wood, mixed brick and mobile homes over mainly south and east Haines City from County Road 544 northeast to County Road 580. The Boone Middle School over eastern Haines City had heavy damage to a main building while eleven portable classrooms were destroyed or heavily…

  9. Mar 9, 1998Tornado$2.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado (F0) touched down in rural semi-wooded swampland, seven miles southeast of Lake Wales in Southwest Polk County. Ground survey indicated that the tornado moved northeast across Lake-In-The-Water Road and caused sporadic minor damage to the roofs of a few homes and downed trees and branches in the Oakwood Drive subdivision. The tornado continued northeast, widened to 250 yards and intensified to F2 strength where it destroyed or severely damaged several structures along Doherty Drive.Two mobile homes that took a direct hit from the F2 tornado along Doherty Drive were completely disintegrated with only frame rails and tie downs intact. Meanwhile, in close proximity to the…

  10. Jul 1, 2005Flood, Polk$1.6 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    June rainfall of 14 to 18 inches in eastern Polk County had increased lake water levels from Lake Wales to Frostproof. The water levels were already high after three hurricanes moved over the area in 2004. Some lake levels have risen 10 feet during the last 12 months. About 107 manufactured homes have been lost to the flooding. About 175 of the 700 homes at Saddlebag Lake were surrounded by water. The county has begun pumping operations in an attempt to lower lake levels. There are no natural outlets for most of the lakes in eastern Polk County.

  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 International Airport, 24.9 miles from the city centre, with records from 1952.

All-time high
101°FJul 2, 1998
All-time low
19°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
81°F4 times, most recently Aug 8, 2024
Coldest day
36°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
Wettest day
7.72 inSep 28, 2022
Hottest year
2015mean 75.6°F
Coldest year
1968mean 69.9°F
Wettest year
199467.85 in
Driest year
200030.38 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Orlando International Airport 72° 50° 2.1 Jan 76° 53° 1.9 Feb 80° 57° 2.7 Mar 84° 62° 2.4 Apr 89° 67° 4.1 May 91° 72° 7.7 Jun 92° 74° 7.2 Jul 92° 75° 7.7 Aug 90° 73° 6.8 Sep 85° 67° 3.3 Oct 79° 59° 1.9 Nov 74° 54° 2.7 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 1976: 5 1977: 20 1978: 15 1979: 9 1980: 19 1981: 42 1982: 2 1983: 6 1984: 0 1985: 15 1986: 15 1987: 50 50 1988: 16 1989: 21 1990: 27 1991: 8 1992: 15 1993: 28 1994: 2 1995: 13 1996: 10 1997: 6 1998: 48 1999: 15 2000: 27 2001: 2 2002: 6 2003: 2 2004: 17 2005: 18 2006: 8 2007: 26 2008: 4 2009: 11 2010: 34 2011: 29 2012: 10 2013: 2 2014: 17 2015: 22 2016: 29 2017: 2 2018: 2 2019: 26 2020: 20 2021: 19 2022: 50 2023: 36 2024: 50 2025: 29 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 19.2.

Station Orlando International Airport (USW00012815), 89 ft elevation, 24.9 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1952 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% 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

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

Declarations for Polk 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
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
Apr 22, 2017FireIndian Lake Estates FireFire managementFM-5180-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Jul 3, 2012Severe StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4068-FL
Aug 24, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayMajor disasterDR-1785-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
Mar 26, 2007Fire53 Big Pine FireFire managementFM-2684-FL
Oct 24, 2005HurricaneHurricane WilmaMajor disasterDR-1609-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
Mar 18, 2001FireFl - Lakeland Complex FireFire managementFM-2353-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
May 20, 2000FireLakeland District FireFire managementFM-2300-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 21, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2259-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Mar 18, 1985FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-732-FL
Mar 29, 1984FreezingFreezing TemperaturesMajor disasterDR-698-FL
May 15, 1979Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-586-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 USW00012815.
  • 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.