Green Cove Springs

Population 10,079 (2025)

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

Hazard fingerprint for Green Cove Springs Tornado: 58th percentile. Tropical: 96th percentile. Wildfire: 48th percentile. Flood: 81th percentile. Hail & wind: 73th percentile. Heat: 0th percentile. Cold: 0th percentile. Winter: 2th 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 1950137
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger105
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198415
  • Major flood years since 1978, Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

45

10 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

1,744

Clay County

$76.3 million paid since 1979

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

137

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

15

Largest: Unnamed, 2007

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

February 7, 1971, 13.1 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane David, 1979, 47.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

39

Most recent: Railroad Complex Fire, 2026

Details

Record high

104°F

June 19, 1998

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

February 7, 1971

F3, 13.1 mile path

200 yards wide.

Deadliest

December 5, 1977

1 killed, F2

10 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Thursday, May 29, 2025

EF0, 1.6 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 9 9 1960s: 10 10 1970s: 25 25 1980s: 14 14 1990s: 16 16 2000s: 30 30 2010s: 15 15 2020s: 18 18 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 6 F: 15 M: 11 A: 11 M: 9 J: 22 J: 13 A: 13 S: 25 25 O: 4 N: 1 D: 7 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
May 29, 2025EF01.61500
Jul 20, 2024EF00.4500
Jun 28, 2024EF11.420000
Apr 11, 2024EF16.731010
Apr 3, 2024EF00.212500
Feb 4, 2024EF01.42500
Feb 4, 2024EF11.010000
Feb 4, 2024EF11.120000
Jan 9, 2024EF00.23000
Sep 26, 2023EF00.0500
Sep 26, 2023EF00.41000
Sep 11, 2023EF00.0500
Jul 7, 2021EF13.715000
Feb 14, 2021EF00.01000
Dec 24, 2020EF10.610000
Dec 24, 2020EF10.96000
Dec 24, 2020EF14.110020
Mar 31, 2020EF00.470400
Dec 14, 2019EF00.232500
Oct 10, 2018EF016.62500
Jul 23, 2018EF00.02500
Sep 10, 2017EF15.020000
Sep 10, 2017EF11.25000
Feb 7, 2017EF10.516000
Feb 7, 2017EF11.17500
Jun 6, 2016EF13.918000
Jun 10, 2015EF00.810000
Apr 25, 2015EF13.435000
Jul 21, 2013EF00.12000
May 4, 2013EF00.920000
Oct 10, 2011EF10.73000
Jun 20, 2010EF03.41000
Jan 21, 2010EF19.040000
Jun 26, 2009EF07.12000
Dec 11, 2008EF00.45000
Aug 23, 2008EF03.710000
Aug 22, 2008EF01.310000
Aug 22, 2008EF00.110000
Aug 22, 2008EF00.210000
Aug 22, 2008EF00.61000
Jun 13, 2007EF00.21000
Jun 21, 2005F01.0000
Sep 26, 2004F02.0100
Sep 26, 2004F02.0100
Sep 26, 2004F01.0100
Sep 26, 2004F02.0100
Sep 7, 2004F00.57500
Sep 7, 2004F01.0100
Sep 7, 2004F00.57500
Sep 6, 2004F01.07500
Sep 6, 2004F01.07500
Sep 6, 2004F10.57500
Sep 6, 2004F01.07500
Sep 5, 2004F010.07500
Sep 5, 2004F01.07500
Sep 5, 2004F05.07500
Aug 12, 2004F11.0100
Jul 19, 2002F00.0000
Jun 11, 2001F00.11001
Mar 29, 2001F00.11000
Mar 29, 2001F212.015000
Sep 6, 2000F00.1000
Sep 6, 2000F00.1000
Jan 2, 1999F05.01000
Oct 7, 1996F00.11000
Jun 14, 1996F00.11000
Apr 30, 1996F00.51000
Feb 2, 1996F03.01000
Feb 2, 1996F26.08000
Feb 2, 1996F06.51001
Sep 14, 1995F02.01000
Aug 3, 1995F08.01000
Jun 12, 1995F01.01000
Apr 24, 1995F210.035050
Jul 2, 1994F00.11000
Jan 3, 1994F00.11000
Aug 18, 1993F00.11000
Apr 11, 1992F00.11000
Jun 3, 1990F00.21000
Jun 15, 1989F00.21000
Nov 4, 1988F11.04000
Jul 10, 1988F01.03000
Jun 10, 1988F01.03000
Mar 14, 1986F01.01000
Feb 27, 1984F23.03020
Apr 23, 1983F16.04000
Jun 26, 1982F00.51000
Apr 1, 1981F13.02000
Aug 13, 1980F12.03000
Jul 14, 1980F11.02010
Mar 10, 1980F10.32000
Mar 10, 1980F10.53300
Feb 24, 1980F11.01000
Sep 29, 1979F00.33000
Aug 6, 1978F00.11000
Jun 3, 1978F00.11300
May 4, 1978F00.21000
May 4, 1978F00.11300
May 3, 1978F00.11000
Jan 19, 1978F00.52000
Dec 5, 1977F29.440101
Jun 20, 1977F12.62000
Aug 10, 1976F00.11700
Jul 30, 1976F00.11300
Mar 25, 1975F00.21000
Mar 18, 1975F21.010000
Feb 6, 1975F120.710010
May 12, 1974F24.310020
May 12, 1974F12.05000
May 12, 1974F217.53310
Apr 4, 1973F239.06740
Jul 26, 1972F10.33040
Mar 28, 1972F13.62000
Mar 28, 1972F16.82000
Mar 28, 1972F00.52000
Jan 22, 1972F20.35040
Feb 7, 1971F313.120000
Feb 7, 1971F22.03300
Jun 5, 1969F10.11000
Sep 7, 1968F19.51000
May 22, 1967F217.42020
Sep 28, 1966F10.11000
Aug 23, 1962F00.11000
Jul 12, 1961F00.11000
Apr 9, 1961F25.120020
Oct 7, 1960F00.11000
Jun 4, 1960F20.11000
Feb 25, 1960F00.13300
Jun 6, 1959F10.11000
Apr 15, 1958F33.67390
Jul 9, 1957F00.12000
Jul 2, 1957F00.11000
Jun 8, 1957F20.12300
Jun 8, 1957F20.93300
Jun 8, 1957F26.42700
Dec 13, 1953F12.710000
Aug 10, 1953F11.06700
  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

45 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 10 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 4, 1979

David, Category 2

47.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 98 mph.

Most recent

August 6, 2024

Debby, Tropical storm

67.3 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 0 60s: 1 70s: 6 80s: 4 90s: 1 00s: 2 10s: 4 20s: 2 30s: 2 40s: 4 50s: 2 60s: 7 7 70s: 1 80s: 3 90s: 0 00s: 3 10s: 2 20s: 1 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
Debby202467.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Idalia202394.7Category 192Category 4
Nicole202295.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Eta202025.4Tropical storm44Category 4
Irma201766.6Tropical storm58Category 5
Matthew201660.3Category 3114Category 5
Julia20167.6Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Colin201655.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea201355.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Beryl201214.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Fay200836.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Ernesto200686.0Tropical storm54Category 1
Tammy200528.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Jeanne200477.2Tropical storm51Category 3
Charley200447.3Category 186Category 4
Kyle200270.3Tropical storm39Category 1
Gabrielle200197.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Gordon200064.6Tropical storm40Category 1
Josephine199673.2Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Chris198866.1Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Isabel198543.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Bob198573.3Tropical storm72Category 1
Isidore198415.1Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198479.2Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed19829.0Subtropical storm58Tropical storm
Dennis198153.0Tropical storm46Category 1
David197947.8Category 298Category 5
Unnamed197668.4Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Alpha197252.9Subtropical storm52Tropical storm
Gladys196828.7Category 184Category 2
Dolly196883.6Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196849.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196825.5Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed196549.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hilda196470.5Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora19642.7Category 192Category 4
Cleo196422.8Tropical storm63Category 4
Donna196045.3Category 186Category 4
Brenda196071.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed195992.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195677.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Love195081.0Tropical storm43Category 1
King195037.3Category 176Category 4
Easy19509.2Tropical storm43Category 3
Unnamed194971.2Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194756.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed194740.0Post-tropical54Tropical storm
Unnamed194633.5Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed194517.4Category 174Category 4
Unnamed194537.6Tropical storm66Category 2
Unnamed19443.8Tropical storm68Category 4
Unnamed193745.8Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Unnamed193755.4Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed193644.6Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed193598.0Category 181Category 5
Unnamed193391.1Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed193260.4Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed19284.1Category 176Category 5
Unnamed192614.7Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed192496.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed192179.3Category 183Category 4
Unnamed192035.2Post-tropical52Category 1
Unnamed191986.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191610.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19151.5Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed191445.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed191290.8Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed191013.3Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed190977.4Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed190795.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed190616.8Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed190028.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189957.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189861.3Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed189775.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189651.2Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed189434.9Category 178Category 3
Unnamed189358.9Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189362.7Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed189378.1Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed18895.3Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed188817.6Category 186Category 2
Unnamed188869.3Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed188764.3Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed18869.8Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed188574.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188564.3Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed188583.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188557.0Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed188476.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188261.3Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed188020.3Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed188054.4Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed187927.1Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187882.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187821.2Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed187726.2Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed187780.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187424.7Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed187352.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187358.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187296.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187116.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187180.1Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed187142.9Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed186879.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186710.7Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed186796.3Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed185890.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed185470.3Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed185361.6Category 2104Category 2
  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

15 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

May 8, 2007

Unnamed Fire, 13,803 acres

22.1 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 17, 2021

Oscar Ashton Road Fire

773 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1987: 1,4581989: 5871991: 1,2651998: 20,0452007: 14,8952010: 2,0512016: 1,3152021: 773 42,389 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Oscar Ashton Road202110.6773
03-16 Cecil Wf201617.91,315
Normandy201023.92,051
Unnamed200722.113,803
Unnamed200710.71,092
Unnamed199823.17,340
Unnamed19984.72,202
Unnamed19987.82,317
Unnamed19984.21,331
Unnamed199817.2913
Unnamed199822.14,844
Unnamed199822.11,098
Unnamed199119.21,265
Unnamed198918.8587
Unnamed198715.71,458
  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

2011: 21 days

Heavy smoke on 2 days in 2021, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

4.3 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

4 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 8 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 21 21 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 1 2017: 2 2018: 3 2019: 1 2020: 1 2021: 6 2022: 8 2023: 14 2024: 3 2025: 4 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

1,744 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $76.3 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Clay County, the county that contains Green Cove Springs.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1980: 8 1983: 5 1988: 12 1991: 15 1992: 85 1996: 75 1997: 21 1998: 50 2000: 15 2001: 17 2003: 9 2004: 119 2005: 6 2007: 31 2008: 58 2009: 50 2012: 190 2013: 35 2016: 56 2017: 793 793 2018: 5 2021: 5 2022: 39 2023: 5 19801996200320092018
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2017: 793 claims

$61.2 million paid.

2nd most

2012: 190 claims

$4.7 million paid.

3rd most

2004: 119 claims

$1.5 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
32068816$40.0 million
32003334$16.7 million
32073272$10.2 million
32043195$6.1 million
32065118$3.2 million

Flood events since 1996

  • Heavy Rain88
  • Flood23
  • Flash Flood5
  • Coastal 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 Clay County, the county that contains Green Cove Springs.

Most severe crest

September 12, 2017

Black Creek at Middleburg, 30.52 ft

15.52 feet above the 15.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 9, 2026

St. Johns River at Buckman Bridge (I-295) (in MHHW), 2.16 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 12, 2017Black Creek at Middleburg30.52+15.52Major
Sep 11, 2017South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms29.36+14.86Major
Sep 11, 2017North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg27.89+12.89Major
Oct 19, 1944South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms26.33+11.83Major
May 21, 1959South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms25.21+10.71Major
Jun 1, 1919North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg25.30+10.30Major
Jun 27, 2012North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg25.26+10.26Major
Oct 4, 1992North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg24.69+9.69Major
May 3, 2013South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms23.68+9.18Major
Jun 27, 2012Black Creek at Middleburg24.10+9.10Major
May 3, 1964North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg23.91+8.91Major
Oct 19, 1944North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg23.76+8.76Major
Aug 30, 1968North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg23.32+8.32Major
Feb 3, 1970South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms22.71+8.21Major
Sep 24, 1947South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms22.60+8.10Major
Apr 27, 1997South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms22.57+8.07Major
Oct 8, 1996North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg22.95+7.95Major
Sep 11, 1964North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg22.61+7.61Major
Sep 30, 1969South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms22.03+7.53Major
Feb 4, 1970North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg22.47+7.47Major
Feb 17, 1998North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg22.40+7.40Major
Oct 4, 1992Black Creek at Middleburg22.37+7.37Major
Sep 24, 1947North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg22.34+7.34Major
Oct 21, 1941South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms21.65+7.15Major
Oct 19, 1950South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms21.25+6.75Major

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Black Creek (in MHHW)1.81.92 ftSep 10, 20250
Black Creek at Middleburg15.030.52 ftSep 12, 20179
North Fork Black Creek near Middleburg15.027.89 ftSep 11, 201723
South Fork Black Creek near Penney Farms14.529.36 ftSep 11, 201717
St. Johns River at Buckman Bridge (I-295) (in MHHW)1.55.20 ftSep 11, 20177
St. Johns River at Shands Bridge2.03.66 ftOct 7, 20161
  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 150 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 29 months.

The drought index is for Clay County, the county that contains Green Cove Springs.

150

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

55

Months in extreme drought

9%

Share of all months, severe or worse

14

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 1932

−5.40, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

29 months

February 1999 to June 2001.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.07, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 3 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 1 1911: 3 1912: 0 1913: 1 1914: 1 1915: 0 1916: 1 1917: 0 1918: 4 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: 4 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 1 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 6 1955: 1 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 2 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 1 1971: 1 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 1 1981: 5 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 2 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 6 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 1 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 4 1999: 11 2000: 12 12 2001: 6 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 6 2007: 11 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 3 2011: 11 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 6 2017: 5 2018: 0 2019: 2 2020: 1 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 1 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

1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1900; none reached magnitude 4.

0

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

October 31, 1900

Magnitude 3.5

Near Jacksonville, Florida; 28.7 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

October 31, 1900

Magnitude 3.5

Near Jacksonville, Florida; 28.7 miles away.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

659 events in the National Weather Service record for Clay County, 573 of them since 1996.

60

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

198

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

4

Winter weather events since 1996

0

Heat events since 1996

0

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

July 26, 2000

2.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 28, 1962

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning2318Mar 15, 2026

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Mar 29, 2001Tornado$1.1 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado was mainly F0-F1. Large trees were uprooted and power lines were blown down. Two homes were destroyed, 4 with major damage, and 50 with minor damage. A total of 56 homes in the Highlands Avenue area were damaged.

  2. Jun 9, 2018Lightning$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A 67 year old male was struck by lightning on his front porch along Acadia Street in Keystone Heights, near Lake Geneva. The time of the event was based on lightning data. Shed was burned down which caused over $1M in damage to vintage cars and motorcycles.

  3. Mar 1, 1998Flood, Clay$370,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Total flooding related to El Nino, More than 2800 homes and more than 175 businesses destroyed.

  4. May 1, 2026Wildfire, Eastern Clay$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    On April 19, 2026 around 530 PM EDT, Clay County EM reported a 100 acre wildfire in Green Cove Springs which grew quickly to become the Crews Rd Fire. On April 21st, the Florida Forest Service decided to combine the Crews Rd Fire in southeast Clay County and the Railroad Fire in northeast Putnam County into the Railroad Complex Fire. On May 1st, the Railroad Complex fire was at 4,796 acres with 80% containment per the Florida Forest Service. On May 6th, the fire was 4,796 acres and 95% containment. On April 29th, the fire was 4,796 acres with 100% containment. The Railroad Complex Fire was officially closed on June 3rd.

  5. Apr 19, 2026Wildfire, Eastern Clay$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    On April 19, 2026 around 530 PM EDT, Clay County EM reported a 100 acre wildfire in Green Cove Springs with 0% containment. Evacuations occurred at Varney Rd and Woodward Rd due to the wildfires located along Crews Rd in Clay County and north of Bostwick in Putnam County. The wildfires were 1700 acres combined between the two counties. On April 20 at 6 PM EDT, Florida Highway Patrol reported a Road Closure of US-17 and Varney Rd due to the ongoing Wildfire in Green Cove Springs. US-17 reopened later that evening. On April 21st, the Florida Forest Service decided to combine the Crews Rd Fire in southeast Clay County and the Railroad Fire in northeast Putnam County into the Railroad…

  6. Jul 31, 2023Lightning$240,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning struck a home attic in Orange Park during the afternoon which resulted in a fire. Extensive damage occurred to the home and the structure was deemed uninhabitable. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for inclusion of the event in Storm Data.

  7. Jun 10, 2003Thunderstorm Wind$60,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Large tree through roof of house on Lakefield Lane in Plainfield section of Orange Park. Live oak snapped in half on Dogwood Lane near Doctors Lake. Source Clay Today 6/11/03.

  8. Aug 12, 2011Lightning$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning started a house fire off of Trail Ridge Road in the Two Creeks Subdivision. The time of the strike was unknown, but the most frequent lightning that impacted the area occurred between 0530 pm and 7 pm LST. The cost of damage was estimated.

  9. Jun 26, 2012Flash Flood$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    At 6:45 pm, an NWS employee reported 1 foot of standing water over the I-295 and Blanding Blvd exit in Orange Park. At 6:46 pm, the public reported street flooding near Whitey's Fish Camp, about 2 feet deep. At 7:08 pm, the public reported around 1 foot of standing water near Blanding Blvd and Tanglewood in the Lakeside area. At 7:15 pm, the public reported over a foot of standing water at Timbermill Lane and Timberlake Drive. Water was over-flowing out of the storm drain. At 8:20 pm, the public reported flood water coming up to home porches near Bradford and Old Kings Road on the Jacksonville Southside. At 8:30 pm, the public reported a retention pond overflowed and water was…

  10. Oct 7, 1996Flash Flood$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A steady rain producing 6-8 inches of rainfall from a Nor'easter and Tropical Storm Josephine caused flooding mainly over central Clay County in the Middleburg area. The rain brought both the North and South prongs of Black Creek several feet above its banks. The water flooded Main Street, Scenic Drive, Cornell Road and Lazy Acre Road. About a dozen families left their homes to seek shelter with friends, relatives or hotels. A few roads did wash out. A creek near Bluejay drive, off County Road 218, overflowed and washed the road out.

  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 Jacksonville NAS, 17.2 miles from the city centre, with records from 1945.

All-time high
104°FJun 19, 1998
All-time low
9°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
84°FAug 24, 2016
Coldest day
31°FDec 25, 1983
Wettest day
6.28 inMay 20, 1959
Snowiest day
0.9 inDec 23, 1989
Hottest year
2015mean 75.6°F
Coldest year
1981mean 66.5°F
Wettest year
199172.20 in
Driest year
199024.77 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Jacksonville NAS 32°F 66° 47° 2.3 Jan 70° 51° 2.5 Feb 75° 56° 3.2 Mar 81° 62° 2.3 Apr 87° 70° 3.6 May 91° 75° 6.7 Jun 93° 76° 5.9 Jul 92° 77° 6.6 Aug 88° 75° 5.2 Sep 82° 67° 3.2 Oct 74° 57° 1.9 Nov 69° 51° 2.8 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: 11 1977: 32 1978: 18 1979: 17 1980: 22 1981: 21 1982: 8 1983: 21 1984: 14 1985: 18 1986: 40 1987: 46 1988: 30 1989: 12 1990: 53 1991: 24 1992: 34 1993: 48 1994: 14 1995: 48 1996: 4 1997: 11 1998: 59 2001: 10 2002: 12 2003: 3 2004: 11 2007: 23 2008: 13 2009: 35 2010: 36 2011: 44 2012: 30 2013: 6 2014: 47 2015: 61 61 2016: 54 2017: 23 2018: 18 2019: 45 2020: 24 2021: 7 2022: 19 2023: 41 2024: 40 2025: 18 19761986199620102020
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 26.7.

Station Jacksonville NAS (USW00093837), 20 ft elevation, 17.2 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1945 to October 26, 2026; 89.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

39 since 1953. The most recent: Railroad Complex Fire, April 22, 2026.

Declarations for Clay County.

Federal disaster declarations
Apr 22, 2026FireRailroad Complex FireFire managementFM-5631-FL
Oct 11, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonMajor disasterDR-4834-FL
Oct 7, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonEmergencyEM-3622-FL
Sep 28, 2024HurricaneHurricane HeleneMajor disasterDR-4828-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
Jul 4, 2021Severe StormTropical Storm ElsaEmergencyEM-3561-FL
Aug 1, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3533-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Oct 8, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4283-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Jul 3, 2012Severe StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4068-FL
May 27, 2009Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-1840-FL
Aug 24, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayMajor disasterDR-1785-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
May 7, 2007FireSuwannee Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2689-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
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
Jun 2, 2000FireFl, Jacksonville Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2305-FL
May 14, 1999FireJacksonville District FireFire managementFM-2262-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Oct 15, 1996Severe StormTropical Storm JosephineMajor disasterDR-1141-FL
Oct 8, 1992Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-966-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 USW00093837.
  • 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.