Orlando

Population 333,888 (2025)

49 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Orlando since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1926 (Category 2).

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

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

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 1950128
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger96
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 1984129
  • Major flood years since 1978, Orange County5

At a glance

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

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

49

13 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

128

5 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

129

Largest: Unnamed, 1998

Details

Flood insurance claims

2,271

Orange County

$73.1 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

April 4, 1966, 135.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1926, 44.9 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

39

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

101°F

July 2, 1998

Details

Tornadoes

About 2 tornados a year since 1950, 5 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

Monday, August 4, 2025

EFU, 2.2 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 5 5 1960s: 12 12 1970s: 36 36 1980s: 23 23 1990s: 17 17 2000s: 13 13 2010s: 13 13 2020s: 9 9 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 9 F: 15 M: 14 A: 11 M: 9 J: 24 24 J: 14 A: 13 S: 7 O: 1 N: 5 D: 6 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Aug 4, 2025EFU2.210000
May 26, 2025EF00.11500
Mar 10, 2025EF24.030000
Aug 21, 2024EF01.3500
Jun 6, 2024EF00.0500
Jun 6, 2020EF15.150000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.02000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.01000
Apr 20, 2020EF02.72500
Jan 24, 2019EF00.517500
Dec 9, 2018EF00.15000
Jul 7, 2017EF00.72500
Jul 7, 2017EF00.11500
Jun 14, 2017EF00.01000
Sep 1, 2016EF01.515000
Jul 8, 2016EF00.23000
Jul 24, 2014EF00.21500
Mar 29, 2014EF02.410000
Dec 10, 2012EF04.25000
Aug 27, 2012EF00.83000
Jun 24, 2012EF03.710000
Sep 19, 2011EF00.11500
Jul 15, 2009EF00.15000
May 19, 2009EF00.15000
Apr 1, 2009EF00.01500
Nov 30, 2008EF00.12000
Jul 24, 2007EF01.03000
Nov 7, 2006F12.310000
Nov 7, 2006F00.85000
Oct 7, 2006F00.13000
Jun 13, 2006F00.12000
Sep 4, 2004F00.12000
Aug 13, 2004F12.03,00000
Aug 13, 2004F12.020000
Aug 13, 2004F00.23000
Mar 9, 1998F00.25000
Feb 22, 1998F328.025015025
Feb 22, 1998F316.02003613
Feb 22, 1998F318.0200703
Feb 16, 1998F00.13000
Dec 27, 1997F10.48000
Jul 11, 1997F00.33000
Jul 5, 1997F00.18000
Jul 4, 1997F10.54000
Jun 1, 1997F00.23000
Aug 2, 1995F10.34000
Jan 7, 1995F12.04000
Jun 17, 1994F00.11000
Mar 12, 1993F230.0200601
Feb 25, 1992F10.550110
Mar 3, 1991F10.55000
Nov 9, 1990F116.05090
Sep 1, 1987F11.03030
Dec 23, 1986F00.53000
May 20, 1986F02.03000
Feb 27, 1984F11.01000
Jul 5, 1983F10.53000
Apr 23, 1983F16.04000
Mar 24, 1983F218.09000
Feb 2, 1983F25.05090
Feb 2, 1983F00.22010
Feb 2, 1983F21.02000
Sep 10, 1982F00.31000
Apr 29, 1982F10.52000
Apr 8, 1982F23.050100
Aug 27, 1981F00.12000
Jun 21, 1981F00.12000
Jun 21, 1981F00.12000
Jun 21, 1981F10.53000
Jun 20, 1981F00.12000
Jun 10, 1981F00.12000
Mar 19, 1981F25.450110
Mar 19, 1981F38.010010
Mar 18, 1981F20.53310
Jun 24, 1980F00.13000
Dec 24, 1978F10.32000
Dec 24, 1978F10.32000
Aug 13, 1978F10.12010
Jul 1, 1978F00.11000
Jun 10, 1978F00.52000
Jan 19, 1978F10.52000
Jan 8, 1978F219.3200230
Jan 8, 1978F22.010000
Sep 21, 1977F00.11000
Feb 24, 1977F00.11000
Feb 24, 1977F00.31000
Jan 10, 1977F10.22300
May 12, 1976F00.31010
Mar 9, 1976F05.42000
Sep 18, 1975F00.13000
Aug 6, 1975F10.12000
Jun 11, 1975F10.53000
May 14, 1975F114.37000
Apr 15, 1975F00.12300
Jul 12, 1973F00.21000
May 25, 1973F00.22010
Jan 28, 1973F22.7300160
Jan 28, 1973F214.010070
Jun 19, 1972F10.110000
Mar 31, 1972F10.52000
Mar 31, 1972F00.22000
Mar 31, 1972F10.22000
Mar 31, 1972F10.22000
Feb 3, 1972F10.230000
Feb 3, 1972F10.210000
Aug 24, 1971F10.35000
Jun 28, 1971F00.35000
May 13, 1971F02.03000
Jul 9, 1970F10.11000
Jun 25, 1970F10.11000
Feb 3, 1970F10.11000
Aug 14, 1969F13.81000
Apr 19, 1969F15.650000
Nov 9, 1968F169.31030
Jun 19, 1967F10.11000
Jun 5, 1967F20.117300
Aug 23, 1966F20.11030
Jun 15, 1966F10.11000
Apr 4, 1966F2123.315000
Apr 4, 1966F4135.830053011
Jun 8, 1963F10.11000
Apr 12, 1961F114.610010
Feb 25, 1961F10.11000
Apr 2, 1959F20.110091
Jan 8, 1955F10.15000
Jul 24, 1953F10.11710
May 15, 1950F10.11000
May 15, 1950F20.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

49 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 13 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

July 28, 1926

Unnamed storm, Category 2

44.9 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 1

24.8 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 1 70s: 4 80s: 2 90s: 4 00s: 1 10s: 3 20s: 3 30s: 3 40s: 2 50s: 4 60s: 5 5 70s: 1 80s: 3 90s: 2 00s: 4 10s: 1 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
Milton202424.8Category 179Category 5
Nicole202236.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Ian202239.8Tropical storm71Category 5
Isaias202093.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Irma201756.7Category 175Category 5
Matthew201668.5Category 3121Category 5
Julia201622.0Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Fay200843.8Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Ernesto200642.1Tropical storm43Category 1
Tammy200555.2Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Jeanne200450.4Category 175Category 3
Frances200451.9Tropical storm69Category 4
Charley20049.3Category 186Category 4
Gabrielle20018.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Irene199982.5Category 175Category 2
Jerry199525.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Erin199530.9Tropical storm62Category 2
Keith198832.5Tropical storm41Category 1
Chris198872.9Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Isabel198599.3Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Bob198555.9Tropical storm60Category 1
Isidore198440.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198493.4Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed198279.6Subtropical storm49Tropical storm
Dennis198129.2Tropical storm40Category 1
David197941.0Category 298Category 5
Dottie197680.2Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed197483.8Subtropical storm58Tropical storm
Gladys196864.9Category 189Category 2
Dolly196845.9Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196813.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196834.2Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed196556.8Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Dora196497.5Category 2107Category 4
Cleo196421.3Tropical storm52Category 4
Florence196057.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Donna196016.5Category 177Category 4
Unnamed195920.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195639.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hazel195375.3Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed195391.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
How195189.2Tropical storm55Category 2
King195010.3Category 183Category 4
Easy195024.7Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed194951.7Category 183Category 4
Unnamed194788.7Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed194672.1Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194523.1Category 181Category 4
Unnamed194555.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed194444.7Category 183Category 4
Unnamed193950.6Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed193748.7Tropical storm67Tropical storm
Unnamed193737.4Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed193641.2Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed193350.4Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed193395.8Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed192850.3Category 190Category 5
Unnamed192828.0Tropical storm52Category 2
Unnamed192644.9Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed192554.7Post-tropical63Category 1
Unnamed192125.4Category 184Category 4
Unnamed192069.3Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed191648.5Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191534.2Tropical storm71Category 1
Unnamed191035.3Tropical storm67Category 4
Unnamed190939.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190394.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed189931.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18972.3Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed189687.2Tropical storm43Category 2
Unnamed189413.2Tropical storm71Category 3
Unnamed189369.0Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189371.4Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189238.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188994.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188857.3Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed188731.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed188680.5Tropical storm70Category 1
Unnamed188557.4Category 296Category 2
Unnamed188076.1Category 176Category 1
Unnamed18808.7Category 175Category 2
Unnamed187975.0Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed187864.1Category 183Category 2
Unnamed187783.8Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed187677.7Category 192Category 3
Unnamed187361.8Category 297Category 3
Unnamed187338.7Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed18728.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed18719.4Category 177Category 3
Unnamed187126.0Category 181Category 3
Unnamed187097.3Tropical storm72Category 2
Unnamed186147.7Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed185919.5Category 186Category 1
Unnamed185992.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18587.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185496.4Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed185215.2Tropical storm58Category 1
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

129 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

July 24, 1998

Unnamed Fire, 667 acres

10.8 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 2, 2020

Fox Fire

915 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1985: 7,6051986: 22,4031987: 5,5311989: 16,3271990: 13,7061991: 9,9541992: 18,7031993: 21,3641994: 2,0311996: 3,4341997: 3,3761998: 61,1951999: 10,7282000: 20,1722001: 14,0692002: 9952003: 4,3972004: 2,9872006: 5,5372007: 5,3772008: 3,9212009: 2,5712011: 3,6242016: 2,1532017: 8,7732020: 915 271,848 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Fox202024.9915
Water Plant201722.31,753
North Cane201722.97,020
Springs201619.8551
Bull Branch201624.8676
Brumley Flad201621.3926
Whispering Pines201116.21,296
Stag Horn201115.21,643
Lazer Range201114.5685
Unnamed200918.3852
Harley200915.11,719
Unnamed200824.21,096
Unnamed200811.9972
Unnamed200822.5550
Unnamed200824.5651
Cunning Club200817.7652
Unnamed200715.51,011
Unnamed200711.6728
Unnamed20079.21,235
Unnamed200718.32,403
Unnamed200623.71,444
Unnamed200624.12,114
Unnamed200623.01,979
Unnamed200412.41,415
Unnamed200422.81,572
Unnamed20038.31,979
Unnamed200310.71,674
Unnamed200322.5744
Sj 1200224.8995
Stagecoach Complex200123.514,069
Unnamed200019.81,778
Unnamed200014.51,179
Unnamed200011.81,798
Unnamed200013.63,525
Unnamed200023.61,187
Unnamed20009.92,284
Unnamed200015.01,358
Unnamed200023.0902
Unnamed200017.7743
Unnamed200011.6844
Unnamed200019.32,813
Unnamed200021.6510
Unnamed200015.41,251
Unnamed199924.9678
Unnamed199923.11,297
Unnamed199918.31,041
Unnamed199917.8576
Unnamed199915.3534
Unnamed199917.8773
Unnamed199923.71,423
Unnamed199924.42,855
Unnamed199916.01,551
Unnamed199812.71,473
Unnamed199815.02,036
Unnamed199810.8667
Unnamed199814.73,411
Unnamed199822.845,916
Unnamed199824.91,771
Unnamed199824.73,760
Unnamed199823.82,161
Unnamed199724.63,376
Unnamed199624.1855
Rx Sj 2 So199624.12,579
Unnamed199424.82,031
Unnamed199315.21,292
Unnamed199314.61,554
Unnamed199324.61,150
Unnamed19937.53,350
Unnamed199322.51,545
Unnamed199322.29,414
Unnamed199319.03,059
Unnamed199224.92,301
Unnamed199218.8511
Unnamed199216.01,051
Unnamed199223.61,132
Unnamed199224.11,285
Unnamed19928.63,583
Unnamed199219.82,656
Unnamed19926.9872
Unnamed199216.72,561
Unnamed199224.81,012
Unnamed199221.5713
Unnamed199222.91,026
Unnamed199121.11,858
Unnamed199113.8558
Unnamed199122.2927
Unnamed199118.71,695
Unnamed199115.82,604
Unnamed199124.11,808
Unnamed199124.3504
Unnamed199022.11,714
Unnamed199019.21,595
Unnamed199011.51,945
Unnamed199017.71,635
Unnamed199016.11,376
Rx Burn Stj 2199024.81,496
Unnamed199023.9588
Unnamed199018.71,869
Unnamed199023.41,488
Unnamed19899.42,476
Unnamed198916.71,996
Unnamed198922.5908
Unnamed198923.91,183
Unnamed198913.02,711
Unnamed19896.2811
Unnamed198923.41,108
Unnamed198910.71,672
Unnamed198918.73,462
Unnamed198718.22,770
Unnamed198715.92,761
Unnamed198619.31,142
Unnamed198620.7501
Unnamed198624.7803
Unnamed198618.3805
Unnamed198617.44,083
Unnamed198618.31,192
Unnamed198624.8838
Unnamed198624.81,504
Unnamed19868.52,784
Unnamed198623.9814
Unnamed19868.63,590
Unnamed198624.8628
Unnamed198619.12,705
Unnamed198623.61,014
Unnamed198516.32,631
Unnamed198517.11,556
Unnamed198524.71,253
Unnamed198524.21,083
Unnamed198518.01,082
  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: 13 days

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

Last 10 years

2.9 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

1 day

Medium or heavy smoke. 2 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 7 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 3 2022: 7 2023: 13 13 2024: 2 2025: 1 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

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

Floods and flood insurance

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

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

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

Most claims in one year

2022: 909 claims

$59.7 million paid.

2nd most

2004: 322 claims

$1.8 million paid.

3rd most

2017: 219 claims

$3.9 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

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

Flood events since 1996

  • Heavy Rain11
  • Flood9
  • Flash Flood6

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

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

River crests

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

Most severe crest

October 6, 2017

St. Johns River near Cocoa, 17.43 ft

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

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 11, 2022

St. Johns River near Cocoa, 16.56 ft

Moderate flooding.

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

River gauges

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

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

Drought

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

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

124

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

40

Months in extreme drought

8%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

February 2001

−5.46, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

16 months

June 1998 to September 1999.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.27, extreme drought

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

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

Earthquakes

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

Severe weather and other events

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

137

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

6

Hail, 2 inches or larger

217

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

1

Winter weather events since 1996

3

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 25, 1992

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 4, 1966

90 mph

More event types since 1996

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

Costliest events since 1996

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Weather records

From Orlando International Airport, 3.8 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, 3.8 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

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

Declarations for Orange County.

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

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

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

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station 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.