Palmetto Bay

Population 24,886 (2025)

50 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Palmetto Bay since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Andrew in 1992 (Category 5).

Hazard fingerprint for Palmetto Bay Tornado: 29th percentile. Tropical: 99th percentile. Wildfire: 94th percentile. Flood: 75th percentile. Hail & wind: 29th percentile. Heat: 47th percentile. Cold: 70th 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 1950145
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger93
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198485
  • Major flood years since 1978, Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

50

25 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

85

Largest: Ingraham, 1989

Details

Flood insurance claims

62,029

Miami-Dade County

$856 million paid since 1978

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

145

1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

June 17, 1959, 12.7 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 5

Hurricane Andrew, 1992, 8.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

43

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

100°F

August 18, 2026

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

June 17, 1959

F3, 12.7 mile path

333 yards wide.

Deadliest

March 27, 2003

1 killed, F2

14 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

EF1, 2.9 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 8 8 1960s: 19 19 1970s: 8 8 1980s: 26 26 1990s: 40 40 2000s: 28 28 2010s: 9 9 2020s: 7 7 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 7 F: 10 M: 8 A: 4 M: 20 J: 28 28 J: 12 A: 19 S: 15 O: 13 N: 6 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Oct 9, 2024EF12.97500
Feb 18, 2024EF03.410000
Feb 18, 2024EFU0.63000
May 25, 2023EF00.67510
Sep 27, 2022EF00.15000
Sep 27, 2022EF00.15000
May 24, 2020EF14.84000
Jan 27, 2019EF00.410000
Jul 20, 2018EF00.22000
May 29, 2018EF00.32500
Oct 28, 2017EF00.55000
Sep 9, 2017EF02.17500
Jan 23, 2017EF12.812300
Feb 16, 2016EF13.815000
May 15, 2014EF00.33000
Mar 10, 2011EF03.32000
Dec 18, 2009EF01.15000
Aug 14, 2008EF10.41500
Jun 13, 2008EF00.01000
Jul 21, 2007EF00.54000
Jun 18, 2007EF00.13000
Jun 15, 2007EF00.12000
Jun 1, 2007EF13.97500
Sep 10, 2005F03.05000
Sep 10, 2005F02.05000
Oct 29, 2003F00.31500
Sep 5, 2003F01.02000
Aug 12, 2003F00.21500
Jul 12, 2003F00.11000
Mar 27, 2003F26.0600141
Mar 27, 2003F12.030000
Mar 27, 2003F00.22000
May 30, 2002F00.11000
Jan 2, 2002F110.05000
Nov 5, 2001F00.51000
Aug 21, 2001F04.01000
Oct 3, 2000F00.21000
Oct 3, 2000F00.2000
Oct 3, 2000F00.2000
Oct 3, 2000F10.52000
Jul 10, 2000F00.11000
Jun 22, 2000F00.21000
May 30, 2000F00.1000
Feb 22, 2000F00.11000
Sep 20, 1999F00.1000
Aug 3, 1999F00.1000
Mar 3, 1999F00.21000
Nov 4, 1998F12.08000
Oct 9, 1998F00.23000
Sep 24, 1998F00.33000
Sep 24, 1998F015.04000
Sep 5, 1998F00.13000
Aug 3, 1998F00.23000
Aug 3, 1998F00.23000
May 4, 1998F00.23000
May 4, 1998F00.13000
Mar 9, 1998F14.53000
Feb 2, 1998F221.020000
Jan 8, 1998F00.113000
Jul 10, 1997F00.21300
Jul 2, 1997F00.21000
May 28, 1997F00.52300
May 12, 1997F18.0150120
May 4, 1997F00.12000
Aug 8, 1996F00.11000
Jun 17, 1996F00.11000
Jan 3, 1996F17.04090
Jul 12, 1995F00.11000
Jun 30, 1995F00.11000
Apr 8, 1995F00.11000
Aug 14, 1994F00.11000
Jun 9, 1994F00.11000
Oct 16, 1993F00.11000
Jun 30, 1993F00.48000
Jun 7, 1993F02.010000
Nov 9, 1992F00.11000
Aug 4, 1991F00.21000
Jul 21, 1991F00.11000
Jul 12, 1991F00.31000
Jan 15, 1991F14.06030
Jan 15, 1991F00.54010
Jun 24, 1990F00.21000
Jun 19, 1990F00.21000
May 10, 1990F00.21000
Aug 17, 1989F00.21000
Apr 5, 1989F00.21000
Jun 27, 1987F00.23000
Feb 7, 1986F00.51000
Aug 5, 1985F00.51000
May 16, 1984F00.51000
May 16, 1984F00.61000
Apr 13, 1984F03.01000
Aug 5, 1983F00.24000
May 31, 1983F00.31000
Feb 10, 1983F00.52000
Sep 23, 1982F00.81000
Aug 12, 1982F00.31000
Jun 17, 1982F00.21000
May 27, 1982F10.32000
Mar 6, 1982F110.010040
Sep 26, 1981F00.21700
Aug 16, 1981F00.53000
Jul 9, 1981F00.12000
May 20, 1981F10.12000
May 7, 1981F11.05000
Nov 15, 1980F00.31700
Aug 21, 1980F11.03000
Jul 15, 1980F10.12000
Jun 11, 1980F00.13000
May 25, 1980F10.13000
May 18, 1978F00.11000
Jun 18, 1977F00.11300
Aug 26, 1975F02.03000
Jul 4, 1975F11.03010
Dec 20, 1973F18.71700
Dec 20, 1973F27.63390
Jun 22, 1971F22.020000
Mar 5, 1970F10.11000
Aug 10, 1969F00.11000
Jun 10, 1969F00.11000
Feb 12, 1969F01.011700
Oct 4, 1968F011.583300
Sep 12, 1968F042.81000
Aug 30, 1968F02.01000
Jun 25, 1968F114.01000
Jun 7, 1968F10.11010
Feb 19, 1968F10.11000
Feb 19, 1968F25.7100210
Jun 9, 1967F00.11000
Jun 8, 1966F10.11000
Jun 8, 1966F04.91000
Oct 14, 1964F10.16700
Aug 13, 1964F00.11000
Jun 5, 1963F00.11000
Jun 3, 1963F00.11000
Nov 9, 1962F11.01010
Sep 5, 1962F00.11000
Jun 29, 1959F00.11000
Jun 17, 1959F312.7333770
Oct 8, 1957F00.11000
Oct 15, 1956F00.11000
Jun 23, 1954F00.11300
Apr 3, 1954F00.11000
Nov 8, 1953F00.11000
Sep 20, 1953F00.11000
  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

50 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 25 at hurricane strength, 10 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

August 24, 1992

Andrew, Category 5

8.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 167 mph.

Most recent

June 4, 2022

Alex, Disturbance

92.4 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 0 60s: 2 70s: 4 80s: 3 90s: 4 00s: 6 6 10s: 2 20s: 4 30s: 4 40s: 5 50s: 3 60s: 3 70s: 1 80s: 1 90s: 4 00s: 2 10s: 2 20s: 0 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
Alex202292.4Disturbance44Tropical storm
Eta202055.3Tropical storm63Category 4
Isaias202071.9Tropical storm63Category 1
Gordon201843.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Irma201784.8Category 3119Category 5
Nicole201065.4Remnant low46Tropical storm
Bonnie201011.4Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Fay200881.6Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Ernesto200634.3Tropical storm44Category 1
Wilma200558.2Category 2109Category 5
Katrina200516.3Category 179Category 5
Irene199931.8Category 176Category 2
Harvey199944.3Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Mitch199883.5Tropical storm62Category 5
Andrew19928.8Category 5167Category 5
Fabian199143.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Floyd198730.1Tropical storm71Category 1
Bob198572.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Isidore198461.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Dennis198154.9Tropical storm40Category 1
David197960.0Category 296Category 5
Dottie197636.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed197452.4Subtropical storm63Tropical storm
Greta197095.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Jenny196997.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Inez196639.1Category 194Category 5
Betsy196541.6Category 3114Category 4
Isbell196452.5Category 296Category 3
Cleo196416.9Category 2109Category 4
Donna196062.7Category 4137Category 4
Judith195995.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed195617.6Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed195344.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed195241.8Remnant low60Tropical storm
King19509.2Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed194965.7Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed19483.5Category 194Category 3
Unnamed194859.8Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed194716.7Category 181Category 2
Unnamed194733.4Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed194655.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed194514.5Category 3128Category 4
Unnamed19418.5Category 298Category 3
Unnamed193996.6Category 175Category 1
Unnamed193619.6Tropical storm62Category 2
Unnamed193616.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed193517.0Category 194Category 2
Unnamed193553.5Category 4138Category 4
Unnamed193560.4Category 5184Category 5
Unnamed193368.5Category 3114Category 3
Unnamed193382.6Category 3127Category 4
Unnamed193219.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192944.4Category 3115Category 4
Unnamed192873.5Category 4146Category 5
Unnamed192885.1Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed192883.0Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed192628.8Category 3127Category 4
Unnamed19261.9Category 4144Category 4
Unnamed192693.7Category 2109Category 4
Unnamed192424.4Tropical storm72Category 5
Unnamed191611.2Post-tropical58Tropical storm
Unnamed19161.9Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed191649.9Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed190929.7Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed190955.5Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed190927.6Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed19067.8Category 3117Category 3
Unnamed19065.5Category 186Category 2
Unnamed190335.7Category 186Category 1
Unnamed190148.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed189946.9Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed189880.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189851.7Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189866.8Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189588.1Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed189556.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189232.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189148.7Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed189113.0Category 175Category 3
Unnamed188927.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188811.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed188870.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188818.2Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed188692.3Category 194Category 3
Unnamed188559.2Category 178Category 2
Unnamed188157.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187817.0Category 181Category 2
Unnamed187849.3Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed187666.4Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed187638.9Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed187194.0Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed187086.1Category 183Category 2
Unnamed187041.2Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed186530.6Category 298Category 2
Unnamed186330.9Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed186193.7Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed185955.3Tropical storm69Tropical storm
  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

85 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

May 17, 1989

Ingraham Fire, 85,371 acres

23.0 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

April 26, 2022

125 Mile Marker Fire

829 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1984: 1,3801985: 5,3321986: 9,4141987: 5,1691988: 2,3331989: 134,6121990: 18,8541992: 1,1981996: 6,5901998: 1,0762000: 8,9622001: 39,5582003: 6602004: 4,6492005: 2,9812006: 1,3122007: 38,1782008: 38,5782011: 78,3062013: 1,0072014: 5,0972015: 1,3702017: 13,6842020: 2,6152021: 10,2822022: 1,687 434,884 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
125 Mile Marker202216.7829
137 Ave202211.6858
Mile Marker 19202111.1606
Four Sixteen202112.09,676
Power Line Rd202014.1742
Sunday Afternoon202011.51,177
Narrow Ditch202013.2696
Mothers Day201712.03,328
Holiday201723.18,851
Trail Fire201711.41,505
Grand Lake201511.61,370
Macks Camp North201424.52,884
Enders201416.82,213
117 328 Ffs201311.01,007
Afternoon201114.89,628
Prairie Fire201114.867,902
#1 Season Fire201123.8776
Mustang Corner200815.638,578
Mfc South Fire200718.237,266
Blocks K L M Rx200721.3912
Chekika Wf200614.51,312
Unnamed200512.5588
Dof 197-120200512.41,491
Unnamed200520.0902
Thompson Park Fire200419.42,614
Frogpond200419.81,174
Unnamed200422.0861
L67200323.8660
Unnamed200120.722,756
Unnamed200121.23,684
Cattail200113.92,249
Lopez200116.58,777
Dofpitt200112.21,410
Mustang200116.4682
Unnamed200024.92,451
Unnamed200021.9577
Unnamed200012.55,934
Rutski 2199816.61,076
Unnamed199611.7519
Unnamed199616.8516
Copticamp199611.7856
Unnamed199616.61,433
Card Sound199616.72,382
Unnamed199621.4884
Rytskys 3199217.9673
Sw 197N199212.4525
Unnamed199010.6575
Unnamed199016.81,767
Unnamed199019.14,732
Dof 208199016.21,631
Dof 188199010.15,091
Dof 118199014.11,537
Dof 106199012.22,676
Unnamed199012.2845
Unnamed198911.44,232
Unnamed198910.8912
Unnamed198914.11,475
Unnamed198920.711,310
Dof 398198919.92,100
Unnamed198914.46,624
Ingraham198923.085,371
Dof 354198916.41,270
Dof 345198913.61,052
Dof 305198911.917,087
Unnamed198914.72,221
Unnamed198918.0958
Unnamed19889.1677
Unnamed198812.6556
Unnamed198814.41,100
Unnamed198710.8836
Unnamed198710.8836
Unnamed198710.4928
Unnamed198712.41,291
Unnamed198714.41,278
Unnamed198614.01,196
Ddf 07198617.5811
Dof 48198618.4813
Unnamed198624.31,180
Unnamed198614.05,414
Dof 03198516.5981
Unnamed198513.51,267
Unnamed198523.91,094
Unnamed198514.9697
Unnamed198524.31,293
Unnamed198421.31,380
  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: 4 days

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

Last 10 years

1.1 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: 1 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 2 2022: 3 2023: 4 4 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

62,029 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $856 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Miami-Dade County, the county that contains Palmetto Bay.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 23 1979: 505 1980: 142 1981: 1,218 1982: 332 1983: 116 1984: 347 1985: 78 1986: 75 1987: 77 1988: 38 1989: 27 1990: 44 1991: 860 1992: 8,390 1993: 117 1994: 853 1995: 679 1996: 127 1997: 912 1998: 475 1999: 13,393 13,393 2000: 11,091 2001: 282 2002: 311 2003: 283 2004: 468 2005: 9,717 2006: 151 2007: 227 2008: 227 2009: 830 2010: 214 2011: 387 2012: 354 2013: 511 2014: 109 2015: 224 2016: 86 2017: 4,100 2018: 88 2019: 274 2020: 1,526 2021: 78 2022: 349 2023: 332 2024: 864 2025: 90 2026: 28 1978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1999: 13,393 claims

$91.5 million paid.

2nd most

2000: 11,091 claims

$147 million paid.

3rd most

2005: 9,717 claims

$124 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
331773,778$55.8 million
331863,451$22.1 million
331612,611$43.4 million
331752,483$13.4 million
331572,003$25.2 million
331491,831$63.1 million
331661,711$49.5 million
331731,573$8.2 million
331761,432$8.6 million
331331,416$61.8 million
331561,402$32.1 million
331841,277$8.2 million
331801,240$38.4 million
330121,192$9.5 million
331891,181$19.9 million
331961,179$4.2 million
331401,171$18.0 million
331391,161$20.8 million
331741,064$17.1 million
331411,059$15.0 million
330151,049$3.8 million
331831,049$3.3 million
330551,030$2.7 million
330331,022$4.9 million
33126970$32.2 million
33018939$6.3 million
33179933$17.2 million
33032901$6.0 million
33160882$21.3 million
33030869$9.1 million
33193847$2.2 million
33165835$4.8 million
33016830$12.4 million
33138784$9.2 million
33010759$9.9 million
33143730$6.6 million
33142694$10.9 million
33182693$3.8 million
33125664$7.5 million
33155657$8.6 million
33056615$2.5 million
33187587$2.9 million
33181574$9.9 million
33147569$6.0 million
33185568$1.3 million
33034554$4.7 million
33169485$3.6 million
33014475$1.9 million
33154446$4.9 million
33162413$3.4 million
33150377$3.0 million
33054366$6.6 million
33144359$7.3 million
33167328$3.2 million
33158324$8.8 million
33170296$2.0 million
33137272$6.8 million
33178261$5.3 million
33031243$2.6 million
33172240$3.5 million
33013229$2.7 million
33168215$1.2 million
33122199$16.3 million
33190199$542,000
33130178$2.8 million
33035164$1.3 million
33134164$2.6 million
33131163$7.3 million
3312998$4.6 million
3313289$1.3 million
3314686$716,000
3314565$545,000
3310164$964,000
63$185,000
3313659$587,000
3313559$401,000
3312847$2.0 million
3310946$1.1 million
3312736$457,000
3319413$14,000
335359$19,000
330258$6,048
331526$3,946
346356$59,000
331715$650

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood109
  • Coastal Flood80
  • Flash Flood61
  • Heavy Rain28

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 Miami-Dade County, the county that contains Palmetto Bay.

The National Weather Service sets flood stages for 3 gauges here but lists no crests for them.

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Alligator Creek near Garfield Bight2.0——0
Atlantic Ocean Tide Gauge at Virginia Key (in MHHW)1.3——0
Atlantic Tide Gauge at Haulover Intracoastal (in MHHW)1.3——0
  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.

High tide flooding

Tide gauges in Miami-Dade County.

Most in one year, Virginia Key

9 days

May 2019 to April 2020.

Last ten years

4.2 days a year

At Virginia Key, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

1 day

Since 1994, 0 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Virginia Key 1994: 1 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 1 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 2 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 3 2017: 3 2018: 0 2019: 9 9 2020: 6 2021: 0 2022: 3 2023: 6 2024: 5 2025: 7 1994200420142024
Days at or above NOAA’s minor high tide flooding threshold, each meteorological year (May to April) from 1920. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
  1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 118 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 32 months.

The drought index is for Miami-Dade County, the county that contains Palmetto Bay.

118

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

35

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

117

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 1990

−5.53, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

32 months

January 1989 to August 1991.

Latest month

September 2026

−3.54, severe 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: 1 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 4 1939: 9 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 4 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 6 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 6 1957: 1 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 4 1962: 7 1963: 1 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 9 1972: 1 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 11 1976: 2 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 12 12 1990: 12 1991: 8 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 0 2019: 2 2020: 1 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 4 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

1,597 events in the National Weather Service record for Miami-Dade County, 1,367 of them since 1996.

107

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

5

Hail, 2 inches or larger

293

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

0

Winter weather events since 1996

8

Heat events since 1996

20

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 29, 1963

4.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

February 13, 1995

99 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Rip currents473628Apr 20, 2025
High surf and sneaker waves206Sep 30, 2022
Storm surge and tide700Nov 9, 2022
Lightning74861Jul 3, 2026

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Feb 2, 1998Tornado$175 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    At 2022 est f1-f2 tornado touched down nw 36th st/curtis parkway damaging about 12 planes at mia international airport. The mia asos recorded a gust of 90 knots. The f2 tornado crossed through virginia gardens and south miami springs in a 100-200 yard path damaging many buildings and hurling a 2 by 4 board through an apartment door. Showing f1 intensity the tornado continued through miami springs uprooting trees and damaging roof tops. At 2027 est the tornado intensified to f2 into south hialeah severly damaging structures. the tornado weakened to f1 near hialeah race track and the path widened to one to three miles...with indications of three or four individual tornadoes of f1…

  2. Oct 15, 1999Flash Flood$100 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Widespread flooding from hurricane Irene inundated most of the metropolitan areas of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

  3. Mar 27, 2003Tornado$8.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado initially touched down in East Hialeah, near NE 2nd Street and E 4th Avenue causing F0 damage to foliage. The tornado strengthened to F1 intensity as it moved east across E 9th Avenue. It achieved a maximum intensity of F2 with a maximum width of one third mile in an area from NW 37th to 27th Avenues in the Brownsville area. The intensity decreased to F1 as it moved east through Liberty City. The intensity further decreased to F0 as the tornado turned northeast and lifted just before entering Biscayne Bay near NE 70th Street.F1 to F2 damage began in an industrial area where several warehouse roofs were damaged. One large free-span roof was nearly completely torn off.…

  4. Jun 12, 2024Flash Flood$3.9 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A second round of excessive rainfall leading to flash flooding occurred over portions of NE Miami-Dade County on June 12th. An additional 8-15 inches of rain fell on top of the rain that occurred the previous day. Storm surveys after the event indicated water marks as high as 2-3 feet in Aventura on buildings and power poles, and in excess of 12 inches in North Miami. ||For both June 11th and 12th events, a total of 34 people required evacuation, mostly from vehicles stalled in deep flood waters. Damage assessments resulted in 160 structures with major damage, and 81 with minor damage across Miami-Dade County. ||A maximum 2-day rainfall total of 20 was recorded in Sunny Isles…

  5. Sep 1, 2021Thunderstorm Wind$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Emergency management reported a fence blown over and large hardwood tree branch down due to a thunderstorm wind gust. Radar estimated winds were 45 to 50 mph in the area.

  6. Jan 3, 1996Tornado$1.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A squall line from the Gulf of Mexico moved inland across the south Florida Peninsula. A bow echo developed along the squall line as it approached the western suburbs of Miami, and a tornado formed in conjuction with the bow echo. The tornado first touched down near S.W. 96 Street and 144 Avenue, knocking down a small tree. The tornado's path was intermittent for the first three and one-half miles then became continuous from S.W. 67 Street and 123 Avenue to where it lifted, on the north side of S.W. 24 Street and 93 Court. From its initial touchdown until it crossed Westwood Lake, intensity was rated as F0, with minor roof damage and downed trees and fences. Near S.W. 42 Street…

  7. Aug 2, 2017Flash Flood$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Several rounds of strong storms and heavy rain fell across Miami-Dade County during the afternoon and early evening hours of August 1st. Activity initially streamed across Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Downtown Miami just after 2 PM, then redeveloped farther to the west and southwest across The Redland, Kendall, Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest later in the afternoon. Rainfall totals of 4-6 inches were widespread in these areas, with isolated amounts of 7-8 inches. Virtually all of this rain fell in a three-hour period during the mid and late afternoon ending around 6 PM. Numerous reports of flood waters entering businesses, homes, apartment lobbies and parking garages were received…

  8. Mar 9, 1998Tornado$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado touched down near the Palmetto Expressway and NW 17th Ave. This is known as the Terry Lakes area. The tornado moved northeast through the 17000 and 18000 blocks of north Dade County to near Honey Hill Dr(NW 199th St) and US-441. The tornado then took a path more toward the east as it moved to near Ives Dairy Rd(NE 203 St) and I-95. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Windows were broken and signs were damaged or destroyed. A parked tractor trailer was overturned on the Florida turnpike near Ives Dairy Rd. Their was rof damage to homes and especially car ports due to large fallen trees.

  9. Oct 6, 2016Tropical Depression, Coastal Miami-Dade County$600,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Matthew produced maximum sustained winds generally between 20 and 30 knots (25 and 35 mph) across coastal Miami-Dade County throughout the morning and afternoon hours of October 6th. A peak gust of 38 knots (44 mph) was measured at WxFlow site XDGE, located near Dodge Island and the Port of Miami during the late morning hours, with other parts of the area measuring peak wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. These winds produced a few downed trees across the county resulting in over 16,000 customers without power across the county at the peak of the event. Voluntary evacuations were ordered for residents in low-lying areas and mobile homes, and a total of 700 people took shelter in…

  10. Oct 6, 2016High Surf, Coastal Miami-Dade County$600,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    High surf caused by Hurricane Matthew pounded the beaches of Miami-Dade County, resulting in an estimated $600,000 of damage to beaches, mainly from beach erosion.

  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 Miami International Airport, 11.5 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high
100°FAug 18, 2026
All-time low
30°F2 times, most recently Dec 25, 1989
Warmest night
84°F18 times, most recently Aug 10, 2026
Coldest day
45°FDec 24, 1989
Wettest day
14.85 inApr 25, 1979
Hottest year
2023mean 79.8°F
Coldest year
1966mean 74.3°F
Wettest year
195989.33 in
Driest year
195637.05 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Miami International Airport 77° 61° 1.6 Jan 79° 64° 2.1 Feb 81° 66° 2.4 Mar 84° 70° 3.5 Apr 87° 74° 6.7 May 90° 76° 10.6 Jun 91° 78° 7.5 Jul 91° 78° 9.2 Aug 90° 77° 10.4 Sep 86° 74° 6.8 Oct 82° 68° 3.3 Nov 79° 65° 2.4 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Nights at or below freezing per year 1976: 0 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 1 1981: 1 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 1 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 2 2 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 19761986199620062016
Nights at or below freezing each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 0.0.

Station Miami International Airport (USW00012839), 5 ft elevation, 11.5 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 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

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

Declarations for Miami-Dade County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 11, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonMajor disasterDR-4834-FL
Oct 7, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonEmergencyEM-3622-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
Jun 25, 2021OtherSurfside Building CollapseEmergencyEM-3560-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 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
Oct 24, 2005HurricaneHurricane WilmaMajor disasterDR-1609-FL
Sep 20, 2005HurricaneTropical Storm RitaEmergencyEM-3259-FL
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3220-FL
Aug 28, 2005HurricaneHurricane KatrinaMajor disasterDR-1602-FL
Sep 26, 2004HurricaneHurricane JeanneMajor disasterDR-1561-FL
Sep 4, 2004HurricaneHurricane FrancesMajor disasterDR-1545-FL
Aug 13, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disasterDR-1539-FL
Apr 25, 2003Severe StormSevere Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1460-FL
Apr 25, 2001FireFl - Everglades Fire Complex - 04/25/01Fire managementFM-2359-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
Oct 4, 2000Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1345-FL
Oct 20, 1999HurricaneFl-Hurricane Irene-Dr-ReqMajor disasterDR-1306-FL
Oct 15, 1999HurricaneTropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergencyEM-3150-FL
Sep 14, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3143-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 18, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2256-FL
Sep 25, 1998HurricaneHurricane GrorgesEmergencyEM-3131-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Feb 12, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1204-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Aug 24, 1992HurricaneHurricane AndrewMajor disasterDR-955-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Mar 18, 1985FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-732-FL
May 6, 1980Human CauseUndocumented AliensEmergencyEM-3079-FL
Jan 31, 1977FreezingSevere Winter WeatherMajor disasterDR-526-FL
Mar 15, 1971FreezingFreezeMajor disasterDR-304-FL
Sep 14, 1965HurricaneHurricane BetsyMajor disasterDR-209-FL

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

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

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00012839.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.