Palmetto

Population 13,562 (2025)

46 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Palmetto since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1935 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Palmetto Tornado: 98th percentile. Tropical: 98th percentile. Wildfire: 78th percentile. Flood: 68th percentile. Hail & wind: 27th percentile. Heat: 0th percentile. Cold: 87th 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 1950231
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger100
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198413
  • Major flood years since 1978, Manatee County3

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 Manatee 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 Manatee County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

231

4 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

46

17 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

13

Largest: Unnamed, 1992

Details

Flood insurance claims

11,389

Manatee County

$651 million paid since 1978

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

April 15, 1958, 0.1 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane (unnamed), 1935, 25.7 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

50

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

101°F

August 9, 2023

Details

Tornadoes

About 3 tornados a year since 1950, 4 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

April 15, 1958

F4, 0.1 mile path

300 yards wide.

Deadliest

October 3, 1992

3 killed, F3

75 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Thursday, September 25, 2025

EF0, 0.0 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 14 14 1960s: 20 20 1970s: 41 41 1980s: 34 34 1990s: 66 66 2000s: 19 19 2010s: 22 22 2020s: 15 15 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 12 F: 13 M: 14 A: 15 M: 14 J: 34 J: 43 43 A: 33 S: 16 O: 19 N: 7 D: 11 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Sep 25, 2025EF00.01000
Aug 4, 2024EF02.25000
Jan 9, 2024EF00.01000
Oct 11, 2023EF00.25000
Dec 15, 2022EF11.910020
May 31, 2022EFU0.52500
Mar 16, 2022EF11.510010
Oct 28, 2021EFU2.85000
Apr 10, 2021EF10.55010
Feb 14, 2021EF01.33000
Nov 11, 2020EF00.410000
Aug 9, 2020EF00.210000
Jul 16, 2020EF00.27500
Jun 26, 2020EF00.47500
Feb 6, 2020EF09.25010
May 5, 2019EF00.45000
Dec 20, 2018EF00.212500
Dec 9, 2018EF12.85000
Nov 2, 2018EF11.77510
Oct 10, 2018EF00.02000
Apr 23, 2018EF01.04000
Apr 15, 2018EF00.22000
Aug 26, 2017EF00.35000
Jul 31, 2017EF00.710000
Feb 24, 2016EF18.65000
Jan 17, 2016EF29.230042
Jan 17, 2016EF21.135020
Oct 1, 2015EF00.43000
Oct 8, 2013EF00.23000
Jul 15, 2013EF01.2500
Jul 9, 2013EF00.21510
Jun 25, 2013EF00.1500
Jun 24, 2013EF01.91000
Jun 6, 2013EF01.95000
Jun 6, 2013EF09.85000
Jun 24, 2012EF13.05000
Mar 31, 2011EF11.610000
Jun 23, 2009EF10.610000
May 17, 2007EF00.33000
Jul 9, 2005F00.14000
Jul 9, 2005F00.34000
Jul 9, 2005F10.515000
Aug 24, 2004F00.82000
Jun 8, 2004F00.55000
Jun 18, 2003F01.04000
Mar 10, 2003F03.05000
Dec 31, 2002F02.03000
Jul 29, 2002F02.06000
Jul 11, 2002F00.54000
Jun 17, 2002F00.12000
Jun 8, 2002F01.04000
Sep 14, 2001F016.0500
Jul 14, 2001F00.1500
Jul 1, 2001F10.11000
Sep 9, 2000F00.1000
Aug 24, 2000F00.1000
Aug 16, 1999F00.11000
Jul 13, 1999F00.21000
Jul 9, 1999F00.51000
Jul 9, 1999F00.1000
Jul 9, 1999F00.1000
May 12, 1999F00.1000
Jan 2, 1999F02.32000
Jul 10, 1998F00.13000
Mar 1, 1998F10.43000
Feb 20, 1998F00.13000
Feb 17, 1998F15.03000
Oct 31, 1997F00.31000
Oct 31, 1997F00.11000
Oct 31, 1997F00.11000
Oct 31, 1997F00.11000
Jul 5, 1997F00.31000
Apr 26, 1997F01.01000
Apr 23, 1997F00.11000
Apr 23, 1997F00.11000
Apr 23, 1997F00.11000
Mar 14, 1997F00.11000
Jan 9, 1997F00.11000
Jan 9, 1997F00.11000
Oct 7, 1996F00.31000
Sep 20, 1996F01.01000
Aug 23, 1996F00.81000
Aug 6, 1996F00.31000
Nov 11, 1995F01.25020
Jul 12, 1995F16.02010
Oct 13, 1994F00.11000
Jul 16, 1994F00.11000
Aug 14, 1993F00.11000
Aug 10, 1993F00.11000
Aug 10, 1993F00.11000
Aug 9, 1993F10.45000
Aug 9, 1993F00.11000
Jul 14, 1993F10.44000
Jun 25, 1993F00.510000
Jun 15, 1993F00.412000
Jun 15, 1993F00.510000
Mar 12, 1993F00.11000
Jan 16, 1993F00.11000
Oct 3, 1992F00.11000
Oct 3, 1992F32.6500753
Sep 3, 1992F00.23000
Sep 1, 1992F00.11000
Jul 20, 1992F00.11000
Jul 20, 1992F00.11000
Jul 12, 1992F00.11000
Feb 5, 1992F00.21000
Feb 5, 1992F00.21000
Feb 5, 1992F00.21000
Jul 20, 1991F00.11000
Jul 13, 1991F10.83000
May 17, 1991F00.22300
May 16, 1991F00.12300
May 16, 1991F00.21000
May 7, 1991F00.64000
Apr 25, 1991F00.64000
Jan 19, 1991F00.53000
Jul 17, 1990F11.01000
Jul 16, 1990F00.11000
Jul 14, 1990F00.11000
Jul 2, 1990F00.11000
Jun 29, 1990F01.02000
Jun 7, 1990F00.21000
Aug 10, 1989F00.21000
Dec 11, 1988F01.03000
Nov 22, 1988F01.03000
Nov 22, 1988F01.03000
Sep 8, 1988F01.03000
Aug 14, 1988F00.53000
Jul 25, 1988F01.03000
Jul 15, 1988F01.03000
Jul 24, 1987F01.03000
Jul 6, 1987F01.03000
Jun 18, 1987F01.03000
Aug 1, 1986F00.53000
Aug 1, 1986F01.03000
Jun 12, 1986F02.04000
May 20, 1986F02.03000
May 20, 1986F01.03000
Feb 8, 1986F00.51040
Aug 23, 1984F00.53000
Jun 11, 1984F01.03000
Dec 11, 1983F28.010000
Sep 8, 1983F00.53000
Sep 3, 1983F00.23000
Feb 2, 1983F10.64010
Jul 16, 1982F10.82000
Mar 6, 1982F03.05000
Feb 17, 1982F11.05000
Dec 15, 1981F24.715050
Aug 26, 1981F10.15000
Aug 24, 1981F10.35000
Jul 29, 1981F00.12000
Jul 15, 1981F00.53000
Jun 25, 1981F00.55000
Jun 4, 1981F00.23000
Sep 2, 1980F12.03000
Oct 5, 1979F00.23000
Sep 29, 1979F00.13000
Sep 25, 1979F10.13000
Aug 24, 1979F00.13000
Jan 24, 1979F37.02000
Dec 24, 1978F10.42010
Oct 13, 1978F011.61000
Jun 29, 1978F00.11320
Jun 12, 1978F00.22300
Jun 8, 1978F00.11000
May 20, 1978F00.11000
Jul 15, 1977F11.05060
Jul 7, 1976F00.12000
Jun 27, 1976F00.12000
Apr 8, 1976F00.11020
Jan 8, 1976F00.11000
Sep 11, 1975F00.13000
Aug 26, 1975F10.13000
Aug 17, 1975F00.12000
Aug 8, 1975F10.13000
Aug 3, 1975F02.05000
Aug 27, 1974F00.25000
Jul 25, 1974F00.11000
Jun 26, 1974F00.51000
Apr 7, 1973F00.22000
Apr 7, 1973F00.22000
Apr 3, 1973F10.22000
Mar 17, 1973F11.05000
Jun 11, 1972F00.31000
Mar 31, 1972F20.23040
Feb 1, 1972F23.340030
Sep 10, 1971F00.32000
Aug 29, 1971F10.32000
Jul 29, 1971F00.32000
Mar 3, 1971F11.01700
Mar 3, 1971F10.53300
Jul 12, 1970F11.01000
Jul 12, 1970F11.01000
Mar 11, 1970F10.11000
Jan 6, 1970F20.11030
Jan 6, 1970F10.11020
Dec 10, 1969F21.015010
Jun 13, 1969F20.11000
Jun 8, 1969F10.11000
Nov 9, 1968F10.11000
Nov 9, 1968F112.31010
Oct 18, 1968F20.15000
May 19, 1968F10.110000
Sep 28, 1966F10.11000
Aug 15, 1966F00.11000
Apr 4, 1966F2123.315000
Aug 21, 1964F10.11020
Jun 30, 1964F10.11000
Mar 20, 1964F14.11010
Aug 22, 1963F10.11000
Aug 13, 1963F25.110000
May 30, 1963F10.11000
Aug 31, 1961F22.05000
May 5, 1961F20.55000
Jun 19, 1960F10.11000
Mar 17, 1960F00.11000
Dec 11, 1958F10.11010
Oct 31, 1958F33.620040
Oct 19, 1958F10.31700
Sep 28, 1958F10.11000
Apr 15, 1958F10.51000
Apr 15, 1958F40.130070
Feb 10, 1956F20.11000
Oct 29, 1955F20.11000
Aug 20, 1954F10.42700
Jun 5, 1953F00.11000
Jun 29, 1952F10.11000
Jun 13, 1952F12.51000
Dec 18, 1951F12.810000
Jul 22, 1951F20.11000
  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

46 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 17 at hurricane strength, 5 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 4, 1935

Unnamed storm, Category 3

25.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 129 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 3

7.1 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 0 70s: 3 80s: 3 90s: 4 00s: 2 10s: 2 20s: 4 30s: 5 40s: 7 7 50s: 1 60s: 4 70s: 0 80s: 1 90s: 1 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
Milton20247.1Category 3112Category 5
Nicole202264.9Tropical storm60Category 1
Ian202257.2Category 3123Category 5
Alex202295.4Disturbance41Tropical storm
Elsa202151.3Tropical storm67Category 1
Eta202060.1Tropical storm64Category 4
Sally202080.1Tropical storm49Category 2
Gordon201877.9Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Irma201736.1Category 181Category 5
Emily20174.5Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Fay200897.5Tropical storm68Tropical storm
Jeanne200450.4Category 175Category 3
Frances200442.9Tropical storm64Category 4
Charley200442.4Category 3122Category 4
Erika200389.6Tropical storm40Category 1
Gabrielle200117.1Tropical storm63Category 1
Gordon200081.8Category 175Category 1
Jerry199575.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Erin199556.9Tropical storm61Category 2
Gordon199475.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Marco199013.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Keith198815.6Tropical storm63Category 1
Bob198567.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Isidore198459.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed198267.1Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Dennis198196.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Gladys196861.1Category 296Category 2
Abby196844.8Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed196624.2Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alma196648.4Category 2104Category 3
Donna196043.6Category 194Category 4
Judith195957.2Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed195935.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Hazel195361.5Category 186Category 1
How195158.8Tropical storm63Category 2
King195084.1Category 186Category 4
Easy195051.0Category 298Category 3
Unnamed194949.1Category 178Category 4
Unnamed194738.5Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed194762.8Category 298Category 4
Unnamed19462.3Category 186Category 2
Unnamed194547.5Category 186Category 4
Unnamed194543.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194574.7Category 181Category 2
Unnamed194411.2Category 2100Category 4
Unnamed194131.4Tropical storm72Category 3
Unnamed193942.8Tropical storm59Category 1
Unnamed193740.6Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed193674.6Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed193525.7Category 3129Category 5
Unnamed193350.4Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed193336.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed193282.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed19305.4Tropical storm44Category 4
Unnamed192995.7Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed192840.0Category 298Category 5
Unnamed192834.4Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed192866.9Tropical storm47Category 2
Unnamed192638.4Category 3117Category 4
Unnamed192583.7Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed192137.3Category 3115Category 4
Unnamed192093.5Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed191645.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191186.3Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed191041.4Category 181Category 4
Unnamed190960.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190784.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190452.9Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed19034.6Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed190281.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed190136.3Tropical storm53Category 1
Unnamed189929.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189946.7Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed189829.8Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed189778.5Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189743.8Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Unnamed189683.4Tropical storm55Category 2
Unnamed189676.5Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed189451.0Category 190Category 3
Unnamed18929.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188991.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed188843.7Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed188853.2Category 189Category 3
Unnamed188741.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188643.1Category 181Category 1
Unnamed188580.4Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed188284.8Category 181Category 4
Unnamed188077.8Category 181Category 1
Unnamed188073.3Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed187990.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed187816.2Tropical storm52Category 2
Unnamed187478.1Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187367.3Category 3110Category 3
Unnamed187323.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed187227.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187189.7Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed187174.9Category 183Category 3
Unnamed186190.8Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed186096.8Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185918.3Category 192Category 1
Unnamed185952.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18589.2Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed185234.8Category 178Category 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

13 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

March 1, 1992

Unnamed Fire, 1,063 acres

15.8 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

June 16, 2009

Unnamed Fire

529 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1986: 1,5401990: 2,4181991: 3,8691992: 5,4011994: 1,8752004: 8802006: 5012009: 529 17,013 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed200922.8529
29 Powell200623.0501
Unnamed200424.1880
Unnamed199423.71,875
Unnamed199215.81,063
Unnamed199218.43,136
Unnamed199212.81,202
Unnamed199121.9523
Unnamed199123.91,555
Unnamed199122.41,791
Unnamed199015.8617
Unnamed199024.31,801
Unnamed198622.01,540
  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

3.2 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: 10 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 0 2021: 2 2022: 10 2023: 13 13 2024: 3 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

11,389 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $651 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Manatee County, the county that contains Palmetto.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 10 1979: 27 1980: 7 1981: 27 1982: 469 1983: 10 1985: 752 1986: 12 1987: 15 1988: 240 1989: 5 1990: 17 1991: 17 1992: 295 1993: 302 1994: 15 1995: 56 1996: 372 1997: 227 1998: 197 1999: 53 2000: 79 2001: 302 2002: 28 2003: 129 2004: 230 2005: 21 2007: 11 2008: 8 2009: 31 2010: 7 2011: 7 2012: 84 2013: 19 2014: 8 2015: 9 2016: 121 2017: 276 2018: 56 2019: 60 2020: 156 2022: 127 2023: 345 2024: 6,128 6,128 2025: 9 2026: 6 1978198319891994199920042010201520202026
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2024: 6,128 claims

$588 million paid.

2nd most

1985: 752 claims

$4.5 million paid.

3rd most

1982: 469 claims

$1.4 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
342173,182$226 million
342282,061$160 million
342161,134$68.4 million
34221932$42.4 million
34208698$25.8 million
34210464$24.2 million
34243423$16.4 million
34209417$22.1 million
34205381$11.7 million
34207328$4.4 million
34222267$13.4 million
34203201$5.2 million
34250114$5.1 million
33501112$421,000
34202111$11.5 million
34215101$6.2 million
3421976$2.4 million
3425168$2.3 million
3421265$1.1 million
3351053$250,000
53$229,000
3354834$161,000
3421117$179,000
3421812$61,000
335058$58,000
335618$29,000
335088$39,000
335097$15,000
335917$45,000
335227$37,000
342016$26,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood45
  • Heavy Rain21
  • Flash Flood13
  • Coastal Flood1

2 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.

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

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

River crests

River gauges in Manatee County, the county that contains Palmetto.

Most severe crest

June 21, 2003

Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64, 20.85 ft

9.85 feet above the 11.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 10, 2024

Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 64, 15.77 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Jun 21, 2003Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6420.85+9.85Major
Aug 5, 2024Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6420.12+9.12Major
Aug 5, 2024Manatee River at Rye Bridge20.12+9.12Major
Jul 21, 1962Manatee River at Rye Bridge20.00+9.00Major
Jun 23, 2003Manatee River at Rye Bridge19.71+8.71Major
Sep 29, 2022Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6419.33+8.33Major
Sep 11, 2017Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6418.67+7.67Major
Nov 14, 1997Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6418.08+7.08Major
Mar 20, 1998Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6418.08+7.08Major
Sep 7, 1988Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6417.85+6.85Major
Jun 18, 1982Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6417.45+6.45Major
Jun 26, 1992Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6417.21+6.21Major
Sep 29, 2022Manatee River at Rye Bridge17.19+6.19Major
Sep 14, 2001Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6417.15+6.15Major
Sep 11, 2017Manatee River at Rye Bridge16.76+5.76Major
Oct 10, 2024Manatee River at Rye Bridge15.94+4.94Major
Sep 20, 2001Manatee River at Rye Bridge15.72+4.72Major
Sep 22, 1979Manatee River at Rye Bridge15.70+4.70Major
Sep 27, 2024Tide Gauge at Port Manatee (in MHHW)6.04+4.04Major
Jun 30, 1991Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6416.80+5.80Moderate
Oct 3, 2007Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6416.02+5.02Moderate
Sep 6, 2004Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6415.94+4.94Moderate
Oct 10, 2024Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6415.77+4.77Moderate
Sep 1, 1985Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6415.70+4.70Moderate
Jan 24, 1998Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6415.46+4.46Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Bishop Harbor Bay (In MHHW)1.5——0
Braden Point (in MHHW)2.5——0
Manatee River at Manatee Dam41.042.42 ftJun 22, 20030
Manatee River at Rye Bridge11.020.12 ftAug 5, 20248
Manatee River near Myakka Head at SR 6411.020.85 ftJun 21, 200310
Tide Gauge at Beville Point (In MHHW)2.5——0
Tide Gauge at Boots Point (In MHHW)2.5——0
Tide Gauge at Port Manatee (in MHHW)2.06.04 ftSep 27, 20241
Tide Gauge at Seabreeze Point (In MHHW)2.0——0
Tide Gauge at the Skyway Fishing Pier (In MHHW)3.0——0
Tide Gauge on the Manatee River at Bradenton (In MHHW)1.5——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 Manatee County.

Most in one year, Port Manatee

7 days

May 2023 to April 2024.

Last ten years

2.8 days a year

At Port Manatee, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

10 days

Since 1990, 3 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Port Manatee 1990: 2 1999: 0 2000: 2 2001: 1 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 4 2005: 2 2006: 1 2007: 1 2008: 3 2009: 1 2010: 0 2011: 1 2012: 3 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 4 2017: 2 2018: 4 2019: 2 2020: 1 2021: 0 2022: 2 2023: 7 7 2024: 6 2025: 0 199020082018
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 121 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 12 months.

The drought index is for Manatee County, the county that contains Palmetto.

121

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

20

Months in extreme drought

8%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

May 1945

−5.33, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

12 months

October 2025 to September 2026.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.73, extreme drought

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

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

Earthquakes

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

Severe weather and other events

621 events in the National Weather Service record for Manatee County, 484 of them since 1996.

28

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

1

Hail, 2 inches or larger

48

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

0

Winter weather events since 1996

0

Heat events since 1996

38

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 27, 1969

2.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

May 27, 1969

81 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Rip currents342Jul 6, 2013
High surf and sneaker waves100Dec 26, 2004
Storm surge and tide1510Oct 9, 2024
Lightning41423Aug 22, 2024
Dense fog and smoke4300Feb 2, 2004

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 28, 2022Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Manatee$1.0 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    The highest wind reported in Manatee County from Hurricane Ian was a wind gust to 86 mph at the Sarasota Bradenton international airport at 5:10 PM EST on September 28. Rainfall generally ranged from 5 to 10 inches over the western half of the county, to 10 to 15 inches across eastern and southeastern locations, where a maximum total of 15.03 inches was reported east of Myakka Head. The Manatee River near Myakka Head reached its second highest level of 19.33 feet on September 29 at 6:45 AM EST, and at Rye bridge reached its third highest level of 17.19 feet on September 29 at 5:30 AM EST. A new record low water level was set at Port Manatee where the observed minimum of -2.39 feet…

  2. Sep 10, 2017Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Manatee$15.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    In coastal portions of Manatee County, winds from Hurricane Irma were estimated to be around 60 to 70 knots based on surrounding observations. The highest wind gust reported in coastal Manatee County was 61 knots at the ASOS at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Rainfall was generally around 5 inches or greater, with the highest rain total being 6.86 inches at the GOES station LWDF1 in Lake Ward. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. Manatee County Emergency Management reported that 14 homes or businesses were destroyed, 170 sustained major damage, 196 had minor damage, and an additional 2061 were affected by…

  3. Sep 25, 2004Tropical Storm, Manatee$10.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Jeanne followed the nearly the same path across Florida as Hurricane Frances three weeks earlier and was the unprecedented fourth hurricane to damage Florida during the 2004 hurricane season. The hurricane moved ashore along the east coast of Florida near Stuart late on September 25th with an eye 30 to 40 miles across. Jeanne took a course north of Lake Okeechobee and decreased to a tropical storm in easter Polk County around 9 AM EDT on the 26th. The center of Jeanne curved north of Tampa Bay during the afternoon and traveled north along the coastal counties before exiting north through Levy County around 10 PM. In Hillsborough County the observation from the Vandenburg…

  4. Nov 11, 2020Tropical Storm, Coastal Manatee$10.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    In Manatee County the highest wind reported from Hurricane Eta was a gust of 54 mph at the ASOS site at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Rainfall was generally above 5 inches, with the highest rain total being 8.10 inches at a site in South Bradenton. The wind and salt water flooding resulted in some homes being damaged, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. There was also significant beach erosion along barrier island from Anna Maria Island to Long Key. Manatee County Emergency Management reported 6 homes with major damage, 27 homes with minor damage, and 99 other homes being affected. An EF-0 tornado was also found to have briefly touched down near Myakka…

  5. Aug 13, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Manatee$8.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

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

  6. Sep 5, 2004Tropical Storm, Manatee$6.4 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Frances made landfall just after midnight on September 5th near Vero Beach as a Category 2 storm. The hurricane continued to move slowly west northwestward across central Florida to near Bartow by 2 pm, and just northeast of Tampa by 8 pm, when it was downgraded to a tropical storm. It then emerged back into the Gulf of Mexico near Hudson shortly before midnight. Hurricane Frances took almost 24 hours to move through the Florida peninsula. Frances continued northwestward through the northern gulf of Mexico, making a second landfall on the afternoon of September 6th in the Florida big bend near Tallahassee as a tropical storm. In Lee County the observation at Big Carlos…

  7. Jun 24, 2012Storm Surge/Tide, Manatee$5.9 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tide gauge at Port Manatee measured a peak tide of 4.43 feet MLLW on the afternoon of the 24th. Subtracting the predicted astronomical tide, the highest storm surge was calculated as 3.26 feet late in the evening of the 25th.||Storm Surge on Anna Maria Island flooded streets and brought the water level up to the foundations of several houses. Around noon on the 24th, water was flowing over the narrow part of Anna Maria Island from the Gulf of Mexico to the Intercoastal. Marina Drive in Holmes Beach reopened Monday morning, but there was still 8 inches of water covering the roadway during the morning commute.||Damage to county beaches from erosion was estimated at $5.9 million.

  8. Oct 7, 1996Tropical Storm, Manatee$4.9 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Josephine moved northeast across the Gulf of Mexico and brought low to moderate range tropical storm force winds to mainly coastal areas of West Central and Southwest Florida. Maximum sustained winds of 45 mph with gusts as high as 71 mph were observed at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at the mouth of Tampa Bay.Tropical Storm Josephine moved onshore in the Big Bend area of Florida and caused storm surges of 8 to 9 feet at Cedar Key in Levy county shortly after midnight on the 8th. Storm surges of 4 to 6 feet were common from Citrus county south to the Tampa Bay metro area. Storm surges of 2 to 4 feet were common from Anna Maria Island in Manatee county south to Ft.…

  9. Sep 1, 2016Storm Surge/Tide, Coastal Manatee$4.3 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Storm surge along Manatee County Beaches generally only reached 2-3 feet above normal high tide, but was estimated to cause $4.25 million in damage from beach erosion.

  10. Mar 14, 1999Lightning$3.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning ignited a fire that caused 3.5 million dollars worth of damage to the three story Playa Encantada Apartment building on the 6000 block of Gulf Drive in Holmes Beach.

  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 Bradenton 5 Ese, 8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1965.

All-time high
101°FAug 9, 2023
All-time low
20°FDec 26, 1983
Warmest night
84°FJun 23, 2009
Coldest day
41°FJan 20, 1977
Wettest day
11.65 inAug 26, 2017
Hottest year
2023mean 76.3°F
Coldest year
1976mean 70.4°F
Wettest year
199778.33 in
Driest year
202538.10 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Bradenton 5 Ese 72° 51° 2.5 Jan 75° 54° 1.8 Feb 79° 58° 2.7 Mar 83° 63° 2.4 Apr 89° 69° 3.6 May 92° 74° 8.6 Jun 92° 75° 8.6 Jul 92° 76° 10.4 Aug 90° 74° 7.6 Sep 85° 68° 2.7 Oct 79° 60° 1.8 Nov 74° 55° 2.1 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: 2 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 2 1981: 9 1982: 3 1983: 4 1984: 4 1985: 8 1986: 4 1987: 25 1988: 7 1989: 28 1990: 18 1991: 15 1992: 5 1993: 21 1994: 5 1995: 20 1996: 7 1997: 12 1998: 46 1999: 5 2000: 9 2004: 14 2005: 15 2006: 3 2007: 22 2008: 2 2009: 1 2010: 34 2011: 12 2012: 5 2013: 6 2014: 19 2015: 25 2016: 24 2017: 20 2018: 13 2019: 23 2020: 32 2021: 8 2022: 26 2023: 55 55 2024: 54 2025: 41 19761986199620092019
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 19.7.

Station Bradenton 5 Ese (USC00080945), 17 ft elevation, 8.0 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1965 to October 18, 2026; 94.0% 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

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

Declarations for Manatee County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 11, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonMajor disasterDR-4834-FL
Oct 7, 2024HurricaneHurricane MiltonEmergencyEM-3622-FL
Sep 28, 2024HurricaneHurricane HeleneMajor disasterDR-4828-FL
Sep 24, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm HeleneEmergencyEM-3615-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 16, 2021HurricaneTropical Storm FredEmergencyEM-3562-FL
Jul 4, 2021Severe StormTropical Storm ElsaEmergencyEM-3561-FL
Nov 11, 2020HurricaneHurricane EtaEmergencyEM-3551-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Oct 9, 2018HurricaneHurricane MichaelEmergencyEM-3405-FL
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Sep 28, 2016HurricaneHurricane HermineMajor disasterDR-4280-FL
Jul 3, 2012Severe StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4068-FL
Aug 24, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayMajor disasterDR-1785-FL
Aug 21, 2008Severe StormTropical Storm FayEmergencyEM-3288-FL
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
Jul 29, 2003Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1481-FL
Sep 28, 2001Coastal StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes and Flooding Associated With Tropical Storm GabrielleMajor disasterDR-1393-FL
Apr 18, 2001FireFl - Myakka Complex FireFire managementFM-2358-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
Oct 15, 1999HurricaneTropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergencyEM-3150-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 23, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2260-FL
Sep 25, 1998HurricaneHurricane GrorgesEmergencyEM-3131-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
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Aug 14, 1992FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-952-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Sep 12, 1985HurricaneHurricane ElenaMajor disasterDR-743-FL
Mar 18, 1985FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-732-FL
Jul 7, 1982FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-664-FL
Jan 31, 1977FreezingSevere Winter WeatherMajor disasterDR-526-FL
Jun 23, 1972Coastal StormTropical Storm AgnesMajor disasterDR-337-FL
Nov 7, 1968HurricaneHurricane GladysMajor disasterDR-252-FL

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

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

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USC00080945.
  • 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.