Sweetwater

Population 20,828 (2025)

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

Hazard fingerprint for Sweetwater 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 1950212
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger99
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198494
  • 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

47

23 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

94

Largest: Unnamed, 1989

Details

Flood insurance claims

62,029

Miami-Dade County

$856 million paid since 1978

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

212

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

June 17, 1959, 12.7 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 5

Hurricane Andrew, 1992, 20.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

43

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

100°F

August 18, 2026

Details

Tornadoes

About 3 tornados a year since 1950, 2 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: 12 12 1960s: 24 24 1970s: 10 10 1980s: 38 38 1990s: 53 53 2000s: 39 39 2010s: 20 20 2020s: 16 16 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 9 F: 13 M: 13 A: 11 M: 27 J: 38 38 J: 21 A: 28 S: 25 O: 17 N: 7 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Oct 9, 2024EF12.97500
Feb 18, 2024EF03.435000
Feb 18, 2024EF03.410000
Feb 18, 2024EFU0.63000
May 25, 2023EF00.67510
Apr 21, 2023EF00.11000
Apr 12, 2023EF01.75000
Apr 12, 2023EF00.01000
Sep 27, 2022EF00.15000
Sep 27, 2022EF07.47500
Sep 27, 2022EF15.715000
Sep 27, 2022EF00.15000
Sep 27, 2022EF00.15000
Sep 27, 2022EFU5.210000
Aug 19, 2020EF00.516000
May 24, 2020EF14.84000
Jan 27, 2019EF00.410000
Jul 20, 2018EF00.22000
Jul 10, 2018EF04.72500
May 29, 2018EF00.32500
Apr 10, 2018EF03.24000
Oct 28, 2017EF00.55000
Oct 24, 2017EF00.02000
Sep 9, 2017EF10.25000
Sep 9, 2017EF10.15000
Jun 5, 2017EF00.11000
Mar 13, 2017EF01.35000
Jan 23, 2017EF12.812300
Feb 16, 2016EF13.815000
Feb 16, 2016EF06.75000
Sep 16, 2015EF02.34000
May 15, 2014EF00.33000
Jul 23, 2013EF00.01000
Jun 24, 2012EF00.52000
Oct 18, 2011EF21.112500
Mar 10, 2011EF03.32000
Dec 18, 2009EF01.15000
Aug 18, 2008EF00.22500
Aug 14, 2008EF10.41500
Jun 13, 2008EF00.01000
Feb 12, 2008EF03.122000
Jul 21, 2007EF00.54000
Jun 18, 2007EF00.13000
Jun 15, 2007EF00.12000
Jun 1, 2007EF13.97500
May 6, 2007EF01.97500
Nov 14, 2006F00.02000
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
Aug 6, 2002F00.11000
Aug 2, 2002F00.51000
May 30, 2002F00.11000
Jan 2, 2002F110.05000
Nov 5, 2001F00.51000
Sep 8, 2001F00.21000
Aug 21, 2001F04.01000
Jun 23, 2001F11.51500
Oct 3, 2000F00.21000
Oct 3, 2000F00.2000
Oct 3, 2000F00.2000
Oct 3, 2000F10.52000
Sep 17, 2000F00.22000
Jul 11, 2000F00.11000
Jul 10, 2000F00.11000
Jun 22, 2000F00.21000
Apr 16, 2000F00.11000
Apr 14, 2000F00.1000
Feb 22, 2000F00.11000
Oct 14, 1999F00.11010
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
Jul 21, 1998F10.23000
May 4, 1998F00.23000
May 4, 1998F00.13000
Mar 9, 1998F14.53000
Mar 9, 1998F12.53000
Feb 2, 1998F221.020000
Jan 8, 1998F00.113000
Jul 10, 1997F00.21300
Jul 2, 1997F00.21000
Jun 16, 1997F11.05010
Jun 10, 1997F00.52300
May 31, 1997F00.12300
May 28, 1997F00.52300
May 12, 1997F18.0150120
May 4, 1997F00.12000
Aug 8, 1996F00.11000
Jun 21, 1996F11.51000
Jun 9, 1996F00.11000
May 29, 1996F10.11000
Jan 3, 1996F00.41000
Jan 3, 1996F17.04090
Jul 12, 1995F00.11000
Jul 12, 1995F00.11000
Jul 3, 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
Jun 26, 1992F00.75000
Aug 4, 1991F00.21000
Jul 21, 1991F00.11000
Jul 12, 1991F00.31000
Jan 15, 1991F13.56010
Jan 15, 1991F14.06030
Jan 15, 1991F00.54010
Jun 24, 1990F00.21000
Jun 19, 1990F00.21000
May 10, 1990F00.21000
Aug 17, 1989F00.21000
May 15, 1989F00.21000
May 27, 1988F01.03000
Jun 28, 1987F00.23000
Jun 27, 1987F00.23000
Jun 25, 1987F00.33000
Aug 28, 1986F01.03000
Mar 14, 1986F01.01000
Feb 7, 1986F00.51000
Aug 5, 1985F00.51000
Jul 13, 1984F01.03000
May 16, 1984F00.51000
May 16, 1984F00.61000
Apr 13, 1984F03.01000
Aug 5, 1983F00.24000
May 31, 1983F00.31000
Mar 17, 1983F252.56020
Feb 10, 1983F00.52000
Sep 23, 1982F00.81000
Aug 12, 1982F00.31000
Jun 17, 1982F03.01000
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 28, 1981F00.12000
May 20, 1981F10.12000
May 20, 1981F11.05000
May 11, 1981F00.12000
May 7, 1981F11.05000
Nov 15, 1980F00.31700
Sep 9, 1980F11.03000
Aug 21, 1980F11.03000
Jul 15, 1980F10.12000
Jun 11, 1980F00.13000
May 25, 1980F10.13000
Aug 19, 1978F00.11000
Jun 12, 1978F00.11000
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, 1969F10.11000
Aug 10, 1969F10.11000
Aug 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, 1964F20.11000
Oct 14, 1964F10.16700
Aug 28, 1964F10.11000
Aug 13, 1964F00.11000
Jul 31, 1964F00.11000
Jun 5, 1963F00.11000
Jun 3, 1963F00.11000
Nov 9, 1962F11.01010
Sep 5, 1962F00.11000
Mar 21, 1961F00.11000
Jul 14, 1959F00.11000
Jun 29, 1959F00.11000
Jun 17, 1959F312.7333770
Oct 8, 1957F00.11000
Oct 15, 1956F00.11000
Apr 10, 1956F37.8200200
Apr 2, 1955F10.11000
Sep 22, 1954F20.13300
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

47 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 23 at hurricane strength, 9 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

August 24, 1992

Andrew, Category 5

20.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 167 mph.

Most recent

June 4, 2022

Alex, Disturbance

80.9 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 3 80s: 3 90s: 3 00s: 7 7 10s: 2 20s: 3 30s: 4 40s: 6 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 1 80s: 1 90s: 3 00s: 3 10s: 0 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
Alex202280.9Disturbance44Tropical storm
Eta202064.2Tropical storm63Category 4
Isaias202071.7Tropical storm63Category 1
Gordon201851.1Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Irma201781.7Category 3115Category 5
Nicole201072.8Remnant low46Tropical storm
Fay200873.7Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Ernesto200632.5Tropical storm44Category 1
Wilma200547.7Category 2109Category 5
Katrina20055.4Category 179Category 5
Jeanne200498.5Category 3121Category 3
Frances200497.3Category 2106Category 4
Irene199922.5Category 176Category 2
Harvey199932.3Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Mitch199871.5Tropical storm62Category 5
Andrew199220.8Category 5167Category 5
Fabian199154.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Floyd198742.1Tropical storm71Category 1
Bob198561.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Isidore198456.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Dennis198150.6Tropical storm40Category 1
David197959.2Category 297Category 5
Dottie197624.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed197453.5Subtropical storm62Tropical storm
Jenny196990.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Inez196650.9Category 194Category 5
Betsy196553.1Category 3114Category 4
Isbell196441.4Category 296Category 3
Cleo196417.9Category 2109Category 4
Donna196065.7Category 3129Category 4
Judith195984.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed195614.5Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed195353.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed195231.6Tropical storm63Tropical storm
King19509.6Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed194959.1Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed194811.0Category 194Category 3
Unnamed194849.8Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed19477.1Category 181Category 2
Unnamed194721.8Category 3121Category 4
Unnamed194651.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed194518.8Category 3124Category 4
Unnamed194120.4Category 298Category 3
Unnamed193989.3Category 175Category 1
Unnamed193628.3Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed19367.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed19357.8Category 192Category 2
Unnamed193563.5Category 4138Category 4
Unnamed193564.0Category 5182Category 5
Unnamed193380.4Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed193375.4Category 3127Category 4
Unnamed193390.9Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed193227.5Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192954.5Category 3114Category 4
Unnamed192866.1Category 4145Category 5
Unnamed192885.7Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed192878.6Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed192638.8Category 3127Category 4
Unnamed192610.0Category 4137Category 4
Unnamed192690.3Category 2109Category 4
Unnamed192597.0Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed192412.6Tropical storm72Category 5
Unnamed191622.8Post-tropical58Tropical storm
Unnamed19161.3Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed191648.4Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed190940.5Category 2109Category 3
Unnamed190945.8Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed190923.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed19066.5Category 3117Category 3
Unnamed19068.0Category 186Category 2
Unnamed190328.2Category 186Category 1
Unnamed190139.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed189952.6Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed189892.4Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189860.6Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed189877.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189891.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed189693.8Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed189597.4Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed189568.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed189221.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189140.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189122.5Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed188918.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188818.2Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed188863.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188810.3Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed188698.5Category 194Category 3
Unnamed188559.3Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188169.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187825.8Category 181Category 2
Unnamed187848.4Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed187658.1Category 2101Category 3
Unnamed187645.7Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed187190.8Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed187184.9Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed187075.2Category 183Category 2
Unnamed187053.1Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed186520.0Category 298Category 2
Unnamed186337.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed186184.7Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed185946.1Tropical 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

94 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

June 22, 1989

Unnamed Fire, 1,475 acres

15.5 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

March 29, 2022

137 Ave Fire

858 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1984: 1,3801985: 5,3321986: 9,4141987: 6,5891988: 3,1211989: 245,0721990: 24,6411992: 1,1981996: 2,7751997: 5951998: 1,0762000: 9,7612001: 40,1122003: 6602004: 3,4752005: 2,0792006: 1,3122007: 38,9112008: 38,5782011: 78,3062013: 1,0072014: 2,8842015: 1,3702017: 13,6842020: 6,0362021: 10,2822022: 858 550,508 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
137 Ave20222.3858
Mile Marker 1920216.6606
Four Sixteen202122.59,676
Power Line Rd202024.1742
Sunday Afternoon20208.91,177
Narrow Ditch202013.5696
False Alarm #1202024.53,421
Mothers Day201722.93,328
Holiday201711.38,851
Trail Fire20172.41,505
Grand Lake20153.21,370
Macks Camp North201412.62,884
117 328 Ffs201322.01,007
Afternoon20118.49,628
Prairie Fire20114.167,902
#1 Season Fire201112.6776
Mustang Corner200813.138,578
Mfc South Fire20079.437,266
Unnamed200718.4646
Unnamed200720.0999
Chekika Wf200615.11,312
Unnamed20053.9588
Dof 197-120200510.81,491
Thompson Park Fire20047.62,614
Unnamed200410.8861
L67200318.2660
Unnamed200118.2554
Unnamed20019.622,756
Unnamed200114.63,684
Cattail20019.92,249
Lopez200120.38,777
Dofpitt20015.01,410
Mustang200118.3682
Unnamed200018.2799
Unnamed200011.7577
Unnamed200014.02,451
Unnamed20003.95,934
Rutski 2199819.81,076
Unnamed199724.7595
Unnamed199622.2519
Unnamed199620.6516
Copticamp199610.1856
Unnamed19969.9884
Rytskys 3199222.2673
Sw 197N19929.5525
Unnamed199022.61,053
Unnamed199020.94,734
Unnamed199020.51,767
Unnamed19907.24,732
Unnamed19906.7575
Dof 208199017.11,631
Dof 18819903.85,091
Dof 118199012.51,537
Dof 106199011.12,676
Unnamed19907.4845
Unnamed19892.14,232
Unnamed19895.4912
Unnamed198914.3788
Unnamed198915.51,475
Unnamed198924.490,053
Unnamed198913.911,310
Unnamed198914.61,779
Dof 398198915.12,100
Unnamed19892.56,624
Ingraham198922.585,371
Dof 354198918.21,270
Dof 345198913.01,052
Unnamed198915.61,084
Unnamed198923.515,991
Dof 30519897.217,087
Unnamed19896.12,221
Unnamed198922.1765
Unnamed19899.1958
Unnamed198822.9788
Unnamed19886.9677
Unnamed198816.51,100
Unnamed198811.3556
Unnamed198715.21,420
Unnamed19873.1836
Unnamed19873.1836
Unnamed19875.4928
Unnamed198714.11,278
Unnamed19879.41,291
Unnamed198615.41,196
Ddf 07198621.2811
Dof 48198623.2813
Unnamed198613.51,180
Unnamed198623.95,414
Dof 03198518.6981
Unnamed19852.41,267
Unnamed198513.51,293
Unnamed198516.8697
Unnamed198512.81,094
Unnamed19849.81,380
  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: 5 days

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

Last 10 years

1.4 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

0 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 5 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: 1 2019: 0 2020: 1 2021: 1 2022: 4 2023: 5 5 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 Sweetwater.

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 Sweetwater.

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 Sweetwater.

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, 4.4 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, 4.4 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.