Tallahassee

Population 204,902 (2025)

45 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Tallahassee since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Helene in 2024 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Tallahassee Tornado: 69th percentile. Tropical: 96th percentile. Wildfire: 93th percentile. Flood: 90th percentile. Hail & wind: 96th percentile. Heat: 56th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 2th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

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

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195084
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger87
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 1984174
  • Major flood years since 1978, Leon County7

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 Leon 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 Leon County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

45

13 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

174

Largest: East Fork, 2004

Details

Flood insurance claims

1,015

Leon County

$11.9 million paid since 1979

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

84

1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

EF3

March 3, 2019, 8.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane Helene, 2024, 38.8 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

37

Most recent: Hurricane Isaias, 2026

Details

Record high

105°F

June 15, 2011

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

March 3, 2019

EF3, 8.8 mile path

700 yards wide.

Deadliest

May 10, 2024

2 killed, EF2

0 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Monday, April 7, 2025

EF1, 8.6 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 3 3 1960s: 8 8 1970s: 16 16 1980s: 5 5 1990s: 6 6 2000s: 15 15 2010s: 10 10 2020s: 21 21 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 7 F: 4 M: 11 A: 15 15 M: 9 J: 8 J: 2 A: 2 S: 5 O: 6 N: 7 D: 8 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Apr 7, 2025EF18.615000
Apr 7, 2025EF112.230000
Mar 31, 2025EF01.910000
May 10, 2024EF224.81,40002
May 10, 2024EF131.41,10000
May 10, 2024EF224.290000
Mar 9, 2024EF13.435500
Feb 4, 2024EF00.25000
Jan 9, 2024EF01.05000
Apr 27, 2023EF01.57500
Apr 27, 2023EF02.35000
Jan 25, 2023EF13.255000
Jan 22, 2023EF10.320000
Dec 14, 2022EF01.52500
May 6, 2022EF02.52500
Sep 8, 2021EF01.45000
Apr 10, 2021EF02.42500
Jan 27, 2021EF121.420000
Jan 27, 2021EF10.85000
Apr 23, 2020EF13.910000
Apr 23, 2020EF110.660000
Apr 19, 2019EF018.115000
Mar 3, 2019EF00.75000
Mar 3, 2019EF38.870000
Mar 3, 2019EF018.430000
Mar 3, 2019EF12.127500
Apr 19, 2015EF14.635000
Apr 7, 2014EF00.55000
Jul 29, 2012EF12.510000
Mar 3, 2012EF00.62500
Apr 8, 2010EF01.07500
Dec 9, 2009EF00.65000
Jun 4, 2009EF00.12500
Feb 18, 2009EF25.925000
Oct 8, 2008EF10.87500
Aug 23, 2008EF00.25000
Mar 7, 2008EF14.615010
Apr 22, 2006F04.05000
Dec 5, 2005F00.23000
Dec 5, 2005F14.010000
Sep 16, 2004F05.57500
Aug 12, 2003F03.05000
Sep 22, 2000F01.04000
Sep 22, 2000F00.32000
Sep 22, 2000F11.56000
Mar 11, 2000F00.0000
Oct 24, 1997F10.315000
Dec 19, 1995F10.53000
Nov 11, 1995F00.12000
Nov 11, 1995F10.510000
Nov 11, 1995F15.010000
Nov 11, 1995F11.010000
Jun 9, 1989F00.21000
Jun 9, 1989F00.21000
Jun 9, 1989F00.21000
May 2, 1985F00.51000
May 16, 1983F12.05000
Nov 11, 1979F10.33000
Apr 4, 1979F10.13000
Oct 25, 1977F00.12000
Jul 2, 1976F11.03000
May 22, 1976F03.61000
Jun 14, 1975F110.05000
Feb 17, 1975F00.51000
Jan 30, 1974F23.310041
Apr 25, 1973F10.22000
Oct 27, 1972F21.010000
Oct 27, 1972F20.35000
Oct 27, 1972F20.35000
Mar 28, 1972F20.25000
Mar 28, 1972F20.25000
May 8, 1971F16.510000
Dec 29, 1970F25.140040
Dec 25, 1969F20.15000
Feb 15, 1969F10.11000
Jun 12, 1968F14.11700
May 19, 1968F00.11000
Jun 1, 1967F20.33300
Jun 10, 1965F00.11000
Nov 23, 1961F20.110000
Apr 10, 1960F20.17700
Nov 14, 1957F20.71000
Dec 6, 1953F28.41000
Jan 28, 1952F21.53300
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

45 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 13 at hurricane strength, 2 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 3

38.8 miles at closest approach, winds near 125 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 3

38.8 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 2 60s: 1 70s: 7 7 80s: 4 90s: 1 00s: 4 10s: 1 20s: 5 30s: 3 40s: 1 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 1 80s: 1 90s: 3 00s: 4 10s: 2 20s: 2 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
Helene202438.8Category 3125Category 4
Debby202463.7Category 175Category 1
Idalia202354.8Category 3115Category 4
Mindy202110.3Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Fred202168.4Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Elsa202151.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Nestor201935.2Post-tropical43Tropical storm
Michael201849.7Category 3124Category 5
Irma201754.3Tropical storm52Category 5
Hermine201618.4Category 175Category 1
Colin201659.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea201383.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Debby201292.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Claudette200999.7Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Fay200848.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Alberto200646.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Jeanne200439.3Tropical storm43Category 3
Frances20044.8Tropical storm52Category 4
Gordon200087.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Earl199836.1Tropical storm61Category 2
Josephine199641.4Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Allison199515.3Tropical storm60Category 1
Beryl199458.9Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Kate198522.5Category 186Category 3
Unnamed197646.9Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Agnes197250.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed197167.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Alma196615.3Category 175Category 3
Unnamed196597.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Hilda196425.5Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora19647.7Tropical storm52Category 4
Brenda196068.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed195720.1Tropical storm51Category 1
Flossy195650.5Tropical storm48Category 1
Florence195357.2Post-tropical46Category 3
Love195068.5Tropical storm58Category 1
King195062.2Tropical storm49Category 4
Unnamed194980.8Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194115.9Category 178Category 3
Unnamed193983.2Category 175Category 1
Unnamed193719.9Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed193558.8Category 183Category 5
Unnamed193344.9Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed193237.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed192931.6Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed192839.7Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed192810.8Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed192672.8Tropical storm48Category 4
Unnamed192434.8Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192414.7Tropical storm56Category 1
Unnamed191790.8Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed191567.4Category 177Category 2
Unnamed191450.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191258.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190729.2Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed190712.5Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed190680.4Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed190383.6Category 192Category 1
Unnamed190247.2Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed190117.8Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed190199.5Tropical storm45Category 1
Unnamed190082.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189950.9Category 183Category 2
Unnamed189859.5Category 181Category 1
Unnamed189698.7Category 174Category 2
Unnamed189430.2Category 194Category 3
Unnamed189350.5Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed188884.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed18869.5Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188617.0Category 190Category 2
Unnamed188581.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188511.1Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed18859.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188282.3Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed188059.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed188061.4Category 181Category 2
Unnamed18787.7Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed187791.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187722.5Category 181Category 3
Unnamed187728.4Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed187525.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed187322.7Category 177Category 1
Unnamed187137.3Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed18714.3Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed18688.6Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed186767.4Category 183Category 2
Unnamed186075.2Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185655.2Category 181Category 3
Unnamed185215.3Category 296Category 2
Unnamed185148.6Category 296Category 3
  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

174 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

April 5, 2004

East Fork Fire, 26,306 acres

22.7 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

August 17, 2020

Baytree Fire

696 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1985: 9231986: 3,3761987: 3,4701988: 3,0531989: 1,2511991: 1,6011992: 4,8161993: 2,4281995: 3,9411998: 2,4871999: 12,6912000: 2,2282001: 3,3992002: 3,8182003: 4,4252004: 37,9082005: 28,2002006: 54,2252007: 102,4722008: 50,9672010: 2,1052011: 1,2132012: 6,2312018: 5,3302019: 2,9422020: 696 346,196 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Baytree202023.7696
344 D201922.42,343
360G201917.3599
Clear Lake201811.85,330
Brown House201217.25,369
Grand Bay201221.0862
Limerock20118.6632
Unnamed201120.5581
Unit 103201022.01,356
Burn Unit 209201022.8749
Unnamed200819.11,077
Unnamed200821.82,096
Unnamed200821.9586
Unnamed200812.0717
Unnamed200815.8899
Unnamed20089.89,129
Unnamed200818.14,953
Unnamed20088.74,072
Unnamed200815.11,319
Unnamed200816.61,269
Unnamed20088.31,074
Unnamed200818.55,603
Unnamed200821.61,625
Unnamed200812.91,977
Unnamed200819.81,144
Unnamed200814.13,760
Unnamed200822.74,479
Unnamed200820.82,004
S 8 Ab200820.8665
Unnamed200819.1618
S 9 Acdedghijo200820.9808
Unnamed200815.11,093
Unnamed200713.11,516
Unnamed20075.71,036
Unnamed20076.51,419
Unnamed200717.9819
Unnamed200716.72,267
Unnamed200720.81,201
Unnamed200723.6616
Unnamed200718.4666
Unnamed200718.12,337
Unnamed200724.01,021
Unnamed20075.98,204
Unnamed200721.0995
Unnamed200712.7744
Unnamed200716.01,246
Unnamed200714.72,577
Unnamed200712.6848
Unnamed200714.51,889
Unnamed200717.71,279
Unnamed200714.82,084
Unnamed200714.81,582
Unnamed200720.71,010
Unnamed200710.65,813
Unnamed200723.11,094
Unnamed200714.72,411
Unnamed200723.2940
Unnamed200710.31,187
Unnamed200716.02,413
Unnamed200720.82,008
Unnamed200715.92,062
Unnamed200712.12,294
Unnamed200719.51,968
Unnamed200713.3955
Unnamed200713.6606
Unnamed200718.01,389
Unnamed200719.81,895
Unnamed20078.33,330
Unnamed200723.8574
Unnamed200715.1829
Unnamed200719.21,088
Unnamed200721.71,267
Unnamed200711.2759
Unnamed200718.41,571
Unnamed200710.7668
Unnamed200719.71,612
Unnamed200710.02,724
Unnamed200711.1542
Unnamed200723.0636
Unnamed200715.62,067
Unnamed200711.8622
Unnamed200719.71,210
Unnamed200721.29,271
Unnamed20076.2970
Unnamed200720.7543
Unnamed200719.2757
Unnamed200718.71,061
Unnamed200718.1608
Unnamed200714.51,615
Unnamed200721.1916
Unnamed200711.81,418
Unnamed200719.2572
Unnamed200719.22,851
Unnamed200623.51,035
Prescribed Fire200621.91,352
Unnamed200620.52,232
Unnamed200616.03,952
Unnamed200622.44,632
Unnamed20067.01,075
Unnamed200619.21,201
Unnamed200614.811,771
Unnamed200617.3703
Unnamed200622.21,377
Unnamed200617.7984
Unnamed200623.5621
Unnamed200624.43,036
Unnamed200618.22,257
Unnamed200624.04,649
Unnamed200618.49,373
Unnamed200620.63,975
W 5 A200521.7818
S 8 Ab200520.8657
Unnamed200519.31,782
Unnamed20057.34,829
Unnamed200513.51,206
Unnamed200513.12,393
Unnamed200517.82,728
Unnamed200515.02,427
W 3 C200522.7996
Unnamed200523.82,285
Unnamed200512.22,592
Unnamed200514.55,487
W 8 Abcde200421.3943
Unnamed200423.35,452
East Fork200422.726,306
Unnamed200411.83,164
S 7 A200421.9580
S 9 Cfghijl200420.8700
S 9 Abdeo200421.1763
Unnamed200315.0966
S 2 Cdef Em200324.7564
S 3 Bcdefghi200322.9520
S 8 A200320.9670
S 2 Bc200322.9543
Unnamed200324.91,162
S 1 Abj200221.0554
W 2 Bef200224.9701
W 1 Df200222.81,161
W 8 E200221.51,402
County Line200119.21,525
S 2 Bcd200122.9632
S 2 F200123.51,242
Unnamed200016.2588
S 7 A200022.01,640
Unnamed199915.8651
S 1 Ajdei199921.0580
Cow House199914.88,318
Owl Creek199924.22,478
Dikes Ii199922.4664
W 5 A199821.8850
S 2 De199824.8562
S 3 Defg199823.51,075
W 5 Ab199521.72,134
S 7 A199522.8766
S 3 A H199523.61,041
W 1 De199323.1755
S 8 A199320.8689
W 2 Abef199324.5984
W 5 Ab199221.81,301
S 3 Abcdefgh199223.51,602
S 2 Bcdef199222.41,397
W 8 Abc199221.7516
P 18 19199125.0948
W 1199122.3653
Unnamed198914.81,251
W 3198822.2809
Wiw 4198822.12,244
W 6 W 8198721.3977
W Ii198722.41,104
S 2 S 3198723.51,389
S 2198621.91,083
Unnamed198621.91,035
Unnamed198624.51,258
Unnamed198522.7923
  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: 34 days

Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

9.4 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

8 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 16 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 11 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 1 2017: 3 2018: 2 2019: 3 2020: 6 2021: 10 2022: 18 2023: 34 34 2024: 9 2025: 8 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

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

Floods and flood insurance

1,015 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $11.9 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Leon County, the county that contains Tallahassee.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 7 1980: 11 1981: 9 1983: 9 1984: 28 1985: 68 1986: 8 1987: 5 1991: 32 1993: 12 1994: 181 181 1995: 14 1996: 5 1998: 50 2000: 49 2001: 159 2002: 20 2003: 5 2004: 5 2005: 11 2008: 115 2009: 34 2010: 28 2011: 6 2013: 13 2014: 25 2018: 20 2024: 51 197919851994200120082014
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

1994: 181 claims

$2.2 million paid.

2nd most

2001: 159 claims

$1.9 million paid.

3rd most

2008: 115 claims

$2.5 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
32304217$2.1 million
32303150$1.7 million
32308126$1.6 million
32309101$1.7 million
32301101$842,000
3231273$1.1 million
3231070$1.1 million
3230561$516,000
3231151$507,000
3231732$556,000
11$69,000
3230211$41,000
323147$24,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood98
  • Heavy Rain72
  • Flood32

1 death 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 Leon County, the county that contains Tallahassee.

Most severe crest

September 30, 1957

Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20), 32.64 ft

12.64 feet above the 20.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

April 11, 2024

Leon High School Drainage Inlet (in NAVD88), 112.71 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Sep 30, 1957Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)32.64+12.64Major
Sep 23, 1969Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)29.20+9.20Major
Apr 5, 1948Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)28.50+8.50Major
Apr 11, 2024Leon High School Drainage Inlet (in NAVD88)112.71+3.71Major
Aug 19, 1928Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)26.40+6.40Moderate
Apr 4, 2009Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)26.19+6.19Moderate
Aug 26, 2008Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)25.62+5.62Moderate
Sep 2, 1937Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)24.92+4.92Moderate
Dec 5, 1964Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)24.87+4.87Moderate
Apr 4, 1973Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)24.62+4.62Moderate
Aug 16, 1994Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.97+3.97Moderate
Mar 10, 1984Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.91+3.91Moderate
Jan 31, 1991Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.78+3.78Moderate
Feb 27, 2013Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.52+3.52Moderate
Jul 24, 2018Leon High School Drainage Inlet (in NAVD88)112.23+3.23Moderate
Sep 27, 1960Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.12+3.12Moderate
Apr 18, 1933Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.04+3.04Moderate
Jan 6, 1942Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)23.00+3.00Moderate
Jul 14, 2018Leon High School Drainage Inlet (in NAVD88)111.56+2.56Moderate
Apr 3, 2009Lake Iamonia at Waterfront Drive103.50+2.00Moderate
Apr 16, 1975Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)22.64+2.64Minor
Mar 22, 1929Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)22.61+2.61Minor
Apr 17, 1947Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)22.60+2.60Minor
Mar 19, 1946Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)22.47+2.47Minor
Mar 7, 1943Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)22.45+2.45Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Central Drainage Ditch at Lake Bradford Road (in NAVD88)55.5——0
Central Drainage Ditch at Orange Avenue39.5——0
Lake Bradford at Camp Flastacowo (in NAVD88)31.5——0
Lake Iamonia at Waterfront Drive101.5103.50 ftApr 3, 20090
Lake Jackson at Miller Landing (in NAVD88)84.0——0
Lake Jackson near Lakeshore Drive (in NAVD88)83.0——0
Lake Kanturk Outfall at Centerville Road (in NAVD88)77.0——0
Lake Kanturk at Clifden Drive (in NAVD8876.7——0
Lake Killarney at McLaughlin Drive (in NAVD88)76.7——0
Lake Kinsale at Shannon Lakes West (in NAVD88)76.7——0
Lake Lafayette Outfall at Chaires Crossroad (in NAVD88)46.5——0
Lake Talquin at Coe Landing Park (in NGVD29)69.8——0
Leon High School Drainage Inlet (in NAVD88)109.0112.71 ftApr 11, 20241
Munson Slough at Ames Sink (in NAVD88)14.5——0
Munson Slough at Capital Circle SW (in NAVD88)30.0——0
Munson Slough at Oak Ridge Road17.0——0
Munson Slough at Roberts Avenue (in NAVD88)46.0——0
Ochlockonee River near Bloxham (SR 20)20.032.64 ftSep 30, 19573
St Marks River above Natural Bridge Road (in NAVD88)11.5——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.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 153 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 24 months.

The drought index is for Leon County, the county that contains Tallahassee.

153

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

53

Months in extreme drought

10%

Share of all months, severe or worse

34

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

July 2000

−5.57, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

24 months

June 1954 to May 1956.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.46, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 2 1899: 1 1900: 1 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 4 1910: 1 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 2 1915: 0 1916: 1 1917: 0 1918: 3 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 1 1926: 0 1927: 7 1928: 1 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 4 1932: 4 1933: 2 1934: 4 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 4 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 7 1955: 12 12 1956: 5 1957: 3 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 2 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 1 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 2 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 4 1990: 5 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 1 2000: 9 2001: 2 2002: 1 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 4 2007: 9 2008: 2 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 8 2012: 5 2013: 0 2014: 1 2015: 2 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 5 2020: 5 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

1,382 events in the National Weather Service record for Leon County, 1,270 of them since 1996.

67

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

5

Hail, 2 inches or larger

785

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

3

Winter weather events since 1996

11

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 25, 1980

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 1, 2005

92 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning3711Mar 16, 2026
Dense fog and smoke200Mar 26, 2012

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Oct 10, 2018Hurricane (Typhoon), Leon$100 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Michael started as typical weak October Caribbean tropical system. However, after approximately a week of slow development, the system moved into warm Gulf of Mexico waters and rapidly intensified into a major hurricane as it moved north towards the Florida Panhandle. After a 2-day long intensification period over the eastern Gulf, Michael made landfall as an unprecedented (for the region) high-end category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale in the Florida Panhandle with maximum sustained wind speed of 155 mph and a minimum pressure 919 mb. Based on wind, Michael is the fourth most powerful hurricane to hit the United States, behind the Labor Day…

  2. May 10, 2024Tornado$92.1 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down in Lake Talquin State Park at Williams Landing, promptly producing EF-1 damage snapping numerous softwood and hardwood trees. The tornado would then continue trekking east-southeast before making a hard right and traveling due east as it passed the intersection of Blountstown Highway and Ft. Braden Trail Road, producing damage consistent with an EF-1 rating by snapping numerous hardwood and softwood trees along the way. The tornado would then continue east, paralleling Blountstown Highway as it then impacted Lake Talquin State Recreational Area where it would continue producing EF-1 damage by snapping trees. The tornado would then shift its trajectory to…

  3. May 10, 2024Tornado$92.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    This is a continuation of the Gadsden county tornado. The Leon county portion of this tornado is rated EF2. Extensive tree damage was noted at a mobile home park on Emily Loop where several homes were damaged by falling trees. The tornado caused roof and siding damage to a hotel and shopping center near the intersection of Capital Circle Northwest and U.S. 90. The tornado appears to have intensified as it moved southeast after crossing Capital Circle and approaching Blountstown Highway. EF-2 damage was noted to an automotive repair building along Blountstown Highway, along with intense tree damage, with a swath of nearly every pine tree snapped at approximately 75 feet above the…

  4. Aug 22, 2008Tropical Storm, Leon$35.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Rainfall from Fay varied from ten to 24 inches. Numerous trees and power lines were down throughout the county. Numerous state and county roads were closed by flood waters. There were a few road collapses, which included a portion of Capital Circle NE just south of Mahan Drive. The Timberlake subdivision east of Tallahassee was cut off by flood waters during the storm, which affected 230 homes. The total number of homes affected by flooding countywide was 450. Twenty homes were damaged and 14 were destroyed by fallen trees and flooding. Flooding was observed along the Ochlockonee River and Munson Slough. The crest at Havana was 33.71 feet, which was at major flood stage and 1.4…

  5. Sep 1, 2016Tropical Storm, Leon$30.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Hermine impacted the Florida big bend in early September with significant storm surge along the coast and strong winds inland which downed numerous trees and power lines, resulting in extended power outages in Tallahassee. The following inundation values (height above mean higher high water) were estimated along the coast. Panama City Beach: 1.71 ft, Panama City Marina: 1.60 ft, Apalachicola: 3.04 ft, Curtis Mill (US-319): 5.29 ft, Spring Creek Entrance: 5.91 ft, Town of Saint Marks: 5.08 ft, Saint Marks Lighthouse: 6.28 ft, Nutall Rise (Aucilla River): 6.07 ft, Econfina River: 7.17 ft, Spring Warrior Creek: 8.57 ft, Jabo Road (Taylor county): 7.94 ft, Keaton Beach: 7.57…

  6. Jun 11, 2001Flash Flood$20.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Intense rainbands from the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison dumped up to 11 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. The official 24-hour rainfall total at the Tallahassee Regional Airport of 10.13 inches broke the previous record of 9.47 inches set in 1969. Federal disaster aid was declared for Leon County where nearly 600 residences, mobile homes, apartments and businesses were damaged or destroyed by floodwaters. There were numerous reports of people stranded in their vehicles on flooded streets and intersections in Tallahassee and surrounding areas. Several people were rescued from their flooded homes and apartments. One man drowned when his vehicle was swept into a culvert near…

  7. Sep 26, 2024Hurricane (Typhoon), Leon$14.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Residential initial damage assessment results include 3 destroyed, 27 major damage, 47 minor damage, and 56 affected. Infrastructure impact estimates include an additional $10,450,000 to restore electricity and remove 100,000 to 125,000 cubic yards of debris. At the peak, roughly 53,000 City of Tallahassee Utility customers and 35,000 Talquin Electric customers (63%) were without power.

  8. Aug 23, 2008Flash Flood$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous roads were flooded throughout much of the county, including Tallahassee. A few roads were undermined by flooding. The Timberlake subdivision east of Tallahassee was cut off by flood waters, which impacted 230 homes. Nearly 450 homes throughout the county were impacted. Rainfall amounts varied from six over western portions of the county, to as much as twenty inches over eastern portions. Flooding was observed along the Ochlockonee River and Munson Slough.

  9. Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Leon$7.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Irma brought numerous impacts to the Florida Big Bend, southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama including widespread downed trees and power lines, roads blocked by trees, power outages, and trees on homes. Two people died during the event - one due to a car crash (Liberty County, FL) and another that had a heart attack (Worth County, GA). Two indirect deaths also occurred due to carbon monoxide from a generator (Taylor County, FL). While many counties across the Florida Big Bend and southwest Georgia were impacted, the greatest impacts were across the eastern portion of the area near the I-75 corridor. There were over 6.5 million customers without power in Florida, over…

  10. Aug 30, 2023Tropical Storm, Leon$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Approximately 54,405 residents, or 35% of the county lost power. There was debris on the following roadways: Oak Ridge Road East to Capital Circle SW, post Road, Taylor Road, Raymond Diehl Road, Baum Road, Wadesboro Road, Mary���s Drive, New Monticello Road, St. Augustine Road, Waukeenah Highway, Hawkins Road, Carter Road, Cap Tram Road, and Ace High Stables Road. Debris was reported on Interstate 10 westbound at mile marker 196 and eastbound at Exits 196 and 199 and at mile marker 213. Debris was also found on U.S. 319 southbound at Interstate 10. FAMU, FSU and TCC all closed with an unknown number of students evacuating. Three homes suffered major damage, 18 had minor…

  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 Tallahassee, 6 miles from the city centre, with records from 1940.

All-time high
105°FJun 15, 2011
All-time low
6°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
81°FJul 15, 1980
Coldest day
28°FJan 21, 1985
Wettest day
8.86 inSep 21, 1969
Snowiest day
2.4 inFeb 12, 1958
Hottest year
2015mean 71.8°F
Coldest year
1979mean 65.5°F
Wettest year
1964104.18 in
Driest year
195430.98 in
Snowiest season
2.8 in1957-58
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Tallahassee 32°F 65° 40° 3.8 Jan 69° 44° 4.1 Feb 75° 49° 4.7 Mar 81° 55° 3.6 Apr 88° 63° 3.2 May 92° 71° 7.5 Jun 93° 73° 7.0 Jul 92° 73° 7.5 Aug 89° 70° 5.0 Sep 83° 59° 2.9 Oct 74° 48° 2.9 Nov 67° 43° 4.5 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: 12 1977: 27 1978: 11 1979: 11 1980: 25 1981: 19 1982: 12 1983: 22 1984: 12 1985: 10 1986: 36 1987: 29 1988: 18 1989: 27 1990: 58 1991: 38 1992: 13 1993: 53 1994: 9 1995: 38 1996: 21 1997: 23 1998: 61 1999: 32 2000: 49 2001: 6 2002: 22 2003: 0 2004: 20 2005: 25 2006: 38 2007: 46 2008: 22 2009: 30 2010: 57 2011: 78 78 2012: 30 2013: 21 2014: 48 2015: 58 2016: 62 2017: 18 2018: 27 2019: 59 2020: 27 2021: 16 2022: 24 2023: 55 2024: 61 2025: 35 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 35.7.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 0.0 in 1978: 0.0 in 1979: 0.0 in 1980: 0.0 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 0.0 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.0 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 1.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 2024: 1.9 in 1.9 2025: 0.0 in 197619862025
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

45 of 51 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Tallahassee (USW00093805), 177 ft elevation, 6.0 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1940 to October 27, 2026; 99.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

37 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Isaias, October 9, 2026.

Declarations for Leon County.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 9, 2026Tropical StormHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3655-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
Jun 17, 2024Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-4794-FL
Aug 31, 2023HurricaneHurricane IdaliaMajor disasterDR-4734-FL
Aug 28, 2023Tropical StormTropical Storm IdaliaEmergencyEM-3596-FL
Dec 13, 2022HurricaneHurricane NicoleMajor disasterDR-4680-FL
Sep 29, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanMajor disasterDR-4673-FL
Sep 24, 2022HurricaneTropical Storm IanEmergencyEM-3584-FL
Aug 16, 2021HurricaneTropical Storm FredEmergencyEM-3562-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Oct 11, 2018HurricaneHurricane MichaelMajor disasterDR-4399-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
Apr 21, 2009Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-1831-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
Jul 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane DennisMajor disasterDR-1595-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
Jun 17, 2001Severe StormTropical Storm AllisonMajor disasterDR-1381-FL
Oct 3, 2000Severe StormTropical Storm HeleneMajor disasterDR-1344-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 19, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2257-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Dec 3, 1985HurricaneHurricane KateMajor disasterDR-756-FL
May 26, 1973FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-387-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 USW00093805.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

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