Zephyrhills

Population 22,447 (2025)

48 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Zephyrhills since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1878 (Category 2).

Hazard fingerprint for Zephyrhills Tornado: 98th percentile. Tropical: 93th percentile. Wildfire: 62th percentile. Flood: 69th percentile. Hail & wind: 41th percentile. Heat: 0th percentile. Cold: 92th 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 1950179
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger93
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198459
  • Major flood years since 1978, Pasco County6

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 Pasco 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 Pasco County.

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

179

1 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

48

18 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

14,544

Pasco County

$693 million paid since 1978

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

59

Largest: Stagecoach Complex, 2001

Details

Strongest tornado

F4

April 4, 1966, 135.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 2

Hurricane (unnamed), 1878, 35.6 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

44

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

103°F

June 7, 1985

Details

Tornadoes

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

Strongest

April 4, 1966

F4, 135.8 mile path

300 yards wide; 11 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Friday, August 8, 2025

EF0, 0.0 mile path

Within the past year.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 8 8 1960s: 20 20 1970s: 46 46 1980s: 20 20 1990s: 45 45 2000s: 25 25 2010s: 10 10 2020s: 5 5 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 10 F: 8 M: 18 A: 10 M: 26 J: 31 31 J: 28 A: 9 S: 9 O: 12 N: 9 D: 9 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Aug 8, 2025EF00.01000
Dec 15, 2022EF110.310000
Dec 16, 2020EF112.925000
Nov 30, 2020EFU12.45000
Jun 6, 2020EF00.27500
Oct 18, 2019EF211.452500
Nov 2, 2018EF11.27500
Nov 2, 2018EF10.812500
Jun 29, 2018EF00.22500
Sep 10, 2017EF20.65000
Jun 24, 2012EF01.15000
Jul 7, 2011EF00.22000
Mar 31, 2011EF10.83000
Mar 31, 2011EF05.55000
Mar 31, 2011EF05.63000
Jul 1, 2009EF02.93000
Jun 30, 2009EF00.12000
May 13, 2009EF01.43000
May 12, 2009EF00.01500
Apr 14, 2009EF00.22500
Dec 16, 2007EF13.210000
Jul 25, 2007EF00.23000
Dec 25, 2006F20.810020
Jul 20, 2006F00.33000
Jun 24, 2006F00.34000
Jul 9, 2005F00.54000
Jul 9, 2005F00.64000
May 31, 2005F11.510000
Apr 23, 2005F17.015000
Sep 4, 2004F03.65000
Jul 8, 2003F12.220000
Jun 29, 2003F00.710000
Aug 14, 2002F00.54000
Jun 21, 2001F00.51500
Jun 15, 2001F00.1300
Mar 29, 2001F02.31500
Jul 30, 2000F00.2000
Jul 28, 2000F00.1000
Jul 28, 2000F00.3000
Jul 14, 2000F00.1000
May 29, 1999F00.11000
May 21, 1999F11.55000
May 19, 1999F01.55000
May 18, 1999F11.82000
Jan 2, 1999F10.210000
Sep 25, 1998F00.53000
Sep 2, 1998F12.75000
Sep 2, 1998F00.13000
Aug 6, 1998F00.13000
Feb 16, 1998F02.03000
Feb 2, 1998F00.13000
Jan 23, 1998F00.93000
Oct 31, 1997F01.01000
Oct 27, 1997F13.81000
Oct 27, 1997F00.21000
Apr 23, 1997F016.01000
Oct 7, 1996F06.01000
Oct 7, 1996F00.31000
Oct 7, 1996F011.01000
Mar 30, 1996F02.51000
Aug 24, 1995F00.11000
Jun 10, 1995F00.11000
Mar 8, 1995F04.02300
Aug 1, 1994F00.11000
Aug 1, 1994F00.11000
May 18, 1994F00.11000
Mar 3, 1993F11.06000
Jan 4, 1993F00.11000
Nov 5, 1992F00.11000
Oct 3, 1992F12.025020
Oct 3, 1992F00.550000
Sep 1, 1992F00.11000
Jun 28, 1992F00.11000
Jun 21, 1992F10.54000
Jul 11, 1991F00.11000
Jun 1, 1991F00.11000
Apr 25, 1991F00.54000
Apr 25, 1991F11.06000
Mar 18, 1991F12.010020
Mar 3, 1991F00.22000
Jan 19, 1991F00.84000
Jul 11, 1990F00.11000
Jul 7, 1990F00.21000
Jun 22, 1990F00.21000
Jun 22, 1990F00.21000
Nov 9, 1989F00.21000
Jun 10, 1989F00.21000
Jun 22, 1988F11.03000
Jun 5, 1988F00.53020
Jul 6, 1987F01.03000
May 7, 1987F01.03000
Mar 29, 1987F00.52000
May 14, 1986F01.03000
Feb 11, 1986F10.51040
Oct 31, 1985F13.02000
Jul 24, 1985F00.51010
Jul 1, 1984F00.53000
Apr 9, 1984F00.51000
Jul 25, 1983F10.53000
Jun 8, 1983F11.03020
Feb 2, 1983F24.04020
Aug 10, 1982F10.51010
Jul 31, 1982F10.31000
Jun 17, 1981F10.55000
Feb 2, 1981F10.51000
Aug 23, 1979F00.13000
May 8, 1979F00.12000
May 8, 1979F00.23000
May 8, 1979F00.22010
May 8, 1979F00.12000
May 8, 1979F00.12000
May 8, 1979F10.33010
May 8, 1979F00.12010
Mar 23, 1979F14.53060
Dec 5, 1978F10.42020
Dec 1, 1978F20.63000
Dec 1, 1978F20.83000
Jul 12, 1978F00.11000
May 26, 1978F00.11300
May 4, 1978F00.11300
Jan 8, 1978F210.010020
Jul 7, 1977F00.11300
Jun 5, 1977F00.11300
Jul 1, 1976F00.12000
Jun 28, 1976F00.12000
Jun 27, 1976F00.12000
Jun 4, 1976F10.12000
May 23, 1976F19.63320
Sep 11, 1975F00.12000
Jul 29, 1975F00.13000
Jun 3, 1975F10.53000
May 27, 1975F09.27000
Jun 18, 1974F10.21000
May 16, 1974F10.51700
May 15, 1974F00.11000
May 6, 1974F12.02000
Feb 19, 1974F145.9167550
Oct 31, 1973F227.9100170
Jun 15, 1973F00.21000
Apr 3, 1973F10.22000
Mar 17, 1973F20.32010
Jan 28, 1973F12.02010
Jan 22, 1973F11.52000
Jun 18, 1972F10.25040
Mar 31, 1972F21.03000
Nov 29, 1971F20.55000
Oct 17, 1971F10.31000
Jul 28, 1971F10.32000
Jul 2, 1971F01.05000
Apr 15, 1971F00.33300
Mar 3, 1971F10.55000
Jul 1, 1969F10.11000
Jun 6, 1969F00.11000
Jun 4, 1969F10.11000
May 3, 1969F00.11000
Nov 11, 1968F157.21000
Nov 9, 1968F229.610040
Nov 9, 1968F169.31030
Aug 13, 1968F10.11000
Sep 10, 1966F10.11000
Apr 4, 1966F4135.830053011
Jul 2, 1964F20.11060
Jun 30, 1964F10.11000
Jun 11, 1964F00.11000
Jan 12, 1964F14.72000
Feb 19, 1963F20.11000
Sep 29, 1960F10.11000
Mar 16, 1960F00.55000
Mar 16, 1960F10.11000
Mar 15, 1960F11.010000
Feb 18, 1960F10.510000
Apr 2, 1959F20.110120
Jan 21, 1958F02.010000
Dec 11, 1957F00.11000
Mar 4, 1957F00.52000
Jul 2, 1956F00.11000
Jan 9, 1953F29.2100120
May 23, 1952F00.11010
Dec 4, 1951F10.12700
  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

48 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 18 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 10, 1878

Unnamed storm, Category 2

35.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.

Most recent

October 10, 2024

Milton, Category 1

36.9 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 0 70s: 5 80s: 4 90s: 4 00s: 1 10s: 2 20s: 3 30s: 3 40s: 6 6 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 0 80s: 3 90s: 2 00s: 4 10s: 1 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
Milton202436.9Category 193Category 5
Nicole202212.6Tropical storm58Category 1
Ian202272.5Category 194Category 5
Elsa202182.4Tropical storm63Category 1
Eta202068.9Tropical storm59Category 4
Irma20173.1Category 175Category 5
Emily201751.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Julia201675.6Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Fay200888.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Ernesto200690.6Tropical storm40Category 1
Jeanne20042.8Tropical storm67Category 3
Frances200412.2Tropical storm63Category 4
Charley200436.6Category 186Category 4
Gabrielle200128.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Gordon200085.7Tropical storm70Category 1
Erin19952.5Tropical storm60Category 2
Marco199048.1Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Keith198845.7Tropical storm49Category 1
Isidore19849.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed198249.3Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Dennis198178.1Tropical storm40Category 1
David197995.4Category 298Category 5
Gladys196843.3Category 192Category 2
Dolly196896.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196857.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed196653.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alma196690.4Category 2104Category 3
Cleo196475.8Tropical storm52Category 4
Donna196028.1Category 178Category 4
Unnamed19592.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195690.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Hazel195392.1Category 175Category 1
King195047.0Category 183Category 4
Easy19500.6Tropical storm71Category 3
Unnamed19493.1Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194747.4Tropical storm63Tropical storm
Unnamed194621.8Category 178Category 2
Unnamed194527.6Category 183Category 4
Unnamed194597.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194538.1Category 175Category 2
Unnamed19445.6Category 190Category 4
Unnamed194181.1Category 177Category 3
Unnamed193915.4Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed193778.5Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Unnamed193716.2Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed193678.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed193568.3Category 3117Category 5
Unnamed19332.8Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed193385.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed19285.6Category 192Category 5
Unnamed192879.7Tropical storm59Category 1
Unnamed192812.0Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed192692.7Category 3119Category 4
Unnamed192693.1Category 186Category 4
Unnamed192590.4Post-tropical60Category 1
Unnamed192115.1Category 298Category 4
Unnamed192061.3Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed19166.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191583.8Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed191017.5Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed19097.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190499.8Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190354.2Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed190190.2Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed18995.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189995.4Tropical storm72Category 2
Unnamed189825.4Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed189741.9Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed189678.0Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed189436.6Category 178Category 3
Unnamed189233.8Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed188973.6Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed188885.9Category 2109Category 2
Unnamed18887.9Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed188713.8Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed188646.9Category 181Category 1
Unnamed188589.0Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed188297.1Category 181Category 4
Unnamed188055.4Category 181Category 1
Unnamed188018.5Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed187961.2Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed187835.6Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed187787.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187469.6Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187387.1Category 2101Category 3
Unnamed187313.1Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed18727.6Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed187182.9Category 181Category 1
Unnamed187136.0Tropical storm66Category 3
Unnamed187127.9Category 181Category 3
Unnamed186189.9Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed185920.1Category 190Category 1
Unnamed185975.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed185825.9Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed18529.8Tropical storm69Category 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

59 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

February 22, 2001

Stagecoach Complex, 14,069 acres

23.0 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 20, 2021

Calvin Lee Rd Fire

497 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1985: 8391986: 2,3381991: 1,5781992: 6671993: 2,0371994: 7,3961995: 9,2041996: 1,2931997: 3,3211998: 1,8151999: 3,1242000: 4,2512001: 14,0692003: 4,5982004: 7,1622006: 9,2272007: 5,6052008: 5,6552009: 1,2212017: 5,3732021: 1,138 91,911 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Calvin Lee Rd202120.9497
Henry George Road202122.1641
Anclote Branch201724.32,510
Lead Place201717.81,867
South Waters201719.0996
Vbs Command200918.7556
Old Fifty200917.2665
Unnamed200824.6839
Unnamed200824.4602
Unnamed200821.7544
Unnamed20085.9511
Unnamed200815.11,565
Unnamed200815.1675
Unnamed200816.5919
Unnamed200712.0779
Unnamed200711.4610
Unnamed200716.7975
Unnamed200712.71,188
Unnamed20076.9653
Unnamed200715.3829
Kerry Tully200711.1571
Unnamed20067.41,259
Big Fish Fire200615.22,002
Unnamed20068.5862
Unnamed20066.0928
Unnamed200615.63,044
Unnamed200610.51,132
Unnamed200412.71,668
Unnamed20049.01,210
Sweet Gum200418.11,889
Compressco Fire20049.0788
Unnamed200415.71,607
Unnamed200319.5712
Unnamed20035.53,886
Stagecoach Complex200123.014,069
Unnamed200022.81,242
Unnamed200024.4659
Unnamed200020.42,350
Unnamed199919.51,468
Unnamed199915.61,656
Unnamed199823.1750
Unnamed199821.61,065
Unnamed199717.11,450
Unnamed199715.4830
Unnamed199710.51,041
Unnamed19965.8601
Unnamed199617.6692
Unnamed19956.75,475
Unnamed199510.93,729
Unnamed199415.92,174
Unnamed199414.61,064
Unnamed199410.71,368
Unnamed199418.52,790
Unnamed199315.22,037
Unnamed199220.2667
Unnamed199116.3871
Unnamed199121.1707
Unnamed198622.12,338
Unnamed198518.3839
  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: 14 days

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

Last 10 years

3.0 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: 9 2012: 0 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 1 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 2 2022: 10 2023: 14 14 2024: 2 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

14,544 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $693 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Pasco County, the county that contains Zephyrhills.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1978: 14 1979: 45 1980: 8 1981: 20 1982: 77 1983: 43 1984: 8 1985: 406 1986: 22 1987: 32 1988: 170 1991: 20 1992: 61 1993: 3,048 1994: 11 1995: 239 1996: 1,000 1997: 98 1998: 202 1999: 352 2000: 38 2001: 67 2002: 28 2003: 74 2004: 620 2005: 18 2006: 11 2007: 10 2008: 39 2009: 26 2010: 51 2011: 34 2012: 735 2013: 24 2014: 25 2015: 300 2016: 465 2017: 216 2018: 17 2019: 20 2020: 26 2021: 22 2022: 30 2023: 818 2024: 4,922 4,922 2025: 16 2026: 8 1978198319881995200020052010201520202025
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2024: 4,922 claims

$503 million paid.

2nd most

1993: 3,048 claims

$72.8 million paid.

3rd most

1996: 1,000 claims

$11.7 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
346674,689$221 million
346523,749$283 million
346682,305$108 million
34691969$25.9 million
34655528$10.4 million
34653492$12.4 million
34690219$2.4 million
33552193$1.2 million
34654182$2.7 million
33568167$1.2 million
34639123$1.7 million
33543120$2.3 million
3354498$2.6 million
3354283$5.5 million
3352570$1.8 million
3467951$1.7 million
3354151$923,000
3356748$411,000
3355848$615,000
3463848$1.2 million
3352335$760,000
3354930$116,000
3354026$1.5 million
3355625$509,000
3466923$966,000
3353718$80,000
3355916$406,000
3354515$199,000
3463712$265,000
12$104,000
3461012$36,000
335399$22,000
342487$20,000
335766$121,000
335265$36,000
335905$1,525
335535$20,000
342615$20,000
342525$77,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flood55
  • Heavy Rain24
  • Flash Flood6
  • Coastal Flood2

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 Pasco County, the county that contains Zephyrhills.

Most severe crest

August 8, 1945

Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road, 27.70 ft

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

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 13, 2024

Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens, 15.08 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Aug 8, 1945Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road27.70+7.70Major
Oct 13, 2024Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens15.08+7.08Major
Jun 26, 2012Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road26.81+6.81Major
Oct 11, 2024Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road26.57+6.57Major
Jul 30, 1960Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road26.09+6.09Major
Mar 18, 1960Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road26.05+6.05Major
Sep 6, 1950Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road26.02+6.02Major
Sep 11, 2004Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens13.78+5.78Major
Sep 9, 1988Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road25.37+5.37Major
Aug 4, 2015Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road25.25+5.25Major
Sep 3, 2016Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road25.08+5.08Major
Sep 12, 2017Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.87+4.87Major
Sep 12, 1964Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.66+4.66Major
Apr 3, 1987Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens12.62+4.62Major
Jun 30, 1974Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens12.56+4.56Major
Sep 7, 2004Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.44+4.44Major
Aug 1, 1965Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens12.42+4.42Major
Jun 28, 1974Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.39+4.39Major
Apr 14, 1953Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.37+4.37Major
Feb 21, 1998Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens12.31+4.31Major
Sep 13, 1964Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens12.28+4.28Major
Mar 31, 1987Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.18+4.18Major
Sep 11, 1971Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road24.15+4.15Major
Apr 2, 2011Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road23.93+3.93Moderate
Jul 27, 2015Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road23.62+3.62Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Anclote River near Elfers at Little Road20.027.70 ftAug 8, 194516
Cypress Creek at SR 54 Worthington Gardens8.015.08 ftOct 13, 20247
Pithlachascotee River at New Port Richey (in MHHW)3.03.24 ftDec 17, 20230
Tide Gauge at Hudson Creek (in MHHW)2.0——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 117 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.

The drought index is for Pasco County, the county that contains Zephyrhills.

117

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

24

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

Lowest reading

June 2026

−5.89, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

17 months

February 2000 to June 2001.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.76, 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: 6 1908: 3 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: 2 1928: 3 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 1 1932: 10 1933: 1 1934: 0 1935: 3 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: 1 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 3 1962: 5 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 1 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 1 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 1 1991: 1 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 1 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 2 1998: 2 1999: 7 2000: 11 11 2001: 6 2002: 1 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 2 2007: 6 2008: 2 2009: 4 2010: 3 2011: 0 2012: 3 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 6 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 2 2024: 1 2025: 6 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

745 events in the National Weather Service record for Pasco County, 568 of them since 1996.

46

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

87

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

1

Winter weather events since 1996

0

Heat events since 1996

59

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

February 28, 1998

3.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

July 12, 1989

81 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
High surf and sneaker waves100Dec 26, 2004
Storm surge and tide800Nov 11, 2020
Lightning31319Jul 6, 2026
Dust storms and dust devils100Apr 23, 2001
Dense fog and smoke5600Jan 22, 2002

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 3, 2016Flood$89.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rains, mostly from Hurricane Hermine brought the Anclote River at Elfers into major flood stage, cresting at 25.08 feet at 1830EST on the 3rd. The river was in moderate or major flood stage from 0400EST on the 3rd through 0100EST on the 6th. In total, 2,672 properties were impacted, with 1,565 homes with minor damage, 305 homes with major damage, and 7 homes destroyed. In total, damage from the flooding was estimated to be $89 million.

  2. Sep 5, 2004Tropical Storm, Pasco$31.2 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…

  3. Sep 26, 2004Tropical Storm, Pasco$21.2 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. Aug 3, 2015Flood$7.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Anclote River near Elfers, was just below flood stage at the onset of the heavy rain courtesy of 6-10 of rain across the basin at the end of July. The heavy rain and subsequent river flooding at the beginning of August produced millions in dollars of damage across Pasco County. The river crest at 25.4 feet which was well above major flood stage of 24.0 feet. ||In total, 46 single family dwellings were destroyed, 32 received major damage and 258 homes sustained minor damage from the flooding. 36 mobile homes were destroyed while 6 others sustained damage from flooding.

  5. Sep 8, 2017Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Pasco$7.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    In coastal portions of Pasco County, winds from Hurricane Irma were estimated to be 60-70 knots based on surrounding observations. Rainfall was generally around 4 inches or greater, with the highest rain total 6.83 inches at the GOES site LWOF1 near Port Richey. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes, as well as knocking over trees and power lines.||The total damage from Irma in Pasco County was estimated at $860,000 in public assistance claims, including debris removal and emergency protective measures, of which, $200,0000 was estimated to be caused by wind damage in coastal portions of Pasco County. ||One indirect fatality was reported in Port Richey on the 8th when a 69…

  6. Jun 24, 2012Storm Surge/Tide, Pasco$5.8 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Storm surge flooded several streets in Hudson on the 24th and 25th, with water up to the bumpers on cars. Water was on the roadways on Old Dixie Highway north of Clark Street in Hudson.||Damage to area beaches was estimated at $3.8 million.

  7. Dec 25, 2006Tornado$3.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado hit the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club which is located a few miles west of San Antonio or about 9.5 miles west southwest of Dade City. Radar showed the tornado occurred on the north side of a small bow echo that was moving to the northeast and caused additional damage north of State Road 52. The tornado caused $3.5 million in damage, two injuries, 101 damaged homes, 21 of which were considered heavily damaged, and 6 destroyed. Most of the damage was rated F0 or F1 on the Fuita tornado scale. However, damage rated as F2 occurred on the 2900 block of Caddyshack Lane. The damage looked like high end F1 damage, but the 1999 home had hurricane straps, a reinforced garage…

  8. Oct 7, 1996Tropical Storm, Pasco$3.3 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 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Inland Pasco$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    In Inland Pasco County, winds from Hurricane Irma were estimated to be around 40-60 knots, with the highest wind reported was a gust to 48 knots at the WeatherFlow station XLOL in Land O' Lakes. Rainfall was generally around 6 inches or greater, with the highest rain total being 9.64 inches at the GOES station WRCF1 in Richland. The wind resulted in damage to numerous homes and businesses, as well as knocking over trees and power lines. ||The non-insured property damage in Pasco County was estimated at $10,303,487, including for debris removal and emergency protective measures. Additionally, crop damage to citrus plants in Pasco County was roughly estimated at $7.3 million.

  10. Dec 13, 1997Flash Flood$3.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Heavy rains caused flooding of 70 to 80 homes along a one mile strip of the Anclote River near Elfers in Pasco county where eight to nine inches of rain with isolated amounts of up to 14 inches fell in less than twelve hours.Floodwaters caused nearly one million dollars worth of damage to mechanical equipment at the Stearns Peat Company along U.S. Highway 98 near Dade City in eastern Pasco County.An estimated half million dollars worth of crops, mainly strawberry, were damaged throughout portions of eastern Pasco county by the heavy rains. Property damage from in Pasco county from the flood was estimated at $2.95 million dollars.In Hillsborough county, eight homes in north Tampa…

  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 Saint Leo, 8.3 miles from the city centre, with records from 1895.

All-time high
103°FJun 7, 1985
All-time low
18°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
Warmest night
85°FAug 6, 2025
Coldest day
38°F2 times, most recently Jan 3, 1928
Wettest day
13.12 inJun 15, 1934
Snowiest day
1.0 inJan 19, 1977
Hottest year
1998mean 74.5°F
Coldest year
1930mean 69.3°F
Wettest year
195379.57 in
Driest year
196134.91 in
Snowiest season
1.0 in1976-77
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Saint Leo 71° 49° 2.6 Jan 75° 52° 2.3 Feb 79° 56° 2.9 Mar 84° 61° 2.7 Apr 89° 66° 3.3 May 91° 72° 8.2 Jun 92° 73° 8.2 Jul 92° 73° 8.3 Aug 90° 72° 6.7 Sep 85° 65° 3.3 Oct 78° 57° 2.0 Nov 73° 53° 2.8 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: 1 1977: 21 1978: 20 1979: 20 1980: 34 1981: 50 1982: 13 1983: 31 1984: 16 1985: 33 1986: 20 1987: 39 1988: 20 1989: 57 57 1990: 34 1991: 16 1992: 23 1993: 19 1994: 11 1995: 26 1996: 13 1997: 23 1998: 52 1999: 21 2000: 39 2001: 24 2002: 17 2003: 12 2004: 22 2005: 31 2006: 41 2007: 36 2008: 25 2009: 37 2010: 18 2011: 15 2012: 5 2013: 5 2015: 5 2016: 6 2017: 5 2018: 0 2019: 13 2020: 10 2021: 6 2022: 12 2023: 11 2024: 16 2025: 19 19761986199620062017
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 18.6.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 1.0 in 1.0 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: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 0.0 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 0.0 in 2009: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 0.0 in 2025: 0.0 in 1976198619962006
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

63 of 64 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Saint Leo (USC00087851), 173 ft elevation, 8.3 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1895 to August 31, 2026; 97.9% 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

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

Declarations for Pasco 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
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 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
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
May 19, 2000FireWithlacoochee Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2299-FL
Oct 15, 1999HurricaneTropical Storm Irene - FloridaEmergencyEM-3150-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
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Mar 18, 1985FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-732-FL
Mar 29, 1984FreezingFreezing TemperaturesMajor disasterDR-698-FL
Sep 29, 1979FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-607-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 USC00087851.
  • 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.