Gulf County

Every recorded tornado

1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Gulf County: 0.
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.

Every storm within 100 miles

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.

Every large fire

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

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.

Claims by ZIP code

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

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.

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.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Mar 10, 1998Flood, Gulf$105 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Walton, and Jackson counties were declared federal disaster areas. Nearly 6 inches of rain from March 8-9 caused urban/small stream flooding in Bayou George and much of the north and northwest Bay County. In Calhoun County, 28 county roads and State Road 69 were closed to flooding. Approximately 400 homes and businesses sustained flood damage (57 in Blountstown). The Chipola River at Altha crested near 31.2 feet on March 14. The Apalachicola River at Blountstown crested near 27.2 feet (third highest) on March 13. In Dixie County, rising waters along the Suwannee River forced the evacuation of 200 residents. Numerous county and…

2. Oct 10, 2018Hurricane (Typhoon), Inland Gulf$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…

3. Oct 10, 2018Hurricane (Typhoon), Coastal Gulf$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…

4. Oct 10, 2018Storm Surge/Tide, Coastal Gulf$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…

5. Sep 15, 2004Hurricane (Typhoon), Gulf$30.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, AL, during the predawn hours of September 16. Maximum sustained winds reached 50 knots, with gusts to 62 knots at Buoy 42039, 80 miles south of Panama City, FL. The lowest sea-level pressure was 999.6 mb at Panama City. Rainfall totals ranged from 9.26 inches at Mossy Head, FL, to 0.15 inches at Cross City, FL. Storm tides along the Gulf coast varied from ten feet in Bay and Walton counties to four feet in Taylor and Dixie counties. Large swells from Ivan began to the affect the Gulf coast from the St. Joseph Peninsula to the Suwannee River on September 14. Storm surges continued for several hours after landfall. Beach erosion varied…

6. Jul 9, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Gulf$9.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Dennis, a Category 3 hurricane, moved inland just east of Gulf Breeze, FL, early Sunday afternoon, July 10. The peak wind gust and lowest sea-level pressure recorded were 67 knots and 979 mb, respectively, at Buoy 42039 located 80 miles south of Panama City, FL. Rainfall totals ranged from 3 to 4 inches in the eastern Florida Panhandle to 6 to 10 inches in the Florida Big Bend. Flooding was reported in southern Leon County where several areas were under 3 to 4 feet of water. Maximum coastal storm surge heights ranged from 4 to 8 feet in Walton, Bay, Gulf, Taylor and Dixie counties to 8 to 12 feet in Franklin, Wakulla and Jefferson counties. Moderate to severe beach erosion was…

7. Jul 10, 2005Storm Surge/Tide, Gulf$8.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A five to eight foot storm surge caused major coastal flooding and severe beach erosion. The Gulf County EMA reported extensive damage at Cape San Blas beyond the Stumphole. The road at the Stumphole was severely damaged and will require repair of the rock. Highway 98 at Highland View was washed out. Indian Pass Road and a portion of Cape San Blas Road were closed. 615 homes were damaged and 10 homes destroyed. Nine businesses were destroyed and six damaged. At least 60 homes have been condemned.

8. Apr 1, 2005Flood, Gulf$5.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Five to ten inches of rain during the past few days combined with significant rain amounts upstream caused significant flooding along the Apalachicola River and nearby low-lying areas. 40 to 50 roads throughout the county were closed due to high water. Many residents along Lake Grove Road were adversely affected as low-lying reservoirs, creeks and streams surged above their banks. This road runs along the Chipola cut-off, which connects the Apalachicola and Chipola Rivers. The affected communities included Wewahitchka, Howards Creek, Dalkeith and Overstreet. 150 residences were damaged by the flood waters. A mandatory boil order was issued for people residing in low-lying or…

9. Sep 15, 2004Storm Surge/Tide, Gulf$3.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   Storm surges of six feet caused moderate to severe beach erosion. Four waterfront homes collapsed and washed out into the Gulf. Several homes sustained significant foundation erosion and will have to be condemned. Reported by the Gulf County EMA and St. Joseph State Park officials.

10. Sep 28, 1998Hurricane (Typhoon), Gulf$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Georges, a Category 2 storm, made landfall near Biloxi, MS early Monday, September 28, 1998. A peak wind gust of 52 knots was measured at the Gulf of Mexico data buoy 85 nautical miles south of Panama City. Georges produced storm surges of 6 to 12 feet along the Florida Panhandle coast and 3 to 5 feet along the Big Bend coast. Torrential rainfall amounts of 12 to 24 inches were common over Southeast Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with 5 to 10 inches over Southwest Georgia and the Big Bend. These rains swelled area rivers, creeks, and streams well above flood stage. Eight people were injured as numerous tornadoes were spawned by the remnants of Tropical Depression…

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.

All-time high

105°FJul 15, 2010

All-time low

11°F5 times, most recently Jan 2, 2011

Warmest night

83°F3 times, most recently Aug 18, 1985

Coldest day

28°F2 times, most recently Jan 22, 1985

Wettest day

16.22 inSep 21, 1969

Snowiest day

2.7 inFeb 13, 1958

Hottest year

1998mean 70.1°F

Coldest year

1988mean 65.3°F

Wettest year

1966108.96 in

Driest year

200040.89 in

Snowiest season

2.7 in1957-58

Station Wewahitchka (USC00089566), 44 ft elevation, 11.5 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1901 to September 29, 2026; 91.0% 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.

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.

Neighbouring counties

• 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 USC00089566.
• 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.