Madison County

Population 18,759 (2025) 697 sq mi

65 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Madison County since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was Helene in 2024 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Madison County Tornado: 43th percentile. Tropical: 96th percentile. Wildfire: 64th percentile. Flood: 39th percentile. Hail & wind: 51th percentile. Heat: 43th percentile. Cold: 9th 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 since 195023
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger107
  • Wildfire burn scars since 19843
  • Major flood years since 19781

At a glance

The record for Madison County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

65

42nd of 67 in Florida

11 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Acres burned since 1984

23,664

38th of 67 in Florida

3 large fires; the largest was Unnamed, 1985

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

23

55th of 67 in Florida

Fewer than the typical Florida county, which has had 44

Details

Flood insurance claims

84

61st of 67 in Florida

$1.5 million paid since 1984

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

April 19, 1988, 12.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane Helene, 2024, 0.0 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

34

Most recent: Hurricane Isaias, 2026

Details

Record high

106°F

Reached 2 times, most recently June 15, 2011

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 3.3 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

April 19, 1988

F3, 12.0 mile path

300 yards wide; 4 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Friday, May 10, 2024

EF1, 37.5 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 1 1 1960s: 2 2 1970s: 2 2 1980s: 4 4 1990s: 2 2 2000s: 5 5 2010s: 1 1 2020s: 6 6 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 0 M: 5 5 A: 3 M: 1 J: 1 J: 2 A: 0 S: 3 O: 1 N: 3 D: 4 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Madison County since 1950
May 10, 2024EF137.51,30000
Apr 27, 2023EF10.610000
Nov 30, 2020EF15.547500
Mar 31, 2020EF00.15000
Mar 31, 2020EF111.710000
Mar 31, 2020EF19.215000
Dec 3, 2018EF12.127900
Mar 31, 2009EF10.55000
Mar 2, 2007EF13.05000
Nov 12, 2004F10.25000
Jun 11, 2001F10.310010
Sep 22, 2000F00.32000
Sep 29, 1998F00.54000
Jul 3, 1990F00.11000
Nov 5, 1988F28.05031
Apr 19, 1988F312.0300184
Apr 3, 1987F01.03000
Dec 29, 1983F13.03000
Oct 20, 1976F10.11700
Sep 9, 1971F00.11000
Dec 25, 1969F20.11010
Dec 3, 1968F10.120000
Jul 1, 1959F10.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Madison County: 5.
  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

65 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 11 at hurricane strength, 2 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 3

0.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 125 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 3

0.0 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 2 70s: 6 80s: 8 8 90s: 3 00s: 6 10s: 2 20s: 4 30s: 4 40s: 3 50s: 3 60s: 3 70s: 2 80s: 1 90s: 2 00s: 5 10s: 4 20s: 6 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
Helene20240.0Category 3125Category 4
Debby20246.6Tropical storm63Category 1
Idalia20233.9Category 2100Category 4
Nicole202216.8Tropical storm39Category 1
Mindy20210.0Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Fred202194.4Tropical storm56Tropical storm
Elsa20210.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Eta202058.8Tropical storm46Category 4
Nestor201951.5Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Michael201873.9Category 3113Category 5
Irma20170.0Tropical storm54Category 5
Julia201688.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hermine20167.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Colin201616.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea201332.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Fay200833.6Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Alberto20060.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Jeanne20040.0Tropical storm45Category 3
Frances200417.2Tropical storm55Category 4
Gordon200027.3Tropical storm43Category 1
Earl199850.4Tropical storm52Category 2
Josephine19968.6Tropical storm66Tropical storm
Allison199511.4Tropical storm55Category 1
Beryl199486.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Kate198538.1Category 181Category 3
Isidore198478.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed198288.8Subtropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed19767.0Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Agnes197275.1Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed19719.8Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Abby196899.1Tropical storm54Category 1
Alma19663.5Tropical storm63Category 3
Hilda196417.5Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora19649.9Tropical storm54Category 4
Brenda196015.3Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed19570.0Tropical storm48Category 1
Flossy195657.7Tropical storm45Category 1
Florence195354.5Post-tropical46Category 3
Unnamed195387.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Love19509.3Tropical storm49Category 1
King195011.0Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed194917.2Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194748.0Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed194754.2Post-tropical55Tropical storm
Unnamed194659.9Tropical storm66Category 2
Unnamed194494.0Tropical storm68Category 4
Unnamed194156.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed194142.4Category 177Category 3
Unnamed193989.8Category 175Category 1
Unnamed193720.8Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed19350.0Category 181Category 5
Unnamed19330.0Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed19325.5Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed192940.9Post-tropical62Category 4
Unnamed192889.3Category 176Category 5
Unnamed192859.7Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed192834.8Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed192623.0Tropical storm52Category 4
Unnamed19240.0Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed19240.0Tropical storm53Category 1
Unnamed192093.6Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed191790.4Tropical storm44Category 4
Unnamed191683.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191593.8Category 177Category 2
Unnamed191572.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed191432.9Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191245.1Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191078.4Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed190922.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190732.4Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed190712.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed19020.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed190142.7Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed190043.5Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed189967.4Category 298Category 2
Unnamed189877.5Category 190Category 4
Unnamed189870.7Category 177Category 1
Unnamed189640.3Category 3113Category 3
Unnamed189440.5Category 190Category 3
Unnamed18935.4Tropical storm56Category 1
Unnamed188974.8Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed188862.9Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed188823.1Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188686.1Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed188619.9Category 175Category 2
Unnamed188610.7Category 192Category 2
Unnamed188519.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed18850.0Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed18858.0Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed188224.1Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed188193.3Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed188093.1Category 176Category 1
Unnamed188013.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188063.7Category 181Category 2
Unnamed187991.2Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed18787.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187765.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187739.2Tropical storm72Category 3
Unnamed187723.7Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed187464.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed18730.7Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed187357.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed18710.0Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed187163.6Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187115.6Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed187150.3Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed18680.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed186745.6Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed186070.5Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185669.5Category 177Category 3
Unnamed18527.7Category 189Category 2
Unnamed185166.2Category 189Category 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

23,664 acres burned in 3 large fires since 1984, equal to 5.3% of the land.

Largest

July 2, 1985

Unnamed Fire, 25,859 acres

21,807 acres inside Madison County.

Most recent

March 6, 2006

Unnamed Fire

1,915 acres in total.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 1985: 21,8071992: 1,8512006: 5 23,664 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed200651,915
Unnamed19921,8511,916
Unnamed198521,80725,859
  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: 24 days

Heavy smoke on 2 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

6.5 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

8 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 15 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 20 2012: 3 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 1 2017: 2 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 2 2021: 6 2022: 14 2023: 24 24 2024: 5 2025: 8 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population 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

84 federal flood insurance claims since 1984, with $1.5 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1986: 5 1991: 15 1998: 14 2009: 25 25 2013: 9 1986
Claims per year since 1984. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2009: 25 claims

$726,000 paid.

2nd most

1991: 15 claims

$122,000 paid.

3rd most

1998: 14 claims

$208,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
3234031$543,000
3235026$587,000
3205925$349,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood18
  • Heavy Rain11
  • Flood9

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

Most severe crest

April 8, 2009

Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88), 87.84 ft

14.84 feet above the 73.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

April 8, 2016

Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88), 80.45 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Apr 8, 2009Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)87.84+14.84Major
Apr 5, 1948Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)85.14+12.14Major
Mar 3, 2013Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)83.80+10.80Major
Mar 8, 1991Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)83.48+10.48Major
Aug 15, 1928Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)83.25+10.25Major
Mar 11, 1984Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)82.70+9.70Moderate
Mar 15, 1998Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)82.67+9.67Moderate
Dec 9, 1964Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)82.07+9.07Moderate
Apr 10, 1973Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)81.60+8.60Moderate
Apr 10, 1960Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)81.35+8.35Moderate
Apr 8, 2016Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)80.45+7.45Moderate
Feb 29, 2008Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)79.72+6.72Moderate
Apr 19, 1975Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)79.60+6.60Moderate
Mar 12, 1959Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)79.51+6.51Moderate
May 7, 1964Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)79.51+6.51Moderate
Apr 23, 1961Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)79.09+6.09Moderate
Apr 8, 1973Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)58.77+5.77Moderate
Sep 18, 1957Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)57.10+4.10Moderate
Mar 8, 1991Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)57.06+4.06Moderate
Apr 9, 1984Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)56.73+3.73Moderate
Feb 16, 1986Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)56.19+3.19Moderate
Feb 3, 1991Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)56.10+3.10Moderate
Dec 31, 2014Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)78.84+5.84Minor
Feb 19, 1995Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)78.12+5.12Minor
Mar 30, 1944Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)78.07+5.07Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Aucilla River at Lamont (US 27)53.058.77 ftApr 8, 19730
Blue Spring at Blue Springs near Madison (in NAVD88)60.056.44 ftJan 10, 20210
Suwannee River at Interstate 10 Bridge (in NAVD88)50.0——0
Withlacoochee River near Pinetta - CR 150 (in NAVD88)73.087.84 ftApr 8, 20095
  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 138 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 25 months.

138

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

33

Months in extreme drought

9%

Share of all months, severe or worse

34

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

April 2026

−5.36, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

25 months

July 2006 to July 2008.

Latest month

September 2026

−5.05, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 2 1899: 5 1900: 1 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 3 1905: 1 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 3 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 1 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 1 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 1 1926: 0 1927: 5 1928: 1 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 3 1932: 4 1933: 1 1934: 5 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: 2 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 7 1955: 12 12 1956: 3 1957: 2 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 4 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: 3 1986: 1 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 3 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 2 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 2 2001: 3 2002: 7 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 6 2007: 12 2008: 7 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 5 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 1 2020: 2 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 3 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

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

Earthquakes

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

Severe weather and other events

461 events in the National Weather Service record, 426 of them since 1996.

19

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

0

Hail, 2 inches or larger

249

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

3

Winter weather events since 1996

7

Heat events since 1996

2

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 3, 1999

1.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

February 23, 1994

101 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning505Jun 30, 2008

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 26, 2024Hurricane (Typhoon), Madison$1.0 billion
    National Weather Service narrative

    Nearly 100% of Madison county lost power due to widespread trees and power lines down. Major agriculture losses occurred in the county.

  2. Aug 5, 2024Hurricane (Typhoon), Madison$15.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the county. A trained spotter estimated winds of 75 mph gusting to 90 mph. More than 100 homes were damaged from either wind or flooding. Downed trees and power lines resulted in temporary road closures and extended power outages. Power outages lasted up to 3 to 4 days.

  3. Aug 30, 2023Hurricane (Typhoon), Madison$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Approximately 11,467 residents, or nearly 100% lost power. Nearly all roads were closed at one point. Property damage occurred county-wide.

  4. Aug 8, 2024Flood$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Long duration areal flooding occurred across southeast Madison county due to heavy rainfall of around 12 inches from Hurricane Debby. The Ragans Family Campground was flooded and forced to close, which resulted in a few hundred campers being evacuated. Other homes and rural roads were inundated in the area. The flooding was slow to recede in some areas and lasted all the way through August 26th.

  5. Apr 2, 2009Flood$3.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Moderate to record flooding along the Withlacoochee River closed several roads, including County Roads 145 and 150 east of Pinetta to the bridge. Many homes along the river were flooded, with evacuations on April 5 and 6. Oakhill Road flooded at 65 feet. Several dirt roads were washed out.

  6. Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Madison$2.0 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…

  7. Sep 1, 2016Tropical Storm, Madison$723,000
    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…

  8. Jul 22, 2000Lightning$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning sparked a fire which completely destroyed a mansion home two and a half miles off of State Road 221 on Sundown Creek Road. Three of the four residents escaped unharmed, but two firefighters were injured while tackling the blaze. Several county fire and volunteer fire departments responded. Reported by the Madison Enterprise Recorder.

  9. Jul 9, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Madison$200,000
    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…

  10. Jun 12, 2001Tornado$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An F1 tornado touched down near Lake Logan Road north of U.S. Highway 90. The tornado destroyed three double wide trailers, flipped over several vehicles, and downed numerous trees and power lines. One person sustained minor injuries from flying debris. Reported by the Madison County EMA.

  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 Valdosta Regional Airport, 22.9 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high
106°F2 times, most recently Jun 15, 2011
All-time low
3°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
86°FAug 4, 2015
Coldest day
24°FJan 21, 1985
Wettest day
7.62 inMar 27, 1984
Snowiest day
1.2 inJan 21, 2025
Hottest year
2024mean 71.0°F
Coldest year
1966mean 65.1°F
Wettest year
199167.99 in
Driest year
200731.25 in
Snowiest season
2.2 in2024-25
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Valdosta Regional Airport 32°F 64° 40° 3.0 Jan 69° 44° 3.3 Feb 75° 49° 3.8 Mar 81° 55° 3.7 Apr 88° 62° 2.6 May 92° 70° 6.2 Jun 93° 72° 5.8 Jul 92° 72° 5.8 Aug 89° 68° 4.3 Sep 82° 58° 2.5 Oct 73° 48° 2.5 Nov 67° 44° 3.3 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: 8 1977: 27 1978: 12 1979: 7 1980: 19 1981: 18 1982: 6 1983: 11 1984: 1 1985: 11 1986: 46 1987: 28 1988: 25 1989: 30 1990: 66 1991: 15 1992: 15 1993: 37 1994: 3 1995: 34 1996: 26 1997: 35 1998: 61 1999: 44 2000: 38 2001: 7 2002: 18 2003: 2 2004: 10 2005: 21 2006: 32 2007: 26 2008: 17 2009: 19 2010: 41 2011: 110 110 2012: 55 2013: 50 2014: 66 2015: 27 2016: 44 2017: 10 2018: 7 2019: 52 2020: 35 2021: 14 2022: 30 2023: 47 2024: 63 2025: 46 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 35.1.
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: 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 2011: 0.0 in 2013: 0.0 in 2014: 0.0 in 2015: 0.0 in 2016: 0.0 in 2017: 0.6 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 2.2 in 2.2 2025: 0.0 in 1976198619962019
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

45 of 47 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Valdosta Regional Airport (USW00093845), 193 ft elevation, 22.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 98.7% 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

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

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 9, 2026Tropical StormHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3655-FL
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
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
Jul 4, 2021Severe StormTropical Storm ElsaEmergencyEM-3561-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
Jul 3, 2012Severe StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4068-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
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
Jun 9, 2000FireFl, Perry Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2307-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-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.

How this compares

Where Madison County stands among 67 counties in Florida and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19502355 / 671,396 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger116 / 671,281 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi6542 / 6791 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi1160 / 67182 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 198423,66438 / 67621 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims8461 / 671,380 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$1.5 million59 / 671,303 / 3,143
Disaster declarations3463 / 67231 / 3,143
Flood events since 19963838 / 671,798 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199630124 / 671,202 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 1996319 / 673,007 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$1.0 billion19 / 6785 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage535 / 67872 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 189513823 / 671,233 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years6.517 / 673,032 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Brooks County GA15657,04416
Hamilton County8682,057116
Jefferson County176672,36218
Lafayette County106670,962207
Lowndes County GA22621,964135
Suwannee County44670364
Taylor County247414,562693

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 USW00093845.
  • 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.