Marion County
Population 442,660 (2025) 1,588 sq mi
73 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Marion County since 1851, 17 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1896 (Category 3).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195063
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger128
- Wildfire burn scars since 198436
- Major flood years since 19782
At a glance
The record for Marion County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Acres burned since 1984
53,632
31st of 67 in Florida
36 large fires; the largest was Juniper, 2006
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
December 31, 1975, 2.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 3
Hurricane (unnamed), 1896, 30.7 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 1.2 years since 1950, one of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
December 31, 1975
F3, 2.0 mile path
200 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Friday, July 22, 2022
EF0, 1.4 mile path
4 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 22, 2022 | EF0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 2022 | EF1 | 26.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 2021 | EF0 | 2.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2020 | EF1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 5, 2019 | EF1 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 23, 2016 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 20, 2015 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 18, 2007 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 2005 | F1 | 8.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Sep 15, 2004 | F1 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 5, 2004 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 28, 2003 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2003 | F0 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 22, 2002 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 5, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 29, 2001 | F2 | 22.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2001 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2001 | F0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1996 | F0 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 7, 1996 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 6, 1996 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1995 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 7, 1995 | F2 | 12.0 | 20 | 1 |
| Aug 6, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 24, 1994 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 2, 1994 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 15.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 15, 1989 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 23, 1986 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1986 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 14, 1986 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 31, 1985 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 3, 1983 | F0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F1 | 8.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1983 | F2 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 1982 | F2 | 13.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 15, 1981 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 1981 | F1 | 6.9 | 2 | 0 |
| Aug 22, 1980 | F1 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 25, 1980 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 5, 1979 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 11, 1979 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F2 | 5.6 | 14 | 0 |
| May 29, 1977 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 10, 1976 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 1976 | F0 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 1, 1976 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 31, 1975 | F3 | 2.0 | 26 | 1 |
| Dec 31, 1975 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1975 | F1 | 6.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 2, 1975 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 11, 1975 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 6, 1974 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 12, 1974 | F1 | 20.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 26, 1973 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 8, 1973 | F2 | 1.5 | 6 | 0 |
| Jan 12, 1964 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 8, 1963 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 21, 1962 | F2 | 3.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 8, 1957 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Marion County: 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
73 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 17 at hurricane strength, 1 as major hurricanes.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 29, 1896
Unnamed storm, Category 3
30.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 115 mph.
Most recent
October 10, 2024
Milton, Category 1
63.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Milton | 2024 | 63.3 | Category 1 |
| Helene | 2024 | 85.3 | Category 4 |
| Debby | 2024 | 65.4 | Tropical storm |
| Idalia | 2023 | 74.6 | Category 3 |
| Nicole | 2022 | 14.9 | Tropical storm |
| Ian | 2022 | 74.9 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 62.8 | Tropical storm |
| Eta | 2020 | 14.8 | Tropical storm |
| Irma | 2017 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Matthew | 2016 | 62.5 | Category 3 |
| Julia | 2016 | 18.9 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2016 | 59.2 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 41.8 | Tropical storm |
| Beryl | 2012 | 47.7 | Tropical storm |
| Fay | 2008 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Ernesto | 2006 | 68.6 | Tropical storm |
| Alberto | 2006 | 82.8 | Tropical storm |
| Tammy | 2005 | 45.5 | Tropical storm |
| Jeanne | 2004 | 5.5 | Tropical storm |
| Frances | 2004 | 49.5 | Tropical storm |
| Charley | 2004 | 23.8 | Category 1 |
| Gabrielle | 2001 | 29.4 | Tropical storm |
| Gordon | 2000 | 40.0 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 79.6 | Tropical storm |
| Erin | 1995 | 43.7 | Tropical storm |
| Keith | 1988 | 72.0 | Tropical storm |
| Chris | 1988 | 76.3 | Tropical storm |
| Isabel | 1985 | 71.9 | Tropical storm |
| Elena | 1985 | 78.3 | Category 2 |
| Bob | 1985 | 74.8 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Diana | 1984 | 79.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 0.0 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 50.7 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 49.7 | Category 2 |
| Dottie | 1976 | 99.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 72.5 | Subtropical storm |
| Alpha | 1972 | 76.4 | Subtropical storm |
| Gladys | 1968 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Dolly | 1968 | 70.2 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1968 | 35.7 | Tropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 41.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1966 | 34.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Dora | 1964 | 30.8 | Category 1 |
| Cleo | 1964 | 23.9 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1962 | 86.0 | Tropical storm |
| Donna | 1960 | 17.7 | Category 1 |
| Brenda | 1960 | 60.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1959 | 31.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1956 | 61.7 | Tropical storm |
| Love | 1950 | 60.8 | Tropical storm |
| King | 1950 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Easy | 1950 | 0.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 11.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 89.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 8.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 2.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 98.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1939 | 51.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1937 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1937 | 4.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 52.2 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 16.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 69.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 88.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 24.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 14.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1925 | 89.7 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 95.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 98.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1921 | 15.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1921 | 83.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1920 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 16.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1914 | 76.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1909 | 17.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 8.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1903 | 89.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 77.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 29.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1899 | 8.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 92.5 | Category 4 |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 57.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1897 | 37.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 30.7 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 16.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 62.8 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 68.1 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 73.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 74.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 3.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 16.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 16.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1887 | 10.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 92.6 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 42.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 80.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 63.3 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1884 | 94.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 47.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 59.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 22.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 4.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 8.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 6.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 90.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1872 | 32.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 86.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 9.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1868 | 94.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 22.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1861 | 79.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 52.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1858 | 38.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 83.1 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1853 | 82.5 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 52.9 | Tropical storm |
- 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
53,632 acres burned in 36 large fires since 1984, equal to 5.3% of the land.
Largest
July 20, 2006
Juniper Fire, 11,992 acres
11,997 acres inside Marion County.
Most recent
March 2, 2023
Gooskie Fire
1,080 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Gooskie | 2023 | 1,082 | 1,080 |
| Bombing Range 3 | 2023 | 1,606 | 1,609 |
| Rocky Point | 2022 | 718 | 715 |
| Unnamed | 2018 | 831 | 828 |
| Unnamed | 2018 | 1,003 | 1,008 |
| Ne 212Th St | 2017 | 610 | 610 |
| Conner | 2017 | 676 | 676 |
| Island | 2016 | 527 | 528 |
| Richard Number 3 | 2014 | 263 | 1,017 |
| Hopkins Prairie | 2013 | 2,078 | 2,079 |
| Connor 13 | 2011 | 592 | 594 |
| Bombing Range Nine 21 | 2010 | 2,910 | 2,911 |
| Salt Springs 16 | 2010 | 1,271 | 1,270 |
| Juniper Springs | 2009 | 8,363 | 8,360 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 813 | 815 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 611 | 609 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 786 | 783 |
| Bombing Range 15 | 2008 | 1,262 | 1,266 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 625 | 624 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 805 | 806 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 747 | 747 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 88 | 1,325 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 854 | 853 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 598 | 598 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 964 | 965 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 744 | 743 |
| Juniper | 2006 | 11,997 | 11,992 |
| Unnamed | 2006 | 701 | 701 |
| Halfmoon | 2000 | 756 | 755 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 746 | 747 |
| Unnamed | 1998 | 682 | 681 |
| Major 1 | 1996 | 4,067 | 4,064 |
| Pittman 1 | 1995 | 125 | 750 |
| Pats Island | 1994 | 513 | 514 |
| Juniper 34 | 1993 | 1,153 | 1,150 |
| Juniper Springs | 1992 | 1,448 | 1,447 |
- 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: 16 days
Heavy smoke on 1 day in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
3.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
1 day
Medium or heavy smoke. 5 so far in 2026.
- 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
250 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $6.0 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2017: 64 claims
$3.3 million paid.
2nd most
2004: 32 claims
$309,000 paid.
3rd most
2023: 19 claims
$1.5 million paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 34471 | 51 | $3.6 million |
| 34470 | 26 | $335,000 |
| 32686 | 19 | $733,000 |
| 34482 | 18 | $168,000 |
| 32134 | 14 | $97,000 |
| 34475 | 12 | $99,000 |
| 34491 | 11 | $19,000 |
| 34432 | 10 | $17,000 |
| 34476 | 9 | $140,000 |
| 34481 | 9 | $81,000 |
| 32113 | 9 | $42,000 |
| 32179 | 7 | $37,000 |
| 34420 | 7 | $167,000 |
| 34480 | 7 | $99,000 |
| 34431 | 5 | $22,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Heavy Rain183
- Flood21
- Flash Flood17
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 1, 1960
Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88), 32.20 ft
4.00 feet above the 28.2 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
October 11, 2024
Ocklawaha River at Eureka, 25.37 ft
Major flooding.
River gauges
| Ocklawaha River at Eureka | 22.0 | 25.49 ft | 9 |
| Ocklawaha River at Moss Bluff Dam | 44.0 | 46.85 ft | 1 |
| Ocklawaha River near Conner | 38.0 | 40.07 ft | 2 |
| Ocklawaha River near Ocala | 39.0 | 41.31 ft | 3 |
| Orange Creek at Orange Springs | 25.5 | 29.32 ft | 5 |
| Rainbow River above Dunnellon (in NAVD88) | 30.0 | 30.43 ft | 0 |
| Rainbow River near Dunnellon (in NAVD88) | 29.0 | 29.57 ft | 0 |
| Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88) | 28.2 | 32.20 ft | 3 |
- 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 134 of 1,581 months since 1895 (8%); the longest spell lasted 19 months.
134
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
39
Months in extreme drought
8%
Share of all months, severe or worse
17
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
July 2026
−5.62, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
19 months
February 2000 to August 2001.
Latest month
September 2026
−5.54, extreme drought
- 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
1,058 events in the National Weather Service record, 927 of them since 1996.
66
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
327
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
2
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
1
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 13, 2007
4.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
December 14, 2013
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 30 | 3 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 29, 2001Tornado$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
More than 85 homes were damaged in three neighborhoods, knocking power out to 10,000 thousand of residents.
- Sep 14, 2001Tropical Storm, Marion$1.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
TS Gabrielle downed trees and power lines. More than 60 homes were damaged and more than 18,000 businesses and homes were without power.
- Sep 27, 1999Flash Flood$600,000
National Weather Service narrative
More than 8.5 inches of rainfall damaged 38 homes and 10 business.
- Jun 24, 2012Flood$300,000
National Weather Service narrative
At 8:50 am on the 24th, a spotter reported flooded streets in Belleview. At 9 am, a spotter measured 4.5 inches of rainfall in Fairfield since midnight that morning. At 12:06 am on the 25th, a spotter measured 7.92 inches of rainfall on June 24th (a 24 hours total) about 6 miles south of the Ocala Airport. On the 25th at 10:21 am, a newspaper in Marion county reported State Road 40 in Ocala was closed due to high water. At 1:20 pm, the pubilc reported 10.25 inches near the Fellowship area in NW Marion county during the past 24 hours. At 5:15 pm that afternoon, a CoCoRaHS observer about 3 miles SSW of Micanopy reported 1.10 inches of rainfall in 30 minutes. Marion county had…
- Mar 16, 2026Thunderstorm Wind$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
A large oak tree uprooted and fell onto a home in Ocala, FL. The tree fell completely through the roof and destroyed part of the home. The house has been condemned. Time was estimated by radar. Nearby AWOS station KOCF Ocala Airport - Jim Taylor Fld measured 52 mph peak wind at 304 PM.
- Mar 1, 1998Flood, Marion$230,000
National Weather Service narrative
Total flooding related to El Nino, More than 2800 homes and more than 175 businesses destroyed.
- Mar 4, 2001Tornado$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado was a weak FO, with some evidence of downburst. Damage was near Northeast 38th Street. Two homes with substantial roof damage, and 19 others with damage.
- Jun 7, 2014Thunderstorm Wind$120,000
National Weather Service narrative
A large tree fell down and crushed six cars in the Chili's parking lot on SW 36th Avenue. The cost of damage was estimated at $20,000/car for inclusion of the event in StormData.
- Mar 15, 2026Lightning$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Broadcast media reported Marion County firefighters were called to a house fire on Southwest 115th Street around 8:19 p.m. The 911 caller told them the home was struck by lightning and the attic was filling with smoke. The roof caught on fire and quickly destroyed much of the inside of the home. The lightning caused a large hole in the roof. The family has been displaced. No injuries or fatalities.
- May 28, 2000Wildfire$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Central Florida Collision Building caught on fire due to a small grass fire.
- 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 Ocala, 3.5 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1893.
- All-time high
- 105°F2 times, most recently Jun 4, 1985
- All-time low
- 11°FJan 13, 1981
- Warmest night
- 82°F8 times, most recently Aug 24, 2008
- Coldest day
- 34°FJan 29, 1897
- Wettest day
- 11.72 inApr 8, 1982
- Hottest year
- 2019mean 73.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1917mean 67.9°F
- Wettest year
- 198274.71 in
- Driest year
- 200028.58 in
Station Ocala (USC00086414), 75 ft elevation, 3.5 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 26, 2026; 96.3% 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
38 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Milton, October 11, 2024.
| Oct 11, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4834-FL |
| Oct 7, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3622-FL |
| Sep 28, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4828-FL |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3615-FL |
| Aug 10, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4806-FL |
| Aug 3, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3605-FL |
| Aug 31, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4734-FL |
| Aug 28, 2023 | Tropical Storm | EM-3596-FL |
| Dec 13, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4680-FL |
| Nov 8, 2022 | Tropical Storm | EM-3587-FL |
| Sep 29, 2022 | Hurricane | DR-4673-FL |
| Sep 24, 2022 | Hurricane | EM-3584-FL |
| Jul 4, 2021 | Severe Storm | EM-3561-FL |
| Nov 11, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3551-FL |
| Mar 25, 2020 | Biological | DR-4486-FL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3432-FL |
| Aug 30, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3419-FL |
| Sep 10, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4337-FL |
| Sep 5, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3385-FL |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3377-FL |
| Sep 28, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4280-FL |
| Aug 24, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1785-FL |
| Aug 21, 2008 | Severe Storm | EM-3288-FL |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3220-FL |
| Sep 26, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1561-FL |
| Sep 16, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1551-FL |
| Sep 4, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1545-FL |
| Aug 13, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1539-FL |
| Feb 5, 2001 | Freezing | DR-1359-FL |
| May 29, 2000 | Fire | FM-2303-FL |
| Apr 27, 1999 | Fire | EM-3139-FL |
| Apr 15, 1999 | Fire | FM-2252-FL |
| Jun 18, 1998 | Fire | DR-1223-FL |
| Jan 6, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1195-FL |
| Mar 13, 1993 | Tornado | DR-982-FL |
| Jan 15, 1990 | Freezing | DR-851-FL |
| Jan 31, 1977 | Freezing | DR-526-FL |
| Nov 7, 1968 | Hurricane | DR-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.
How this compares
Where Marion County stands among 67 counties in Florida and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 63 | 23 / 67 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 1 | 16 / 67 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 73 | 15 / 67 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 17 | 51 / 67 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 53,632 | 31 / 67 |
| Flood insurance claims | 250 | 48 / 67 |
| Flood insurance paid | $6.0 million | 48 / 67 |
| Disaster declarations | 38 | 45 / 67 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 221 | 4 / 67 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 577 | 6 / 67 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 2 | 28 / 67 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $6.1 million | 60 / 67 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 23 | 10 / 67 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 134 | 25 / 67 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 3.3 | 40 / 67 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Alachua County | 45 | 73 |
| Citrus County | 52 | 65 |
| Lake County | 63 | 69 |
| Levy County | 23 | 73 |
| Putnam County | 46 | 61 |
| Sumter County | 18 | 66 |
| Volusia County | 109 | 78 |
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 USC00086414.
- 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.