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 for Marion County Tornado: 51th percentile. Tropical: 97th percentile. Wildfire: 64th percentile. Flood: 69th percentile. Hail & wind: 40th percentile. Heat: 0th percentile. Cold: 3th percentile. Winter: 1th 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 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.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

73

15th of 67 in Florida

17 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

250

48th of 67 in Florida

$6.0 million paid since 1979

Details

Acres burned since 1984

53,632

31st of 67 in Florida

36 large fires; the largest was Juniper, 2006

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

63

23rd of 67 in Florida

43% more than the typical Florida county

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

December 31, 1975, 2.0 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane (unnamed), 1896, 30.7 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

38

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

105°F

Reached 2 times, most recently June 4, 1985

Details

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.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 1 1 1960s: 3 3 1970s: 16 16 1980s: 13 13 1990s: 11 11 2000s: 12 12 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 4 4 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 1 M: 10 10 A: 10 M: 7 J: 8 J: 7 A: 6 S: 4 O: 3 N: 2 D: 3 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Marion County since 1950
Jul 22, 2022EF01.45000
Mar 12, 2022EF126.66500
Apr 18, 2021EF02.344000
Apr 20, 2020EF10.550000
May 5, 2019EF10.910000
Jul 23, 2016EF00.95000
Apr 20, 2015EF11.935000
Jun 18, 2007EF00.01000
Apr 7, 2005F18.01,00030
Sep 15, 2004F14.0100
Sep 7, 2004F00.57500
Sep 5, 2004F01.07500
Nov 28, 2003F00.26000
Jun 22, 2003F01.510000
Jun 22, 2002F00.1000
Jun 5, 2001F00.11000
Mar 29, 2001F222.010000
Mar 4, 2001F00.55000
Mar 4, 2001F02.52000
Oct 7, 1996F015.03000
Oct 7, 1996F00.22000
Jul 6, 1996F11.05000
May 11, 1995F00.11000
Mar 8, 1995F00.11000
Jan 7, 1995F212.0440201
Aug 6, 1994F00.11000
Jul 24, 1994F00.11000
Mar 2, 1994F10.54000
Mar 12, 1993F215.010000
Oct 3, 1992F00.11000
Jun 15, 1989F00.21000
Dec 23, 1986F02.03000
Mar 14, 1986F12.01000
Mar 14, 1986F11.01000
Aug 31, 1985F11.02000
Sep 3, 1983F00.23000
Apr 23, 1983F18.05010
Apr 9, 1983F210.06000
Jun 11, 1982F213.06000
Jul 15, 1981F10.53000
Apr 15, 1981F16.95020
Aug 22, 1980F15.45000
May 25, 1980F11.03000
Aug 5, 1979F10.13000
Jul 11, 1979F10.13000
Apr 19, 1978F25.6100140
May 29, 1977F10.13000
Jul 10, 1976F10.14000
May 23, 1976F03.33300
Feb 1, 1976F00.11000
Dec 31, 1975F32.0200261
Dec 31, 1975F00.11000
Jun 2, 1975F16.45000
May 2, 1975F10.55000
Apr 11, 1975F12.05000
Aug 6, 1974F10.32000
May 12, 1974F120.210000
Apr 26, 1973F00.52000
Mar 8, 1973F21.510060
Jan 12, 1964F20.11000
Aug 8, 1963F10.11000
Nov 21, 1962F23.67000
Jun 8, 1957F10.15000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Marion County: 2.
  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.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 1 60s: 1 70s: 9 9 80s: 9 90s: 4 00s: 3 10s: 3 20s: 5 30s: 4 40s: 6 50s: 3 60s: 8 70s: 1 80s: 2 90s: 1 00s: 7 10s: 4 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
Milton202463.3Category 179Category 5
Helene202485.3Category 4138Category 4
Debby202465.4Tropical storm69Category 1
Idalia202374.6Category 3115Category 4
Nicole202214.9Tropical storm48Category 1
Ian202274.9Tropical storm69Category 5
Elsa202162.8Tropical storm63Category 1
Eta202014.8Tropical storm48Category 4
Irma20170.0Tropical storm63Category 5
Matthew201662.5Category 3115Category 5
Julia201618.9Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Colin201659.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea201341.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Beryl201247.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Fay20080.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Ernesto200668.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Alberto200682.8Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Tammy200545.5Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Jeanne20045.5Tropical storm55Category 3
Frances200449.5Tropical storm63Category 4
Charley200423.8Category 186Category 4
Gabrielle200129.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Gordon200040.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Josephine199679.6Tropical storm59Tropical storm
Erin199543.7Tropical storm61Category 2
Keith198872.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Chris198876.3Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Isabel198571.9Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Elena198578.3Category 2109Category 3
Bob198574.8Tropical storm66Category 1
Isidore19840.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198479.6Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed19820.0Subtropical storm49Tropical storm
Dennis198150.7Tropical storm43Category 1
David197949.7Category 298Category 5
Dottie197699.1Tropical storm51Tropical storm
Unnamed197672.5Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Alpha197276.4Subtropical storm44Tropical storm
Gladys19680.0Category 190Category 2
Dolly196870.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196835.7Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196841.5Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed196634.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed19650.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Dora196430.8Category 186Category 4
Cleo196423.9Tropical storm63Category 4
Alma196286.0Tropical storm39Category 1
Donna196017.7Category 178Category 4
Brenda196060.2Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed195931.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed195661.7Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Love195060.8Tropical storm58Category 1
King19500.0Category 178Category 4
Easy19500.9Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed194911.8Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194789.1Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed19478.3Tropical storm60Tropical storm
Unnamed19460.0Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed19452.3Category 178Category 4
Unnamed19450.0Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed19440.0Category 178Category 4
Unnamed194198.7Category 183Category 3
Unnamed193951.6Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed19370.0Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed19374.9Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed19360.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed193552.2Category 298Category 5
Unnamed193316.2Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed193269.4Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed19280.0Category 183Category 5
Unnamed192888.5Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed192824.8Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed192614.8Tropical storm71Category 4
Unnamed192589.7Post-tropical66Category 1
Unnamed192495.6Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192498.7Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed192115.0Category 186Category 4
Unnamed192183.3Tropical storm39Category 1
Unnamed19200.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed19160.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191516.5Tropical storm53Category 1
Unnamed191476.8Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed19100.0Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed190917.9Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19068.7Tropical storm41Category 3
Unnamed190389.8Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed190277.2Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed190029.8Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed18998.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189892.5Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed189857.4Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed189737.4Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed189630.7Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed189416.2Tropical storm71Category 3
Unnamed189362.8Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189368.1Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed189373.2Tropical storm56Category 1
Unnamed189274.1Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed18893.9Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed188816.3Category 298Category 2
Unnamed188816.2Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed188710.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed18860.0Category 174Category 1
Unnamed188692.6Category 298Category 2
Unnamed188542.1Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Unnamed188580.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188563.3Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed188494.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188247.0Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed18800.0Category 176Category 1
Unnamed188059.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188022.9Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed18790.0Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed18780.0Category 184Category 2
Unnamed18774.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18748.0Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed18736.1Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed187390.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187232.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187186.9Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed18719.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed18710.0Tropical storm54Category 3
Unnamed18710.0Category 181Category 3
Unnamed186894.8Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed186722.5Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed186179.9Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed185952.7Category 189Category 1
Unnamed185838.9Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185483.1Category 3127Category 3
Unnamed185382.5Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed185252.9Tropical storm58Category 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

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.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 1992: 1,4491993: 1,1541994: 5131995: 1251996: 4,0671998: 6822000: 1,5032006: 12,6992007: 3,9982008: 4,9052009: 8,3632010: 4,1822011: 5932013: 2,0792014: 2642016: 5272017: 1,2872018: 1,8352022: 7192023: 2,689 53,632 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Gooskie20231,0821,080
Bombing Range 320231,6061,609
Rocky Point2022718715
Unnamed2018831828
Unnamed20181,0031,008
Ne 212Th St2017610610
Conner2017676676
Island2016527528
Richard Number 320142631,017
Hopkins Prairie20132,0782,079
Connor 132011592594
Bombing Range Nine 2120102,9102,911
Salt Springs 1620101,2711,270
Juniper Springs20098,3638,360
Unnamed2008813815
Unnamed2008611609
Unnamed2008786783
Bombing Range 1520081,2621,266
Unnamed2008625624
Unnamed2008805806
Unnamed2007747747
Unnamed2007881,325
Unnamed2007854853
Unnamed2007598598
Unnamed2007964965
Unnamed2007744743
Juniper200611,99711,992
Unnamed2006701701
Halfmoon2000756755
Unnamed2000746747
Unnamed1998682681
Major 119964,0674,064
Pittman 11995125750
Pats Island1994513514
Juniper 3419931,1531,150
Juniper Springs19921,4481,447
  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: 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.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 12 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 0 2018: 2 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 3 2022: 9 2023: 16 16 2024: 1 2025: 1 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

250 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $6.0 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1982: 14 1992: 6 1998: 16 2004: 32 2008: 5 2010: 9 2011: 7 2012: 11 2017: 64 64 2023: 19 2024: 8 198220102024
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

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

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
3447151$3.6 million
3447026$335,000
3268619$733,000
3448218$168,000
3213414$97,000
3447512$99,000
3449111$19,000
3443210$17,000
344769$140,000
344819$81,000
321139$42,000
321797$37,000
344207$167,000
344807$99,000
344315$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.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Apr 1, 1960Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88)32.20+4.00Major
Oct 20, 1941Orange Creek at Orange Springs29.32+3.82Major
Sep 13, 2017Ocklawaha River at Eureka25.49+3.49Major
Apr 11, 1982Ocklawaha River at Eureka25.41+3.41Major
Oct 11, 2024Ocklawaha River at Eureka25.37+3.37Major
Sep 11, 2017Orange Creek at Orange Springs28.79+3.29Major
Sep 7, 1933Ocklawaha River at Eureka25.17+3.17Major
Sep 13, 1964Orange Creek at Orange Springs28.58+3.08Major
Oct 10, 2024Ocklawaha River at Moss Bluff Dam46.85+2.85Major
Oct 12, 1961Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88)30.80+2.60Major
Feb 23, 1998Orange Creek at Orange Springs28.10+2.60Major
Sep 9, 2004Ocklawaha River at Eureka24.53+2.53Major
Jul 17, 1934Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88)30.65+2.45Major
Feb 18, 1998Ocklawaha River at Eureka24.36+2.36Major
Jun 17, 1934Ocklawaha River at Eureka24.35+2.35Major
Sep 8, 1950Ocklawaha River at Eureka24.34+2.34Major
Sep 11, 2017Ocklawaha River near Ocala41.31+2.31Major
Mar 18, 1960Ocklawaha River near Ocala41.25+2.25Major
Nov 16, 1941Orange Creek at Orange Springs27.73+2.23Major
Sep 6, 1933Ocklawaha River near Ocala41.09+2.09Major
Sep 11, 2017Ocklawaha River near Conner40.07+2.07Major
Sep 29, 2004Ocklawaha River at Eureka24.06+2.06Major
Sep 6, 1933Ocklawaha River near Conner40.02+2.02Major
Oct 4, 2004Orange Creek at Orange Springs27.45+1.95Moderate
Mar 11, 1948Orange Creek at Orange Springs27.44+1.94Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Ocklawaha River at Eureka22.025.49 ftSep 13, 20179
Ocklawaha River at Moss Bluff Dam44.046.85 ftOct 10, 20241
Ocklawaha River near Conner38.040.07 ftSep 11, 20172
Ocklawaha River near Ocala39.041.31 ftSep 11, 20173
Orange Creek at Orange Springs25.529.32 ftOct 20, 19415
Rainbow River above Dunnellon (in NAVD88)30.030.43 ftNov 1, 20240
Rainbow River near Dunnellon (in NAVD88)29.029.57 ftNov 2, 20240
Withlacoochee River at US 41 Dunnellon (in NAVD88)28.232.20 ftApr 1, 19603
  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 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

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 5 1908: 4 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 2 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: 3 1928: 2 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 3 1932: 10 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 1 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 1 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 0 1955: 0 1956: 2 1957: 2 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 1 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 5 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 7 1986: 0 1987: 1 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 4 1991: 2 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 5 1999: 9 2000: 11 11 2001: 9 2002: 2 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 5 2007: 8 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 1 2011: 3 2012: 5 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 2 2017: 4 2018: 0 2019: 0 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

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

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning30311Jul 29, 2026

Costliest events since 1996

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Sep 27, 1999Flash Flood$600,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    More than 8.5 inches of rainfall damaged 38 homes and 10 business.

  4. 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…

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. May 28, 2000Wildfire$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Central Florida Collision Building caught on fire due to a small grass fire.

  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 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
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Ocala 32°F 71° 46° 3.0 Jan 75° 49° 3.0 Feb 79° 53° 3.4 Mar 84° 58° 2.6 Apr 89° 65° 3.5 May 91° 71° 7.6 Jun 92° 73° 7.4 Jul 92° 73° 7.2 Aug 90° 71° 6.6 Sep 85° 63° 2.9 Oct 77° 54° 2.0 Nov 73° 49° 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: 25 1977: 57 57 1978: 21 1980: 27 1981: 37 1982: 3 1983: 18 1984: 12 1985: 24 1986: 30 1987: 33 1988: 24 1989: 31 1990: 36 1991: 0 1992: 6 1993: 19 1994: 5 1996: 12 1997: 5 1998: 45 1999: 20 2000: 51 2001: 37 2002: 8 2003: 2 2004: 12 2005: 17 2006: 25 2007: 22 2008: 10 2009: 35 2010: 56 2011: 54 2012: 13 2013: 10 2014: 18 2016: 48 2017: 16 2018: 9 2019: 28 2020: 19 2021: 10 2022: 19 2023: 22 2024: 29 2025: 40 19761987199820082019
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 23.9.

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.

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
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Sep 28, 2016HurricaneHurricane HermineMajor disasterDR-4280-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 16, 2004HurricaneHurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1551-FL
Sep 4, 2004HurricaneHurricane FrancesMajor disasterDR-1545-FL
Aug 13, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane CharleyMajor disasterDR-1539-FL
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
May 29, 2000FireFl, Waccasassa Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2303-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Apr 15, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/13/99Fire managementFM-2252-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Jan 15, 1990FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-851-FL
Jan 31, 1977FreezingSevere Winter WeatherMajor disasterDR-526-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.

How this compares

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

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19506323 / 67219 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger116 / 671,281 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi7315 / 6748 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi1751 / 67113 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 198453,63231 / 67453 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims25048 / 67817 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$6.0 million48 / 67640 / 3,143
Disaster declarations3845 / 67141 / 3,143
Flood events since 19962214 / 67123 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 19965776 / 67315 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 1996228 / 673,035 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$6.1 million60 / 672,269 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage2310 / 67159 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 189513425 / 671,351 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years3.340 / 673,101 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Alachua County457321,228309
Citrus County526512,7887,076
Lake County636970,695470
Levy County237319,1561,316
Putnam County466128,511621
Sumter County186620,637123
Volusia County10978250,62012,577

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.