Nassau County

Population 106,879 (2025) 649 sq mi

77 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Nassau County since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1898 (Category 4).

Hazard fingerprint for Nassau County Tornado: 66th percentile. Tropical: 95th percentile. Wildfire: 39th percentile. Flood: 71th percentile. Hail & wind: 62th percentile. Heat: 0th percentile. Cold: 0th percentile. Winter: 3th 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 195033
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger131
  • Wildfire burn scars since 19846
  • Major flood years since 19788

At a glance

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

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

77

8th of 67 in Florida

19 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Flood insurance claims

845

39th of 67 in Florida

$12.7 million paid since 1978

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

33

42nd of 67 in Florida

Fewer than the typical Florida county, which has had 44

Details

Acres burned since 1984

5,026

56th of 67 in Florida

6 large fires; the largest was Unnamed, 1998

Details

Strongest tornado

F1

April 25, 1973, 12.1 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 4

Hurricane (unnamed), 1898, 13.1 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

40

Most recent: Hurricane Milton, 2024

Details

Record high

105°F

July 21, 1942

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 2.3 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

April 25, 1973

F1, 12.1 mile path

20 yards wide.

Most recent

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

EF0, 0.1 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1 1970s: 11 11 1980s: 5 5 1990s: 4 4 2000s: 5 5 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 2 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 2 M: 5 A: 3 M: 2 J: 3 J: 4 A: 2 S: 8 8 O: 2 N: 0 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Nassau County since 1950
Sep 3, 2024EF00.12500
Apr 7, 2022EF13.23000
Sep 11, 2017EF010.710000
Sep 11, 2017EF06.010000
Aug 4, 2016EF13.720000
Jan 21, 2010EF00.110000
Jan 21, 2010EF00.110000
Mar 7, 2008EF00.010000
Mar 2, 2007EF01.210000
Sep 13, 2001F00.1500
Mar 13, 2001F00.17500
Mar 30, 2000F00.11000
Aug 1, 1995F00.12300
Jun 5, 1995F14.01300
Oct 2, 1994F10.11000
Feb 25, 1992F10.54040
Sep 18, 1989F00.21000
May 24, 1988F01.03000
Jun 7, 1986F00.52000
Oct 30, 1985F13.02000
Feb 27, 1984F11.01000
Sep 29, 1979F00.11000
Sep 4, 1979F00.11000
Apr 18, 1978F10.32000
Jun 22, 1977F00.12000
Sep 7, 1976F00.51700
May 13, 1976F00.31000
Apr 25, 1973F112.12000
Jul 9, 1970F00.11000
Jul 9, 1970F00.11000
Jul 9, 1970F00.11000
Jul 9, 1970F00.11000
Mar 31, 1961F00.11000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Nassau 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.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

77 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 19 at hurricane strength, 5 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 2, 1898

Unnamed storm, Category 4

13.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 132 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 1

83.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 2 60s: 2 70s: 11 80s: 12 12 90s: 6 00s: 3 10s: 7 20s: 3 30s: 1 40s: 4 50s: 2 60s: 6 70s: 3 80s: 4 90s: 0 00s: 3 10s: 5 20s: 3 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
Helene202483.5Category 192Category 4
Debby202413.3Tropical storm52Category 1
Idalia202349.8Category 177Category 4
Nicole202292.6Tropical storm45Category 1
Elsa202158.1Tropical storm52Category 1
Eta20200.0Tropical storm41Category 4
Isaias202090.1Tropical storm70Category 1
Irma201756.5Tropical storm56Category 5
Matthew201648.9Category 2110Category 5
Julia20160.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hermine201661.7Tropical storm58Category 1
Colin20163.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea20139.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Beryl20123.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alberto201278.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Fay200850.1Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Andrea200791.5Subtropical storm40Category 1
Ernesto200684.6Tropical storm60Category 1
Alberto200658.1Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Tammy20050.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Jeanne200469.3Tropical storm48Category 3
Charley200447.8Category 186Category 4
Kyle200237.2Tropical storm40Category 1
Edouard200278.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Irene199999.1Category 175Category 2
Josephine199618.2Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Allison199579.4Tropical storm40Category 1
Chris198837.8Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Kate198586.6Tropical storm69Category 3
Bob198555.0Category 175Category 1
Isidore19840.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198473.8Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed198218.2Subtropical storm61Tropical storm
Dennis198137.6Tropical storm46Category 1
David197924.6Category 194Category 5
Dottie197685.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed197612.4Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Alpha19720.0Subtropical storm55Tropical storm
Gladys196844.2Category 182Category 2
Dolly196879.9Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196846.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby19680.0Tropical storm58Category 1
Alma196650.9Tropical storm48Category 3
Unnamed196575.3Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Hilda196411.9Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora196419.1Category 175Category 4
Cleo19647.5Tropical storm59Category 4
Donna196053.8Category 189Category 4
Brenda196021.9Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed195752.4Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed195673.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed195479.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Florence195372.2Post-tropical46Category 3
Able195283.1Category 194Category 2
King195028.2Category 175Category 4
Easy19502.0Tropical storm39Category 3
Unnamed194950.8Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194760.9Category 183Category 2
Unnamed19474.4Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed19473.4Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Unnamed19464.7Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed19458.3Tropical storm71Category 4
Unnamed194552.7Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed19440.9Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed194173.8Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed193758.8Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed193771.9Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed193653.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed193561.4Tropical storm72Category 5
Unnamed193362.5Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed19321.9Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed193080.1Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed192990.6Post-tropical59Category 4
Unnamed19286.0Category 181Category 5
Unnamed192612.4Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed192451.5Post-tropical63Category 1
Unnamed192441.1Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed192060.6Post-tropical52Category 1
Unnamed191933.3Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed191644.0Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed19160.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19150.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed19140.0Tropical storm64Tropical storm
Unnamed191232.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed19100.0Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed190987.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190996.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190760.6Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Unnamed190734.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed190610.8Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed190267.4Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed19000.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189968.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed189813.1Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed189890.5Category 186Category 1
Unnamed189784.2Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed18967.6Category 2106Category 3
Unnamed189483.4Category 178Category 3
Unnamed189427.1Category 182Category 3
Unnamed189337.8Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189339.2Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed189326.0Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed188914.2Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed18888.3Category 181Category 2
Unnamed188827.4Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed188783.0Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed188628.7Tropical storm59Category 1
Unnamed188678.2Tropical storm67Category 2
Unnamed188535.6Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188510.7Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed188524.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188538.8Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed188437.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed18824.6Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed188169.5Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed188039.0Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed18808.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187946.2Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187824.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187830.0Category 189Category 2
Unnamed187747.4Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187798.3Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed187721.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed18740.0Category 175Category 1
Unnamed187368.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187344.1Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed18737.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed187149.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed18714.8Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed187184.8Tropical storm49Category 3
Unnamed18710.0Tropical storm61Category 3
Unnamed186822.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186714.6Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed186780.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed186071.2Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185438.9Category 3119Category 3
Unnamed185331.2Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed185278.6Category 177Category 2
  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

5,026 acres burned in 6 large fires since 1984, equal to 1.2% of the land.

Largest

June 29, 1998

Unnamed Fire, 1,998 acres

1,997 acres inside Nassau County.

Most recent

April 20, 2023

County Road 121 Fire

1,002 acres in total.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 1998: 1,9972000: 5152004: 1802009: 6122017: 7212023: 1,002 5,026 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
County Road 12120231,0011,002
Garfield Road2017721721
Unnamed20096111,116
Steel Bridge2004179807
Unnamed2000514515
Unnamed19981,9971,998
  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

2011: 29 days

Heavy smoke on 14 days in 2011, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

5.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

3 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 14 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 29 29 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 6 2018: 2 2019: 1 2020: 1 2021: 6 2022: 11 2023: 19 2024: 2 2025: 3 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

845 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $12.7 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 17 1984: 20 1985: 13 1991: 7 1992: 90 1994: 6 1995: 54 1996: 25 1999: 92 2000: 5 2002: 5 2004: 22 2008: 37 2011: 5 2012: 44 2016: 101 2017: 178 178 2020: 5 2021: 7 2022: 17 2024: 44 19791994200220162024
Claims per year since 1978. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2017: 178 claims

$5.3 million paid.

2nd most

2016: 101 claims

$1.5 million paid.

3rd most

1999: 92 claims

$936,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
32034643$6.5 million
32011133$4.7 million
3209732$695,000
3204618$477,000
3200914$318,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Heavy Rain47
  • Coastal Flood19
  • Flood16
  • Flash Flood8

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

October 1, 1898

Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW), 6.94 ft

4.94 feet above the 2.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 11, 2026

Thomas Creek (in NAVD88), 4.40 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 1, 1898Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)6.94+4.94Major
Oct 7, 2016Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)4.13+2.13Major
Oct 19, 1944Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)4.04+2.04Major
Sep 10, 1964Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)3.94+1.94Major
Nov 10, 2022Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)3.79+1.79Major
Sep 11, 2017Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)3.58+1.58Major
Oct 7, 2016St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)2.79+1.79Moderate
Sep 29, 2022Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)3.36+1.36Moderate
Oct 8, 1946Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)3.06+1.06Moderate
Nov 7, 2021Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.93+0.93Moderate
Sep 21, 2020St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.90+0.90Moderate
Oct 11, 2026Thomas Creek (in NAVD88)4.40+0.90Moderate
Oct 10, 2025Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.85+0.85Moderate
Sep 20, 2020Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.77+0.77Moderate
Nov 7, 2021St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.77+0.77Moderate
Sep 26, 2004Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.76+0.76Moderate
Oct 10, 2025St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.73+0.73Moderate
May 28, 2012St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.71+0.71Moderate
Jun 4, 2023Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.67+0.67Moderate
Oct 17, 1950Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.66+0.66Moderate
Oct 10, 2025Amelia River Public Boat Ramp (in MHHW)2.65+0.65Moderate
Apr 10, 2023St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.64+0.64Moderate
Nov 22, 1984Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.60+0.60Moderate
Jul 3, 2012St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.60+0.60Moderate
Sep 11, 2017St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.58+0.58Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Amelia River Public Boat Ramp (in MHHW)2.02.65 ftOct 10, 20250
Atlantic Coast at Fernandina Beach (in MHHW)2.06.94 ftOct 1, 18986
Kings Ferry (in MHHW)1.01.51 ftOct 10, 20260
Nassau River at US-17 (in MHHW)1.31.49 ftOct 10, 20260
St. Marys River at Interstate 95 (in MHHW)1.02.79 ftOct 7, 20160
Thomas Creek (in NAVD88)3.54.40 ftOct 11, 20260
  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.

High tide flooding

Most in one year, Fernandina Beach

10 days

May 2023 to April 2024.

Last ten years

6.8 days a year

At Fernandina Beach, 2016–26.

Moderate or major

8 days

Since 1920, 0 of them major.

High tide flooding days per year at Fernandina Beach 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 1 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 2 1952: 0 1953: 2 1954: 1 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 1 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 3 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 2 1965: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 2 1972: 2 1973: 1 1974: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 1 1980: 0 1981: 4 1982: 1 1983: 1 1984: 4 1985: 1 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 2 1992: 3 1993: 0 1994: 2 1997: 0 1998: 2 1999: 2 2000: 0 2001: 6 2002: 1 2003: 0 2004: 1 2005: 1 2006: 1 2007: 6 2008: 2 2009: 2 2010: 0 2011: 2 2012: 7 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 9 2016: 3 2017: 6 2018: 2 2019: 7 2020: 9 2021: 6 2022: 9 2023: 10 10 2024: 9 2025: 7 192019451956196719781988200020102020
Days at or above NOAA’s minor high tide flooding threshold, each meteorological year (May to April) from 1920. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.
  1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 148 of 1,581 months since 1895 (9%); the longest spell lasted 28 months.

148

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

41

Months in extreme drought

9%

Share of all months, severe or worse

10

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 1932

−6.06, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

28 months

March 1999 to June 2001.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.42, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 1 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 2 1908: 0 1909: 2 1910: 4 1911: 2 1912: 0 1913: 2 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 2 1918: 5 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 0 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 1 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 4 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 5 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 5 1955: 0 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 2 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: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 5 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 1 1987: 2 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 7 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 1 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 10 2000: 12 12 2001: 8 2002: 4 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 4 2007: 9 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 5 2011: 12 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 5 2017: 4 2018: 0 2019: 2 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 2 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 and tsunamis

1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1900; none reached magnitude 4.

0

Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973

0

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

0

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

October 31, 1900

Magnitude 3.5

Near Jacksonville, Florida; 8.6 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

October 31, 1900

Magnitude 3.5

Near Jacksonville, Florida; 8.6 miles away.

  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Tsunamis

Highest water recorded

Jan 15, 2022

0.2 ft, Fernadina Beach, FL

From Tonga Islands.

On record

1 tsunami

Since 2022.

Tsunamis recorded here
Jan 15, 2022Tonga Islands0.210
  1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

590 events in the National Weather Service record, 536 of them since 1996.

48

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

2

Hail, 2 inches or larger

176

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

5

Winter weather events since 1996

0

Heat events since 1996

0

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 1, 2004

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

July 13, 1999

115 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Rip currents15105Sep 13, 2023
High surf and sneaker waves700Sep 2, 2010
Storm surge and tide100Aug 26, 2011
Lightning804Aug 17, 2018

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Oct 6, 2016Tropical Storm, Coastal Nassau$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Through the event, widespread tree, powerline and some structural damage was reported due to tropical storm force winds. Most of the wind damage was across coastal locations including Fernandina Beach. There were reports of trees down on structures as well. ||The peak winds measured across the county included sustained 44 mph on 10/7 at 955 pm and a gust to 60 mph on 10/7 at 10:35 pm at the Fernandina Beach Airport. The Fernandina Beach NOS station measured a peak sustained wind of 39 mph on 10/7 at 11:18 pm and a max gust of 59 mph on 10/7 at 6 pm. ||At 1530 edt on 10/7, the Fernandina Beach tide gauge reported a peak water level of 6.91 ft above NAVD88 datum. This was 4.32 ft…

  2. Sep 15, 1999Hurricane (Typhoon), Nassau$2.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Floyd - More than 50 homes damaged... 20 with structural, 30 with minor. One business with roof damage. Extensive beach erosion. Storm surge deposited 3-4 feet of sand on CR-105 in Fernandina Beach.

  3. Mar 1, 1998Flood, Nassau$1.7 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Total flooding related to El Nino, More than 2800 homes and more than 175 businesses destroyed.

  4. Oct 6, 1996Flash Flood$250,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A strong Nor'easter and Tropical Storm Josephine produced as much as 7 inches of rainfall in 72 hours. Numerous road were closed county-wide. Thomas Creek Road had more than 300 feet of payment washed away. The heavy rains prompted school officials to close all of the Counties schools on Wednesday, 10/9/96.

  5. May 17, 2002Lightning$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning ignited fire destroying auto body shop on US 17.

  6. Mar 10, 1996Winter Storm, Nassau$200,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A strong Nor'easter with winds of 50 to 60 mph caused damage at Amelia Island - (Beach Erosion) Lost six to 12 feet of beach at Amelia Island Plantation resort and on the Island's South end.

  7. Nov 15, 1996Coastal Flood, Nassau$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A strong nor'easter proved mightier than man-made anti-erosion devices along Amelia Island. Easterly winds of 30 to 40 mph and crashing waves caused severe beach erosion mainly along a quarter mile on the southern most developments.

  8. May 17, 2002Lightning$80,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Lightning strike ignited fire destroying family home.

  9. Jun 12, 2003Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Several city blocks affected near Robin Hood Circle and Ratliff Rd. with a dozen large trees felled and bricks moved. Privacy fence blown down. Most trees were snapped off 8 to 14 inches above the ground, including a 10 inch round, healthy White Oak. Four structures damaged, two were under construction. Survey estimation, 200 yard wide by 400 yard long micoburst with wind speeds of 55 to 65 knots. Broader wind swath of 40 knot winds. Additional information from Fernandina Beach News Leader 6/18/03

  10. Mar 2, 2007Tornado$30,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Three single wide mobile homes with significant damage to siding, minor roof damage and damage to steps, fences, etc. Used EF Scale - Damage Indicator (DI) MHSW with a Degree of Damage (DOD) #2 to the structures. Several Small farm buildings and sheds were moved or blown over with large tractors and equipment inside. For these I used a DI of SBO and DOD #7. By crossing the two determined an EF-0 Scale rating with 80 mph wind speeds most likely.

  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 Jacksonville, 9.4 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1938.

All-time high
105°FJul 21, 1942
All-time low
7°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
83°FJul 14, 1980
Coldest day
30°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
Wettest day
10.13 inSep 25, 1949
Snowiest day
1.5 inFeb 13, 1958
Hottest year
1949mean 71.4°F
Coldest year
1976mean 66.2°F
Wettest year
199179.63 in
Driest year
199031.20 in
Snowiest season
1.5 in1957-58
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Jacksonville 32°F 66° 42° 2.8 Jan 70° 46° 2.9 Feb 75° 50° 3.4 Mar 80° 56° 2.9 Apr 86° 64° 3.4 May 90° 70° 7.1 Jun 92° 73° 6.8 Jul 91° 73° 7.3 Aug 87° 70° 7.4 Sep 81° 61° 3.5 Oct 74° 51° 1.9 Nov 68° 46° 2.9 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: 6 1977: 32 1978: 8 1979: 8 1980: 29 1981: 48 48 1982: 27 1983: 15 1984: 2 1985: 13 1986: 33 1987: 34 1988: 28 1989: 25 1990: 44 1991: 28 1992: 19 1993: 38 1994: 7 1995: 28 1996: 7 1997: 3 1998: 38 1999: 17 2000: 21 2001: 4 2002: 9 2003: 0 2004: 10 2005: 11 2006: 22 2007: 18 2008: 4 2009: 15 2010: 44 2011: 42 2012: 12 2013: 5 2014: 11 2015: 19 2016: 37 2017: 15 2018: 13 2019: 41 2020: 15 2021: 2 2022: 12 2023: 38 2024: 34 2025: 30 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 18.3.
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: 0.5 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.0 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 0.8 in 0.8 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2017: 0.0 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 0.1 in 2025: 0.0 in 1976198619962020
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

64 of 68 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Jacksonville (USW00013889), 160 ft elevation, 9.4 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1938 to October 26, 2026; 100.0% 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.

Federal disaster declarations

40 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
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
Aug 1, 2020HurricaneHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3533-FL
Mar 25, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4486-FL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3432-FL
Oct 21, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianMajor disasterDR-4468-FL
Aug 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3419-FL
Sep 10, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4337-FL
Sep 5, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3385-FL
Oct 8, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4283-FL
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3377-FL
Jul 3, 2012Severe StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4068-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
Feb 5, 2001FreezingSevere FreezeMajor disasterDR-1359-FL
Jun 2, 2000FireFl, Jacksonville Fire ComplexFire managementFM-2305-FL
Sep 22, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1300-FL
Sep 14, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3143-FL
May 14, 1999FireJacksonville District FireFire managementFM-2262-FL
Apr 27, 1999FireFl-Fires 04/15/99EmergencyEM-3139-FL
Jun 18, 1998FireExtreme Fire HazardMajor disasterDR-1223-FL
Jan 6, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1195-FL
Oct 15, 1996Severe StormTropical Storm JosephineMajor disasterDR-1141-FL
Mar 13, 1993TornadoTornadoes, Flooding, High Winds & Tides, FreezingMajor disasterDR-982-FL
Oct 8, 1992Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-966-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 Nassau County stands among 67 counties in Florida and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19503342 / 67876 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger0——
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi778 / 6729 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi1941 / 6794 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 19845,02656 / 67965 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims84539 / 67357 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$12.7 million40 / 67407 / 3,143
Disaster declarations4037 / 67107 / 3,143
Flood events since 19969017 / 67715 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199633922 / 67991 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 199659 / 672,957 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$15.5 million56 / 671,667 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage631 / 67771 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years6.82 / 6749 / 3,143
Months in severe drought since 189514815 / 67985 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years5.220 / 673,059 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Baker County1271329,81095
Camden County GA25763,279346
Charlton County GA1170400,72639
Duval County80778,7426,064

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 USW00013889.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, 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.
  • Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
  • 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.