NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bell, FL
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
81 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bell, Florida since 1851, 15 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 42 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 15
- Tropical storms
- 66
- Tornadoes
- 42
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Bell
The strongest storm to pass near Bell was Helene in 2024, a Category 4 hurricane with 138 mph winds when its centre passed 52 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1949, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Bell begins with an unnamed storm in 1867; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 11 systems, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 81 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 91% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Bell. The strongest of the 42 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on February 27, 1984; its path came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on March 12, 1993, killed 3 people. Of the 42, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 9 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 7. The most recent tornado was on July 7, 2021. Of the 407 Florida cities, 97% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bell. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 15 times since 1966, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 85% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bell.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bell
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 52 mi | Category 4 (138 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 5 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 41 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | MindySep 9 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | overhead | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 23 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | Unnamed 1971 stormAug 16 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 64 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormOct 18 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 10 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | LoveOct 21 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 32 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 5 | 46 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | overhead | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 21 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | overhead | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 32 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 58 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 4 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 21 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 69 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 11 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 52 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 8 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 59 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 65 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 26 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 5 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 18 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 6 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bell: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Bell
By decade
- 2020s3
- 2010s1
- 2000s5
- 1990s10
- 1980s8(1 EF3+)
- 1970s13
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 1984 | F3 | 21 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 18 mi | 1 mi | 3 / 10 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F2 | 1 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Feb 6, 1975 | F2 | 21 mi | 22.9 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Aug 25, 1970 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1970 | F2 | in town | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1957 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1956 | F2 | 10 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F1 | 22 mi | 9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 30, 1985 | F1 | 17 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1982 | F1 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1982 | F1 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 42, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bell
The Storm Prediction Center has 15 hail reports within 10 miles of Bell since 1966. Of these, 5 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on July 13, 1980. The most recent report is from May 11, 2023. May has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bell
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bell 4NW, FL, 4 miles northwest of Bell at 30 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 65°F and 40°F. August is the wettest at 9.2 inches of precipitation on average and April and November the driest at 2.4 inches; the year adds up to 54.5 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 63% of the year's precipitation (34.4 of 54.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 81 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 72 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 28 nights a year. That 54.5 inches is more than at 67 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (54%). Old Town, 11 miles southwest, has its own station (Cross City 1 E, FL): 57.9 inches a year, 3.4 more than here, and an August average high of 91°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 65 | 40 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Feb | 68 | 43 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Mar | 75 | 47 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Apr | 80 | 53 | 2.4 | 4 |
| May | 86 | 61 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 6.6 | 10 |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 7.8 | 13 |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 9.2 | 12 |
| Sep | 87 | 68 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Oct | 80 | 58 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Nov | 73 | 48 | 2.4 | 3 |
| Dec | 67 | 43 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Year | 79 | 56 | 54.5 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bell 4NW, FL (30 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Bell
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 64 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bell: 53 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 heavy rain events and 1 flood. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $123,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on December 7, 1996.
December 7, 1996: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Bell — 2 injured, $12,000 damage.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Bell's ZIP code 32619 have filed 96 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1983, and were paid $836,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 1998, with 25. 14% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 340 Florida cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 108 have fewer than Bell.
Gilchrist County, which includes Bell, has been named in 38 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 6 tropical storms, 5 severe storms, 4 fires). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Gilchrist County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.8 million a year, the 63rd highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.7 million (40%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. 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).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets 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).
Bell in the notable storm records: Hurricane Helene (2024)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Bell
- Old Town, FL11 mi
- Branford, FL12 mi
- Trenton, FL12 mi
- Fort White, FL14 mi
- High Springs, FL16 mi
- Cross City, FL17 mi
- Newberry, FL19 mi
- O Brien, FL19 mi
- Chiefland, FL22 mi
- Alachua, FL23 mi
- Archer, FL26 mi
- Mc Alpin, FL27 mi
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