Skip to content

NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Center Hill, 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

76 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Center Hill, Florida since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 108 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
19

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
57

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
108

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
3

14 deaths in all

What the records show for Center Hill

The strongest storm to pass near Center Hill was an unnamed storm in 1888, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1944, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Center Hill begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 54 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1870s, with 9 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 76 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 78% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Center Hill. The highest rating among the 108 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on February 2, 2007, came within 16 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on February 2, 2007, killed 8 people. Of the 108, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 18. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Of the 407 Florida cities, 61% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Center Hill. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 19 times since 1955, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 80% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Center Hill.

Compare Center Hill's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Center Hill

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Center Hill, Florida, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2024MiltonOct 1054 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 5
2022NicoleNov 1017 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
2020EtaNov 1267 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 4
2017IrmaSep 1122 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 5
2016JuliaSep 1353 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
2008FayAug 2257 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
2004JeanneSep 2626 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 3
2004FrancesSep 643 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 4
2004CharleyAug 1435 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 4
2002EdouardSep 574 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2001GabrielleSep 1432 miTropical storm (48 mph)Category 1
1995JerryAug 2421 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1995ErinAug 229 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 2
1990MarcoOct 1164 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1988KeithNov 2365 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 1
1984IsidoreSep 2817 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1982Unnamed 1982 stormJun 1840 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1981DennisAug 1870 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1968GladysOct 1929 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 2
1968BrendaJun 1954 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1968AbbyJun 470 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1966Unnamed 1966 stormJul 168 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1965Unnamed 1965 stormOct 1822 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1964CleoAug 2856 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 4
1960DonnaSep 1126 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 4
1959Unnamed 1959 stormJun 1819 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1953Unnamed 1953 stormSep 2050 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1950KingOct 1824 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 4
1950EasySep 615 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 3
1949Unnamed 1949 stormAug 2727 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 4
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 2347 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1946Unnamed 1946 stormOct 830 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 2
1945Unnamed 1945 stormSep 1619 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 4
1945Unnamed 1945 stormJun 2421 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 2
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 193 miCategory 1 (83 mph)Category 4
1941Unnamed 1941 stormOct 2066 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormAug 1244 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
1937Unnamed 1937 stormAug 3048 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1937Unnamed 1937 stormJul 302 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1936Unnamed 1936 stormAug 2247 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1933Unnamed 1933 stormSep 430 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 4
1930Unnamed 1930 stormSep 964 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 4
1928Unnamed 1928 stormSep 1712 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 5
1928Unnamed 1928 stormAug 919 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1926Unnamed 1926 stormJul 2864 miCategory 1 (82 mph)Category 4
1921Unnamed 1921 stormOct 264 miCategory 1 (90 mph)Category 4
1920Unnamed 1920 stormSep 3040 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1510 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 257 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1910Unnamed 1910 stormOct 185 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 4
1909Unnamed 1909 stormJun 2922 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1906Unnamed 1906 stormOct 2138 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 3
1899Unnamed 1899 stormOct 58 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1898Unnamed 1898 stormAug 256 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 1
1897Unnamed 1897 stormSep 2143 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormSep 2629 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1892Unnamed 1892 stormOct 2458 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormJun 1759 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormOct 1172 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 834 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 303 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1941 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 1
1880Unnamed 1880 stormOct 841 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 1
1880Unnamed 1880 stormAug 3012 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1879Unnamed 1879 stormOct 2743 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
1878Unnamed 1878 stormSep 1026 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 2662 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1874Unnamed 1874 stormSep 2863 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 1
1873Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23overheadTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1872Unnamed 1872 stormOct 2321 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1871Unnamed 1871 stormSep 669 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1871Unnamed 1871 stormAug 256 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 3
1871Unnamed 1871 stormAug 174 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1859Unnamed 1859 stormOct 2838 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 1
1858Unnamed 1858 stormSep 1437 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1852Unnamed 1852 stormSep 1236 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Center Hill: 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 Center Hill

By decade

  • 2020s8
  • 2010s10
  • 2000s12(2 EF3+)
  • 1990s25(1 EF3+)
  • 1980s21
  • 1970s20
  • 1960s10
  • 1950s2
Strongest tornadoes near Center Hill, Florida
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Feb 2, 2007EF317 mi10.5 mi8 / 10
Feb 22, 1998F320 mi18 mi3 / 70
Feb 2, 2007EF316 mi5.67 mi0 / 15
Jan 7, 1995F224 mi12 mi1 / 20
Mar 12, 1993F213 mi30 mi1 / 60
Apr 15, 1987F224 mi3 mi1 / 7
Jun 25, 1988F224 mi2 mi0 / 0
Apr 15, 1987F22 mi12 mi0 / 0
Aug 31, 1985F212 mi5 mi0 / 0
Apr 9, 1982F214 mi3 mi0 / 1
Mar 7, 1971F28 mi0.3 mi0 / 0
Nov 13, 1969F2in town3.4 mi0 / 1

The strongest 12 of 108, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Center Hill

The Storm Prediction Center has 19 hail reports within 10 miles of Center Hill since 1955, made on 18 separate days. Of these, 9 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 25, 2023. The most recent report is from May 9, 2025. March has the most reports, 6.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Center Hill

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Leesburg Municipal Airport, FL, 16 miles northeast of Center Hill at 77 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 70°F and 49°F. June is the wettest at 7.0 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.8 inches; the year adds up to 43.8 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 66% of the year's precipitation (29.1 of 43.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 76 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 5.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 108 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 2 nights a year. That 43.8 inches is more than at 4 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (3%). Mascotte, 7 miles southeast, has its own station (Clermont 9 S, FL): 50.6 inches a year, 6.8 more than here, and an August average high of 93°F against 92°F.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Leesburg Municipal Airport, FL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"
Jan70492.54
Feb73522.14
Mar77563.24
Apr83622.04
May88682.74
Jun91737.011
Jul91755.911
Aug92756.610
Sep90735.28
Oct85662.64
Nov77571.83
Dec72522.24
Year826343.870

Averages for 1991–2020 at Leesburg Municipal Airport, FL (77 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.

Florida weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Center Hill

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 41 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Center Hill: 38 thunderstorm wind reports, 1 flash flood, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 96 mph, on January 24, 2019.

  • January 25, 2011: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Center Hill — $500,000 damage.

  • January 24, 2019: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Center Hill — $250,000 damage.

    NWS: “A NWS storm survey confirmed a very intense straight-line wind event occurred in Mascotte-Groveland, as a portion of a strong squall line (bow echo) accelerated east to northeast across southern Lake County. 5 mile swath, with a damage width of 350 yards.”

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

Sumter County, which includes Center Hill, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1968, 20 of them major disasters (by incident: 17 hurricanes, 5 tropical storms, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Sumter County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding; Relatively Low for heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $46.1 million a year, the 37th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $18.3 million (40%), is from hurricanes.

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).

What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.

Cities near Center Hill