NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Fort Meade, 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
72 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Fort Meade, Florida since 1851, 21 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 181 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 21
- Tropical storms
- 51
- Tornadoes
- 181
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Fort Meade
The strongest storm to pass near Fort Meade was an unnamed storm in 1935, a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds when its centre passed 75 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Donna in 1960, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Fort Meade begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 5 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1950s, with 7 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 72 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 66% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Fort Meade. The highest rating among the 181 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 15 times; the most recent, on October 18, 2019, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on January 17, 2016, killed 2 people. Of the 181, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 53 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 35. The most recent tornado was on October 9, 2024. Fort Meade has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 76% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 24 times since 1962, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 73% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Fort Meade.
Compare Fort Meade's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Fort Meade
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 5 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 31 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 14 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 19 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 6 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 3 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | BrendaJun 19 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 1 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 50 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 34 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 4 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 48 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 1 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 31 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 75 mi | Category 4 (130 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 5 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 25 | 57 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 14 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 7 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormOct 18 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 7 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 8 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 45 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 49 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 28 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 23 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 18 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Fort Meade: 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 Fort Meade
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s17
- 2000s28
- 1990s53
- 1980s30
- 1970s24
- 1960s12
- 1950s9
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 2016 | EF2 | 22 mi | 9.2 mi | 2 / 4 |
| May 8, 1979 | F2 | 24 mi | 4 mi | 1 / 40 |
| Oct 18, 2019 | EF2 | 23 mi | 11.45 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF2 | 16 mi | 6.22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 1998 | F2 | 19 mi | 10.4 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 27, 1997 | F2 | 24 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Feb 8, 1986 | F2 | 10 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 29, 1971 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1969 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1966 | F2 | 16 mi | 123.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1963 | F2 | 15 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Feb 19, 1963 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 181, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Fort Meade
The Storm Prediction Center has 24 hail reports within 10 miles of Fort Meade since 1962, made on 22 separate days. Of these, 11 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on May 3, 2005. The most recent report is from April 6, 2017. May has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Fort Meade
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bartow 1SE, FL, 10 miles north of Fort Meade at 111 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 73°F and 50°F. June is the wettest at 8.3 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.5 inches; the year adds up to 51.0 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 70% of the year's precipitation (35.5 of 51.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 72 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 7.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 121 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 2 nights a year. That 51.0 inches is more than at 24 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (19%). Bowling Green, 13 miles southwest, has its own station (Wauchula, FL): 52.1 inches a year, 1.1 more than here, and the same August average high, 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73 | 50 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Feb | 76 | 52 | 2.1 | 4 |
| Mar | 80 | 56 | 2.8 | 4 |
| Apr | 84 | 61 | 2.7 | 4 |
| May | 89 | 66 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 8.3 | 11 |
| Jul | 92 | 73 | 7.6 | 12 |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 7.8 | 12 |
| Sep | 90 | 72 | 7.3 | 10 |
| Oct | 85 | 66 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Nov | 79 | 58 | 1.5 | 3 |
| Dec | 75 | 53 | 2.2 | 4 |
| Year | 84 | 62 | 51.0 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bartow 1SE, FL (111 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 Fort Meade
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 33 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Fort Meade: 31 thunderstorm wind reports and 2 lightning strikes. 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 69 mph, on October 7, 2003.
June 18, 2001: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Fort Meade — $279,000 damage.
May 22, 1997: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Fort Meade — $250,000 damage.
May 14, 2009: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Fort Meade — $190,000 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 Fort Meade's ZIP code 33841 have filed 16 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1998, and were paid $270,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 88% 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, 17 have fewer than Fort Meade.
Polk County, which includes Fort Meade, has been named in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 24 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 7 fires, 5 severe storms, 4 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Polk County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes and inland flooding; Relatively Moderate for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $212.6 million a year, the 13th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $92.3 million (43%), 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 Fort Meade
- Bartow, FL11 mi
- Bowling Green, FL13 mi
- Wauchula, FL14 mi
- Mulberry, FL15 mi
- Eagle Lake, FL17 mi
- Babson Park, FL17 mi
- Frostproof, FL17 mi
- Zolfo Springs, FL18 mi
- Winter Haven, FL19 mi
- Avon Park, FL20 mi
- Lake Wales, FL20 mi
- Dundee, FL22 mi
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