NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Jay, 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
60 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Jay, Florida since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Sally in 2020. Since 1950, 109 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 19
- Tropical storms
- 41
- Tornadoes
- 109
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
18 deaths in all
What the records show for Jay
The strongest storm to pass near Jay was an unnamed storm in 1882, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds when its centre passed 38 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1936, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Jay begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Sally in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 10 miles away. The 1880s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 7 systems each. Of the 60 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 78% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Jay. The highest rating among the 109 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on February 15, 2016, came within 9 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on March 31, 1962, killed 17 people. Of the 109, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 44 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on June 17, 2025. Of the 407 Florida cities, 60% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Jay. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 15 times since 1996, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 85% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Jay.
Compare Jay's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Jay
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 10 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | IdaNov 10 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2009 | ClaudetteAug 17 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 13 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | ArleneJun 11 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 38 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2001 | BarryAug 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 22 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1997 | DannyJul 20 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 4 | 16 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 3 | 30 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 55 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1969 | Unnamed 1969 stormOct 1 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | IreneOct 8 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 24 | 50 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 26 | 63 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 45 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 11 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 31 | 9 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 75 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 20 | 43 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 47 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 11 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 11 | 47 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 10 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 51 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 44 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 28 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 38 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 44 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Jay: 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 Jay
By decade
- 2020s12
- 2010s8(1 EF3+)
- 2000s24
- 1990s14
- 1980s13
- 1970s25
- 1960s11(3 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1962 | F3 | 18 mi | 6.9 mi | 17 / 100 |
| Feb 15, 2016 | EF3 | 9 mi | 16.45 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Nov 3, 1968 | F3 | 13 mi | 70.4 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Dec 10, 1961 | F3 | 16 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 26, 1973 | F2 | 17 mi | 105.4 mi | 1 / 4 |
| May 10, 2024 | EF2 | 2 mi | 23.96 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 19, 2021 | EF2 | 12 mi | 22.03 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Feb 17, 2008 | EF2 | 24 mi | 14.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 13, 1983 | F2 | 20 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 15, 1972 | F2 | 10 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Jun 8, 1972 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 2, 1972 | F2 | 16 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 109, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Jay
The Storm Prediction Center has 15 hail reports within 10 miles of Jay since 1996, made on 14 separate days. Of these, 9 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently June 15, 2023. The most recent report is from June 15, 2023. May has the most reports, 6.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Jay
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Milton Exp Stn, FL, 9 miles south of Jay at 217 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 36°F. July is the wettest at 7.7 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 67.8 inches over 81 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (37.8 of 67.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 60 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (20); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 6.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 94 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 31 nights a year. That 67.8 inches is more than at 117 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (94%). Flomaton, AL, 10 miles northwest, has its own station (Brewton 3 SSE, AL): 65.4 inches a year, 2.4 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 36 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Feb | 64 | 40 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Mar | 71 | 45 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 5.6 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 60 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 67 | 7.5 | 9 |
| Jul | 91 | 69 | 7.7 | 12 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 6.9 | 10 |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 6.5 | 6 |
| Oct | 80 | 54 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Nov | 70 | 43 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Dec | 63 | 39 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Year | 77 | 53 | 67.8 | 81 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Milton Exp Stn, FL (217 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 Jay
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 64 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Jay: 52 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods and 3 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $371,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 110 mph, on May 10, 2024. January has had the most flash floods, 5 of 9. Of the 277 Florida cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 177 have had fewer than Jay.
November 21, 1997: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Jay — 2 injured, $25,000 damage.
NWS: “High winds caused minor damage to three homes along State Road 87 just northeast of Jay. Trees and power lines were also blown down.”
May 10, 2024: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Jay — 2 injured.
NWS: “Large hardwood trees uprooted or snapped aloft with power lines also down near Jay High School. Residential damage also reported on Watermill Rd with 2 people transported to the hospital with injuries.”
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
Santa Rosa County, which includes Jay, has been named in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1970, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 24 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 5 floods, 4 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 28, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Santa Rosa County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, coastal flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $101.2 million a year, the 29th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $61.0 million (60%), 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 Jay
- Flomaton, AL10 mi
- Century, FL11 mi
- Brewton, AL16 mi
- Molino, FL17 mi
- Milton, FL19 mi
- Pace, FL19 mi
- Mc David, FL21 mi
- Gulf Breeze, FL22 mi
- Cantonment, FL24 mi
- Atmore, AL25 mi
- Baker, FL27 mi
- Pensacola, FL32 mi
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