NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lake Butler, 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
85 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lake Butler, Florida since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 88 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 74
- Tornadoes
- 88
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Lake Butler
The strongest storm to pass near Lake Butler was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 3 hurricane with 112 mph winds when its centre passed 13 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was King in 1950, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Lake Butler begins with an unnamed storm in 1867; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 43 miles away. The 1870s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 10 systems each. Of the 85 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 97% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lake Butler. The strongest of the 88 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on February 25, 1960; its path came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on March 7, 2008, killed 1 person. Of the 88, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 32 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 12. The most recent tornado was on March 16, 2025. Of the 407 Florida cities, 78% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lake Butler. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 27 times since 1990, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 66% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lake Butler.
Compare Lake Butler's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lake Butler
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 5 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 58 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 14 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 28 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | TammyOct 6 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | IsabelOct 10 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 23 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | Unnamed 1971 stormAug 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 56 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 6 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 2 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormOct 18 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 10 | overhead | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | LoveOct 21 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 1 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 30 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | overhead | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 57 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 21 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 30 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 57 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 36 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 29 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 13 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 15 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 47 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 8 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 54 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 5 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 18 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 7 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lake Butler: 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 Lake Butler
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s7
- 2000s15
- 1990s12
- 1980s18
- 1970s21
- 1960s4(1 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 1960 | F3 | 20 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 7, 2008 | EF2 | 20 mi | 1.49 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | F2 | 8 mi | 2.74 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 14, 1986 | F2 | 25 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F2 | 14 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 6 |
| May 4, 1978 | F2 | 23 mi | 12.8 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F2 | 11 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 6 |
| May 12, 1974 | F2 | 25 mi | 17.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 7, 1971 | F2 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 7, 1971 | F2 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 3, 1970 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 28, 1966 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 88, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lake Butler
The Storm Prediction Center has 27 hail reports within 10 miles of Lake Butler since 1990, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 14 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 25, 2003. The most recent report is from June 15, 2021. June has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lake Butler
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Starke, FL, 17 miles east of Lake Butler at 150 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 68°F and 45°F. June is the wettest at 8.2 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.3 inches; the year adds up to 53.3 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 64% of the year's precipitation (34.2 of 53.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 85 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 5.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 92 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 15 nights a year. That 53.3 inches is more than at 50 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (40%). Alachua, 15 miles southwest, has its own station (High Springs, FL): 51.7 inches a year, 1.6 less than here, and the same July average high, 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68 | 45 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Feb | 71 | 47 | 3.0 | 6 |
| Mar | 76 | 52 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 82 | 58 | 2.6 | 4 |
| May | 87 | 66 | 3.7 | 5 |
| Jun | 92 | 73 | 8.2 | 10 |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 7.1 | 11 |
| Aug | 92 | 74 | 6.4 | 11 |
| Sep | 89 | 71 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Oct | 83 | 62 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Nov | 76 | 53 | 2.3 | 3 |
| Dec | 71 | 47 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Year | 82 | 60 | 53.3 | 79 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Starke, FL (150 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 Lake Butler
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 108 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lake Butler: 91 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 heavy rain events, 2 floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $250,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on July 9, 1996.
April 6, 2017: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Lake Butler — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “A structure fire due to lightning occurred during the pre-dawn hours. The cost of damage was unknown, but it was estimated for the event to be included in Storm Data.”
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 Lake Butler's ZIP code 32054 have filed 30 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1992, and were paid $441,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 63% 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, 45 have fewer than Lake Butler.
Union County, which includes Lake Butler, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1992, 18 of them major disasters (by incident: 16 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 5 fires, 4 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Union County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Very Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $5.0 million a year, the 66th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.2 million (45%), 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 Lake Butler
- Raiford, FL10 mi
- Alachua, FL15 mi
- Starke, FL16 mi
- Hampton, FL17 mi
- Lawtey, FL18 mi
- High Springs, FL18 mi
- Lake City, FL20 mi
- Fort White, FL21 mi
- Glen Saint Mary, FL21 mi
- Macclenny, FL24 mi
- Gainesville, FL24 mi
- Keystone Heights, FL27 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Lake Butler with another place →