NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lake Helen, 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
82 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lake Helen, Florida since 1851, 22 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 142 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 22
- Tropical storms
- 60
- Tornadoes
- 142
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
29 deaths in all
What the records show for Lake Helen
The strongest storm to pass near Lake Helen was an unnamed storm in 1854, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 71 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Charley in 2004, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Lake Helen begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 51 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 9 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 82 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 60% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lake Helen. The highest rating among the 142 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on February 2, 2007, came within 3 miles. Of the 142, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 38 have come since 2000. April and August have had the most tornadoes, 20 each. The most recent tornado was on September 18, 2025. Lake Helen has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 63% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 62 times since 1971, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Lake Helen has more hail reports within 10 miles than 71% of the 407 Florida cities.
Compare Lake Helen's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lake Helen
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 51 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 7 | 49 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 31 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | TammyOct 5 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | overhead | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | EdouardSep 5 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 15 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | IsabelOct 10 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | BobJul 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | DianaSep 9 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 19 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 4 | 27 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | DottieAug 20 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 42 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | DollyAug 10 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | BrendaJun 19 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 6 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormOct 18 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 10 | 62 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1962 | AlmaAug 27 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 7 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 27 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 23 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 41 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 21 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 51 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 17 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 26 | 5 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 16 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 1 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 31 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 44 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 27 | 53 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 25 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 24 | 44 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 51 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 29 | 44 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 45 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 27 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 46 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 39 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 8 | 71 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lake Helen: 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 Helen
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s10
- 2000s18(1 EF3+)
- 1990s25(2 EF3+)
- 1980s24
- 1970s39
- 1960s13
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2007 | EF3 | 3 mi | 26.03 mi | 13 / 51 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | F3 | 14 mi | 16 mi | 13 / 36 |
| Nov 1, 1997 | F3 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 32 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | F2 | 15 mi | 8 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 25 mi | 30 mi | 1 / 60 |
| Apr 15, 1987 | F2 | 25 mi | 3 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Mar 10, 2025 | EF2 | 19 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 18, 2020 | EF2 | 5 mi | 4.59 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | F2 | 18 mi | 2.7 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | F2 | 5 mi | 2.8 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | F2 | 21 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 7, 1996 | F2 | 19 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 142, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lake Helen
The Storm Prediction Center has 62 hail reports within 10 miles of Lake Helen since 1971, made on 53 separate days. Of these, 36 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on February 7, 1971. The most recent report is from May 24, 2025. May has the most reports, 18.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lake Helen
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Deland 1 SSE, FL, 4 miles northwest of Lake Helen at 25 feet. July and August are the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 69°F and 45°F. July is the wettest at 8.7 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.3 inches; the year adds up to 55.6 inches over 86 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 67% of the year's precipitation (37.2 of 55.6 inches); the other six months are drier. October has brought the most of the 82 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal October there has highs of 83°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 84 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 7 nights a year. That 55.6 inches is more than at 74 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (59%). Deltona, 6 miles south, has its own station (Sanford, FL): 54.1 inches a year, 1.5 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 | 69 | 45 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Feb | 72 | 47 | 2.4 | 4 |
| Mar | 76 | 51 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Apr | 81 | 57 | 2.5 | 5 |
| May | 86 | 64 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 8.2 | 13 |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 8.7 | 13 |
| Aug | 90 | 73 | 7.1 | 12 |
| Sep | 88 | 71 | 6.9 | 10 |
| Oct | 83 | 64 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Nov | 76 | 54 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Dec | 71 | 48 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Year | 81 | 60 | 55.6 | 86 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Deland 1 SSE, FL (25 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 Helen
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 82 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lake Helen: 73 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 lightning strikes, 3 heavy rain events and 1 flood. They killed 4 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $69.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on March 19, 2003.
August 22, 2010: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Lake Helen — 1 killed, 1 injured.
October 8, 2018: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Lake Helen — 1 killed, 1 injured.
May 19, 2009: flood 6 miles from the centre of Lake Helen — 1 killed, $68.6 million 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
Volusia County, which includes Lake Helen, has been named in 44 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 28 of them major disasters (by incident: 22 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 4 tropical storms, 3 fires). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Volusia County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding, coastal flooding and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $195.7 million a year, the 15th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $87.0 million (44%), 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 Helen
- Orange City, FL5 mi
- Deland, FL5 mi
- Deltona, FL6 mi
- Debary, FL8 mi
- Port Orange, FL12 mi
- De Leon Springs, FL13 mi
- Osteen, FL13 mi
- Sanford, FL14 mi
- Paisley, FL16 mi
- Lake Mary, FL17 mi
- South Daytona, FL17 mi
- New Smyrna Beach, FL18 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Lake Helen with another place →