NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lake Panasoffkee, 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
78 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lake Panasoffkee, Florida since 1851, 20 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 124 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 20
- Tropical storms
- 58
- Tornadoes
- 124
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
13 deaths in all
What the records show for Lake Panasoffkee
The strongest storm to pass near Lake Panasoffkee was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1928, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Lake Panasoffkee begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 70 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1870s, with 9 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 78 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 71% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lake Panasoffkee. The highest rating among the 124 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on February 2, 2007, came within 7 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on February 2, 2007, killed 8 people. Of the 124, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 37 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Lake Panasoffkee has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 51% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 30 times since 1961, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 61% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lake Panasoffkee.
Compare Lake Panasoffkee's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lake Panasoffkee
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 70 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 48 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | EdouardSep 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 13 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | BrendaJun 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormOct 18 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 40 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 26 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 25 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 18 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 30 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 10 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 30 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | overhead | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 62 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 26 | 20 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 63 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 56 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 25 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 11 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 25 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 10 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 47 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 8 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 6 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 54 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lake Panasoffkee: 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 Panasoffkee
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s7
- 2000s21(2 EF3+)
- 1990s28
- 1980s30(1 EF3+)
- 1970s22(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2, 2007 | EF3 | 13 mi | 10.5 mi | 8 / 10 |
| Apr 9, 1983 | F3 | 12 mi | 10 mi | 3 / 2 |
| Dec 31, 1975 | F3 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 26 |
| Feb 2, 2007 | EF3 | 7 mi | 5.67 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Jan 7, 1995 | F2 | 12 mi | 12 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Mar 29, 2001 | F2 | 16 mi | 22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 3, 1998 | F2 | 22 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 18 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 1988 | F2 | 11 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 1987 | F2 | 14 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 31, 1985 | F2 | 17 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 9, 1983 | F2 | 24 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 124, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lake Panasoffkee
The Storm Prediction Center has 30 hail reports within 10 miles of Lake Panasoffkee since 1961, made on 27 separate days. Of these, 14 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 January 19, 2009. The most recent report is from July 6, 2015. June has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lake Panasoffkee
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Inverness 3 SE, FL, 10 miles west of Lake Panasoffkee at 58 feet. July and August are the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 69°F and 43°F. August is the wettest at 8.7 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.8 inches; the year adds up to 52.4 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 67% of the year's precipitation (35.1 of 52.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 78 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 5.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 112 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 16 nights a year. That 52.4 inches is more than at 40 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (32%). Wildwood, 7 miles east, has its own station (Leesburg Municipal Airport, FL): 43.8 inches a year, 8.6 less than here, and the same July average high, 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 69 | 43 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Feb | 72 | 46 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Mar | 77 | 49 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Apr | 82 | 55 | 2.7 | 4 |
| May | 88 | 62 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 8.1 | 10 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 7.8 | 12 |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 8.7 | 12 |
| Sep | 89 | 69 | 5.8 | 9 |
| Oct | 84 | 61 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Nov | 77 | 52 | 1.8 | 3 |
| Dec | 72 | 46 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Year | 82 | 58 | 52.4 | 76 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Inverness 3 SE, FL (58 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 Panasoffkee
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 51 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lake Panasoffkee: 42 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 lightning strikes, 1 flash flood and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $1.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on March 30, 2011.
June 15, 2010: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Lake Panasoffkee — 1 killed, 1 injured.
NWS: “Lightning struck a rotted 45-foot tall oak tree causing it to fall onto a manufactured home in Lake Panasoffkee. The two residents of the home were inside their living room when the tree fell onto them, killing a 59-year-old female and critically injuring a 58-year-old male.”
July 30, 2012: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Lake Panasoffkee — 1 injured, $15,000 damage.
September 10, 2022: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Lake Panasoffkee — 1 injured.
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 Panasoffkee's ZIP code 33538 have filed 21 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $78,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 62% 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, 27 have fewer than Lake Panasoffkee.
Sumter County, which includes Lake Panasoffkee, 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 Lake Panasoffkee
- Wildwood, FL7 mi
- Oxford, FL7 mi
- Floral City, FL10 mi
- Inverness, FL11 mi
- Bushnell, FL12 mi
- The Villages, FL13 mi
- Summerfield, FL13 mi
- Lady Lake, FL14 mi
- Fruitland Park, FL15 mi
- Center Hill, FL16 mi
- Hernando, FL16 mi
- Belleview, FL16 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Lake Panasoffkee with another place →