NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lake Placid, 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 Placid, Florida since 1851, 30 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 57 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 30
- Tropical storms
- 48
- Tornadoes
- 57
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Lake Placid
The strongest storm to pass near Lake Placid was Charley in 2004, a Category 3 hurricane with 117 mph winds when its centre passed 32 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1928, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Lake Placid begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 45 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 8 systems, 5 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 78 systems, 14 have come since 2000. Lake Placid has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 71% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The strongest of the 57 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF3 on October 9, 2024; its path came within 22 miles. The deadliest, an EF0 on June 24, 2012, killed 1 person. Of the 57, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 19 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on October 9, 2024. Of the 407 Florida cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lake Placid. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 18 times since 1972, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 81% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lake Placid.
Compare Lake Placid's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lake Placid
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 45 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 9 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | AlexJun 4 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 29 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 19 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | WilmaOct 24 | 71 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 20 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 24 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 32 mi | Category 3 (117 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | IreneOct 16 | 74 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | MitchNov 5 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | BobJul 23 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 27 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 3 | 67 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1969 | JennyOct 3 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 27 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 31 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 10 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 19 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 8 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 22 | 62 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 18 | 70 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormNov 2 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 21 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 5 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 64 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 17 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 5 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 8 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 18 | 68 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 25 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 14 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 33 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 29 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormOct 18 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 25 | 24 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 7 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormOct 6 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 17 | 59 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 29 | 72 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormOct 20 | 43 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 5 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 56 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 27 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1870 | Unnamed 1870 stormOct 21 | 42 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 62 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 18 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lake Placid: 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 Placid
By decade
- 2020s8(1 EF3+)
- 2010s6
- 2000s5
- 1990s11
- 1980s7
- 1970s15
- 1960s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 22 mi | 15.46 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F2 | 11 mi | 1 mi | 1 / 6 |
| Sep 26, 1982 | F2 | 22 mi | 4 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 3 mi | 2.85 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jun 17, 1982 | F2 | 9 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Jun 18, 1971 | F2 | 5 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 8 mi | 0.47 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 15 mi | 0.59 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 12 mi | 6.84 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 22 mi | 6.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 2022 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF1 | 3 mi | 5.31 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 57, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lake Placid
The Storm Prediction Center has 18 hail reports within 10 miles of Lake Placid since 1972, made on 15 separate days. Of these, 10 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently April 27, 2015. The most recent report is from April 27, 2015. May has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lake Placid
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Archbold Bio Stn, FL, 8 miles south of Lake Placid at 140 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 75°F and 48°F. June is the wettest at 8.9 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.7 inches; the year adds up to 54.3 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 70% of the year's precipitation (38.0 of 54.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 78 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 91°F and 7.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 140 days a year, almost all from March to November. Lows fall below freezing on about 9 nights a year. That 54.3 inches is more than at 64 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (51%). Sebring, 12 miles north, has its own station (Avon Park 2 W, FL): 52.8 inches a year, 1.5 less than here, and an August average high of 92°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75 | 48 | 2.2 | 3 |
| Feb | 78 | 50 | 2.3 | 3 |
| Mar | 82 | 52 | 2.9 | 4 |
| Apr | 86 | 57 | 2.5 | 4 |
| May | 90 | 62 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Jun | 92 | 69 | 8.9 | 12 |
| Jul | 93 | 70 | 8.3 | 12 |
| Aug | 93 | 71 | 8.5 | 12 |
| Sep | 91 | 70 | 7.2 | 10 |
| Oct | 87 | 64 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Nov | 81 | 57 | 1.7 | 3 |
| Dec | 77 | 52 | 2.0 | 4 |
| Year | 86 | 60 | 54.3 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Archbold Bio Stn, FL (140 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 Placid
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 17 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lake Placid: 15 thunderstorm wind reports and 2 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $508,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 63 mph, on January 17, 2016.
May 13, 2009: lightning strike 1 mile from the centre of Lake Placid — $187,000 damage.
NWS: “A restaurant was completely destroyed by a lightning induced fire. The market value of the building was $132,000 while the contents were estimated at $65,000.”
July 24, 2000: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Lake Placid — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Thunderstorm winds ripped off large segments of a dairy farm roof and damaged several smaller out buildings on Southwest Ruck's Dairy Road near State Road 70, six miles southeast of Lake Placid.”
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 Placid's ZIP code 33852 have filed 46 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1992, and were paid $271,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Jeanne in 2004: 14 claims (30% of all) and $57,000. 74% 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, 65 have fewer than Lake Placid.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Jeanne2004 | 14 | $57,000 |
Highlands County, which includes Lake Placid, has been named in 37 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 19 hurricanes, 5 fires, 4 severe storms, 3 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Highlands County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for strong wind; Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and inland flooding; Relatively Low for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $46.7 million a year, the 36th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $15.7 million (34%), 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 Placid
- Sebring, FL12 mi
- Avon Park, FL23 mi
- Zolfo Springs, FL25 mi
- Arcadia, FL31 mi
- Wauchula, FL31 mi
- Okeechobee, FL32 mi
- Frostproof, FL33 mi
- Moore Haven, FL35 mi
- Labelle, FL37 mi
- Babson Park, FL38 mi
- Fort Meade, FL40 mi
- Bowling Green, FL41 mi
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