NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lake Wales, 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
73 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lake Wales, Florida since 1851, 26 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 127 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 26
- Tropical storms
- 47
- Tornadoes
- 127
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
37 deaths in all
What the records show for Lake Wales
The strongest storm to pass near Lake Wales was an unnamed storm in 1926, a Category 2 hurricane with 104 mph winds when its centre passed 74 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Milton in 2024, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Lake Wales begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024. The 1870s and the 1950s were the busiest decades, with 7 systems each. Of the 73 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Lake Wales has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 53% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The strongest of the 127 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on April 4, 1966; its path came within 22 miles, and it killed 11 people. The deadliest, an F3 on February 22, 1998, killed 25 people. Of the 127, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 26. The most recent tornado was on October 9, 2024. Lake Wales has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 54% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 27 times since 1991, with stones up to 4.5 inches (grapefruit size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 66% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Lake Wales.
Compare Lake Wales's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lake Wales
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 5 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 27 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 34 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 20 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 14 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 10 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | BobJul 24 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 4 | 62 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1968 | DollyAug 10 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | BrendaJun 19 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 16 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 50 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 14 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 16 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 64 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 15 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 44 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 14 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 24 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 8 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 74 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 26 | 55 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 14 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 1 | 70 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 24 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 8 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 29 | 32 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 8 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormOct 20 | 68 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 41 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 29 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 7 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 21 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 18 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 20 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 Wales: 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 Wales
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s8
- 2000s16
- 1990s36(1 EF3+)
- 1980s24
- 1970s17
- 1960s14(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 1966 | F4 | 22 mi | 135.8 mi | 11 / 530 |
| Feb 22, 1998 | F3 | 23 mi | 28 mi | 25 / 150 |
| May 8, 1979 | F2 | 16 mi | 4 mi | 1 / 40 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF2 | 11 mi | 6.22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 1998 | F2 | 5 mi | 10.4 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 27, 1997 | F2 | 15 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Feb 8, 1986 | F2 | 20 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 19, 1981 | F2 | 24 mi | 5.4 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Mar 17, 1973 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1966 | F2 | 12 mi | 123.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 6, 1964 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 29, 1963 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
The strongest 12 of 127, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lake Wales
The Storm Prediction Center has 27 hail reports within 10 miles of Lake Wales since 1991, made on 24 separate days. Of these, 15 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.5 inches (grapefruit size), fell on March 30, 1996. The most recent report is from April 26, 2023. May has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lake Wales
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mountain Lake, FL, 6 miles northwest of Lake Wales at 125 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 75°F and 50°F. June is the wettest at 8.9 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.8 inches; the year adds up to 52.9 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 (36.8 of 52.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 73 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 91°F and 6.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 128 days a year, almost all from March to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 4 nights a year. That 52.9 inches is more than at 46 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (37%). Frostproof, 10 miles south, has its own station (Avon Park 2 W, FL): 52.8 inches a year, the same as here, and an August average high of 92°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 75 | 50 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Feb | 78 | 53 | 2.2 | 4 |
| Mar | 82 | 56 | 2.8 | 4 |
| Apr | 86 | 61 | 2.4 | 4 |
| May | 90 | 66 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Jun | 92 | 71 | 8.9 | 12 |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 7.8 | 11 |
| Aug | 93 | 73 | 8.1 | 12 |
| Sep | 91 | 72 | 6.9 | 9 |
| Oct | 86 | 66 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Nov | 80 | 58 | 1.8 | 3 |
| Dec | 76 | 53 | 2.5 | 3 |
| Year | 85 | 63 | 52.9 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mountain Lake, FL (125 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 Wales
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 23 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lake Wales: 21 thunderstorm wind reports and 2 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $349,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on June 21, 2008.
March 30, 1996: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Lake Wales — $180,000 damage.
June 15, 2001: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Lake Wales — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “The Polk county sheriffs department reported that thunderstorm winds caused moderate to minor damage to twelve mobile homes and caused minor hanger damage at the Lake Wales Municipal Airport.”
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 Wales's 3 ZIP codes have filed 140 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1982, and were paid $2.9 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Jeanne in 2004: 19 claims (14% of all) and $176,000, then Hurricane Charley in 2004 with 15 and Hurricane Ian in 2022 with 14. The year with the most claims was 2005, with 51. 64% 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, 129 have fewer than Lake Wales.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Jeanne2004 | 19 | $176,000 |
| Hurricane Charley2004 | 15 | $1,222 |
| Hurricane Ian2022 | 14 | $364,000 |
| Hurricane Irma2017 | 11 | $377,000 |
| Hurricane Wilma2005 | 11 | $471,000 |
Polk County, which includes Lake Wales, has been named in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 24 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 7 fires, 5 severe storms, 4 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Polk County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes and inland flooding; Relatively Moderate for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $212.6 million a year, the 13th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $92.3 million (43%), 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 Wales
- Babson Park, FL5 mi
- Frostproof, FL10 mi
- Dundee, FL10 mi
- Winter Haven, FL15 mi
- Haines City, FL15 mi
- Eagle Lake, FL16 mi
- Lake Alfred, FL19 mi
- Bartow, FL19 mi
- Fort Meade, FL20 mi
- Avon Park, FL21 mi
- Auburndale, FL21 mi
- Kissimmee, FL25 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Lake Wales with another place →