NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lakeland, 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
72 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lakeland, Florida since 1851, 24 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 216 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 24
- Tropical storms
- 48
- Tornadoes
- 216
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
12 deaths in all
What the records show for Lakeland
The strongest storm to pass near Lakeland was an unnamed storm in 1935, a Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds when its centre passed 75 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1859, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Lakeland begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 18 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1960s, with 7 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 72 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 52% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lakeland. The strongest of the 216 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on April 4, 1966; its path came within 5 miles, and it killed 11 people. Of the 216, 30 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 46 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 48. The most recent tornado was on August 8, 2025. Lakeland has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 83% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 115 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Lakeland has more hail reports within 10 miles than 89% of the 407 Florida cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lakeland
Of the 72 tracks on the map, 27 were moving northeast as they passed Lakeland, 18 north and 18 northwest. The unnamed 1935 storm, the strongest pass, was heading northwest; its centre passed 75 miles southwest of Lakeland. Within 75 miles of Lakeland, 23 of the 72 came ashore, 11 of them as hurricanes. In the last 30 seasons (1996–2025), 11 came near Lakeland: 3.7 a decade, against 4.2 a decade from 1851 to 1995.
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 18 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 53 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 11 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 20 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 2 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 19 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 62 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | BrendaJun 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 28 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 13 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 73 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 38 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 3 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 23 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 36 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 13 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 15 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 75 mi | Category 3 (125 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 6 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 25 | 34 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 21 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 18 | 64 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 74 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 55 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 67 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 38 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 23 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | overhead | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 18 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 6 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 Lakeland: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Check hail and hurricane history for any address
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Lakeland
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s13
- 2000s27
- 1990s57
- 1980s37
- 1970s46
- 1960s19(1 EF3+)
- 1950s11
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 1966 | F4 | 5 mi | 135.8 mi | 11 / 530 |
| May 8, 1979 | F2 | 17 mi | 4 mi | 1 / 40 |
| Oct 18, 2019 | EF2 | 5 mi | 11.45 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 10, 2017 | EF2 | 9 mi | 0.59 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 24, 2012 | EF2 | 17 mi | 6.22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 27, 1997 | F2 | 18 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Feb 8, 1986 | F2 | 14 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F2 | 12 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 1, 1978 | F2 | 16 mi | 0.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 8, 1978 | F2 | 13 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 17, 1973 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 17, 1973 | F2 | 18 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 216, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lakeland
The Storm Prediction Center has 115 hail reports within 10 miles of Lakeland since 1960, made on 92 separate days. Of these, 51 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on March 30, 1996. The most recent report is from August 12, 2020. June has the most reports, 41.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lakeland
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lakeland 2, FL, 5 miles southwest of Lakeland at 139 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 74°F and 51°F. August is the wettest at 9.1 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.9 inches; the year adds up to 56.8 inches over 83 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 69% of the year's precipitation (39.2 of 56.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 72 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (24); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 7.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 119 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 3 nights a year. That 56.8 inches is more than at 84 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (67%). Auburndale, 10 miles east, has its own station (Winter Haven Gilbert Airport, FL): 46.1 inches a year, 10.7 less than here, and an August average high of 93°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74 | 51 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Feb | 77 | 53 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Mar | 80 | 57 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Apr | 85 | 61 | 2.8 | 4 |
| May | 90 | 67 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 72 | 8.7 | 12 |
| Jul | 92 | 74 | 8.9 | 14 |
| Aug | 92 | 74 | 9.1 | 14 |
| Sep | 90 | 73 | 7.6 | 10 |
| Oct | 86 | 67 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Nov | 80 | 59 | 1.9 | 3 |
| Dec | 76 | 54 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Year | 84 | 64 | 56.8 | 83 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lakeland 2, FL (139 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 Lakeland
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 99 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lakeland: 84 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 lightning strikes, 5 heavy rain events, 1 flash flood and 1 flood. They killed 2 people and injured 38, and the NWS estimated $2.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 89 mph, on February 19, 1998.
July 4, 2009: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Lakeland — 1 killed, 26 injured.
NWS: “Lightning struck in a soccer field as a church group was in the midst of a game and nearby picnic. This strike was a bolt from the blue as there was no rain in the immediate area.”
September 7, 2012: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Lakeland — 1 killed.
NWS: “A 16 year old boy was loading a trailer outside his home when it started to rain on the 7th. The boy went to cover a dirt bike under an oak tree when his mother heard a loud boom and found him unconscious.”
August 27, 2011: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Lakeland — 9 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 Lakeland's 9 ZIP codes have filed 772 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $35.3 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Milton in 2024: 327 claims (42% of all) and $26.1 million, then Hurricane Irma in 2017 with 134 and Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 with 54. 80% 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, 221 have fewer than Lakeland.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Milton2024 | 327 | $26.1 million |
| Hurricane Irma2017 | 134 | $5.4 million |
| Hurricane Jeanne2004 | 54 | $520,000 |
| Hurricane Frances2004 | 40 | $819,000 |
| Flooding1988 | 21 | $151,000 |
| Hurricane Ian2022 | 14 | $30,000 |
Polk County, which includes Lakeland, 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 Lakeland
- Auburndale, FL10 mi
- Plant City, FL10 mi
- Mulberry, FL11 mi
- Polk City, FL13 mi
- Bartow, FL13 mi
- Eagle Lake, FL13 mi
- Lake Alfred, FL15 mi
- Winter Haven, FL15 mi
- Dover, FL16 mi
- Zephyrhills, FL19 mi
- Riverview, FL19 mi
- Valrico, FL20 mi
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