NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Lecanto, 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
76 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Lecanto, Florida since 1851, 22 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Nicole in 2022. Since 1950, 108 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 22
- Tropical storms
- 54
- Tornadoes
- 108
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Lecanto
The strongest storm to pass near Lecanto was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 44 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1946, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Lecanto begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Nicole in 2022, a tropical storm 6 miles away. The 1870s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 9 systems each. Of the 76 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 60% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Lecanto. The highest rating among the 108 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 9, 1983, came within 6 miles. Of the 108, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 24 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on June 16, 2024. Of the 407 Florida cities, 61% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Lecanto. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 59 times since 1964, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Lecanto has more hail reports within 10 miles than 68% of the 407 Florida cities.
Compare Lecanto's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Lecanto
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 6 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 67 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | Unnamed 1971 stormAug 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 2 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormOct 18 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 58 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | LoveOct 21 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 43 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 5 | 19 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 8 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 23 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 2 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 50 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 30 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 20 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 30 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 30 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 56 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 13 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 | 20 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 26 | 30 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 44 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 43 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 9 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 11 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 66 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 12 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 6 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 31 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 39 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 18 | 25 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 63 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Lecanto: 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 Lecanto
By decade
- 2020s7
- 2010s6
- 2000s11
- 1990s43
- 1980s21(1 EF3+)
- 1970s16(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 9, 1983 | F3 | 6 mi | 10 mi | 3 / 2 |
| Dec 31, 1975 | F3 | 25 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 26 |
| Jan 7, 1995 | F2 | 24 mi | 12 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Oct 12, 2023 | EF2 | 7 mi | 5.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 29, 2001 | F2 | 11 mi | 22 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 3, 1998 | F2 | 8 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 22 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 25, 1988 | F2 | 9 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 11, 1982 | F2 | 16 mi | 13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 2022 | EF1 | 24 mi | 5.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 12, 2022 | EF1 | 14 mi | 26.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2020 | EF1 | 23 mi | 0.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 108, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Lecanto
The Storm Prediction Center has 59 hail reports within 10 miles of Lecanto since 1964, made on 48 separate days. Of these, 30 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on May 18, 2003. The most recent report is from February 4, 2024. June has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Lecanto
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Inverness 3 SE, FL, 11 miles east of Lecanto 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 76 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); 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%). Weeki Wachee, 15 miles south, has its own station (Brooksville Chin Hill, FL): 52.0 inches a year, 0.4 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 Lecanto
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 60 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Lecanto: 46 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 lightning strikes, 4 heavy rain events and 2 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $1.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on June 16, 2015.
May 29, 2020: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Lecanto — 2 injured.
January 22, 2017: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Lecanto — 1 injured, $30,000 damage.
September 11, 2010: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Lecanto — 1 injured.
NWS: “A 15-year-old girl was inside a residence on Easy Street in Lecanto, using a hair appliance, when she was injured by a lightning strike. She was transported to the hospital in stable condition.”
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
Citrus County, which includes Lecanto, has been named in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1968, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 21 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 6 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Citrus County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $112.1 million a year, the 27th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $82.1 million (73%), 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 Lecanto
- Beverly Hills, FL6 mi
- Homosassa, FL7 mi
- Hernando, FL8 mi
- Crystal River, FL9 mi
- Inverness, FL9 mi
- Citrus Springs, FL10 mi
- Floral City, FL14 mi
- Dunnellon, FL15 mi
- Weeki Wachee, FL15 mi
- Inglis, FL20 mi
- Lake Panasoffkee, FL20 mi
- Brooksville, FL22 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Lecanto with another place →