NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit O Brien, 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
86 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of O Brien, Florida since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 73 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 75
- Tornadoes
- 73
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for O Brien
The strongest storm to pass near O Brien was Helene in 2024, a Category 4 hurricane with 132 mph winds when its centre passed 44 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1949, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near O Brien begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 12 systems, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 86 systems, 18 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 97% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than O Brien. The highest rating among the 73 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on February 27, 1984, came within 6 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on March 7, 2008, killed 1 person. Of the 73, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 26 have come since 2000. July has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on August 4, 2024. Of the 407 Florida cities, 87% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than O Brien. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 10 times since 1981, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 90% have more hail reports within 10 miles than O Brien.
Compare O Brien's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near O Brien
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 44 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 5 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 27 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | MindySep 9 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | TammyOct 6 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 5 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 23 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | Unnamed 1971 stormAug 16 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 2 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 10 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | LoveOct 21 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 7 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 4 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 21 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 24 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 68 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 29 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 17 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 39 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 63 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 70 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 8 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 73 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 18 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 65 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in O Brien: 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 O Brien
By decade
- 2020s7
- 2010s3
- 2000s16
- 1990s4
- 1980s14(1 EF3+)
- 1970s23
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 1984 | F3 | 6 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 25, 1960 | F3 | 22 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 7, 2008 | EF2 | 21 mi | 1.49 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Mar 13, 2001 | F2 | 22 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 29, 1998 | F2 | 20 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F2 | 19 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Feb 6, 1975 | F2 | 1 mi | 22.9 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Mar 21, 1974 | F2 | 23 mi | 3.6 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 21, 1972 | F2 | 21 mi | 12.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 25, 1970 | F2 | 8 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1970 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1956 | F2 | 13 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 73, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in O Brien
The Storm Prediction Center has 10 hail reports within 10 miles of O Brien since 1981. Of these, 2 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 June 3, 1983. The most recent report is from May 16, 2009. May has the most reports, 4.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in O Brien
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mayo, FL, 15 miles west of O Brien at 65 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 68°F and 41°F. August is the wettest at 8.1 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 55.6 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 61% of the year's precipitation (33.8 of 55.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 86 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (28); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 5.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 101 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 27 nights a year. That 55.6 inches is more than at 75 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (60%). Mc Alpin, 7 miles north, has its own station (Live Oak, FL): 51.8 inches a year, 3.8 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68 | 41 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Feb | 72 | 44 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 78 | 49 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Apr | 82 | 53 | 3.1 | 4 |
| May | 88 | 62 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Jun | 91 | 69 | 7.6 | 10 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 7.6 | 11 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 8.1 | 11 |
| Sep | 89 | 68 | 5.4 | 7 |
| Oct | 83 | 58 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 77 | 49 | 2.0 | 3 |
| Dec | 71 | 44 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Year | 82 | 57 | 55.6 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mayo, FL (65 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 O Brien
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 109 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of O Brien: 88 thunderstorm wind reports, 19 heavy rain events, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $236,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on December 7, 1996.
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 O Brien's ZIP code 32071 have filed 26 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1986, and were paid $188,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 15% 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, 36 have fewer than O Brien.
Suwannee County, which includes O Brien, has been named in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 19 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 5 tropical storms, 4 fires). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Suwannee County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $24.5 million a year, the 44th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $12.2 million (50%), 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.