NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Okeechobee, 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
82 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Okeechobee, Florida since 1851, 32 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 44 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 32
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 44
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Okeechobee
The strongest storm to pass near Okeechobee was an unnamed storm in 1928, a Category 3 hurricane with 119 mph winds when its centre passed 12 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1933, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Okeechobee begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 62 miles away. Of the 82 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Okeechobee has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 79% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The highest rating among the 44 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on October 9, 2024, came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an F0 on May 12, 1996, killed 1 person. Of the 44, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 17 have come since 2000. June and October have had the most tornadoes, 9 each. The most recent tornado was on October 9, 2024. Of the 407 Florida cities, 96% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Okeechobee. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 31 times since 1976, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 59% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Okeechobee.
Compare Okeechobee's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Okeechobee
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 62 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 31 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | AlexJun 4 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 59 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 19 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | WilmaOct 24 | 49 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | TammyOct 5 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 8 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 11 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 62 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | IreneOct 16 | 42 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | HarveySep 21 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | MitchNov 5 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 39 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | BobJul 23 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 27 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 3 | 37 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | DottieAug 19 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | Unnamed 1974 stormOct 7 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1969 | JennyOct 3 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | DollyAug 10 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1964 | IsbellOct 15 | 51 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 27 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 63 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 8 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormJul 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 3 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 12 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 11 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 22 | 36 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormNov 2 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 51 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 1 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 12 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 8 | 31 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 60 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 25 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 14 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 65 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 29 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormOct 18 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 25 | 55 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 7 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormOct 6 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 17 | 70 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 24 | 52 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 29 | 65 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 8 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormJul 2 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormOct 20 | 14 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 17 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 29 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 9 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1870 | Unnamed 1870 stormOct 21 | 19 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormOct 23 | 65 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 17 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Okeechobee: 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 Okeechobee
By decade
- 2020s7(1 EF3+)
- 2010s8
- 2000s2
- 1990s4
- 1980s9
- 1970s7
- 1960s3
- 1950s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 18 mi | 15.46 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | F3 | 23 mi | 14.8 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Sep 26, 1982 | F2 | 13 mi | 4 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 12 mi | 2.64 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 1 mi | 8.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Apr 6, 2017 | EF2 | 20 mi | 4.12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 21, 1983 | F2 | 3 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Nov 14, 1969 | F2 | 4 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 22 mi | 7.76 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 8 mi | 17.14 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 22 mi | 6.84 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 21 mi | 6.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 44, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Okeechobee
The Storm Prediction Center has 31 hail reports within 10 miles of Okeechobee since 1976, made on 26 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on April 28, 2011. The most recent report is from April 27, 2023. May has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Okeechobee
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Okeechobee, FL, 9 miles south of Okeechobee at 18 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 74°F and 52°F. June and August are the wettest at 7.3 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.9 inches; the year adds up to 50.4 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 66% of the year's precipitation (33.4 of 50.4 inches); the other six months are drier. October has brought the most of the 82 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal October there has highs of 86°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 103 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 2 nights a year. That 50.4 inches is more than at 20 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (16%). Indiantown, 28 miles southeast, has its own station (Port Salerno 5W, FL): 64.3 inches a year, 13.9 more than here, and an August average high of 91°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74 | 52 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Feb | 77 | 55 | 2.1 | 4 |
| Mar | 82 | 59 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Apr | 84 | 64 | 2.9 | 4 |
| May | 89 | 68 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 7.3 | 11 |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 5.9 | 11 |
| Aug | 92 | 75 | 7.3 | 10 |
| Sep | 90 | 74 | 7.2 | 10 |
| Oct | 86 | 68 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Nov | 80 | 60 | 1.9 | 3 |
| Dec | 76 | 55 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Year | 84 | 65 | 50.4 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Okeechobee, FL (18 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 Okeechobee
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 34 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Okeechobee: 31 thunderstorm wind reports, 2 floods and 1 lightning strike. They killed 2 people and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $414,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on April 3, 2002.
September 22, 2025: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Okeechobee — 2 killed.
NWS: “Highlands County Sheriff and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers discovered the vehicle and bodies of two men and their hunting dogs on a levee along a canal near Rucks Dairy Road southeast of Brighton in Highlands County.”
August 27, 2012: flood 6 miles from the centre of Okeechobee — $150,000 damage.
NWS: “Persistent heavy rainbands from Tropical Storm Isaac produced widespread urban and lowland flooding across much of the county.”
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 Okeechobee's 2 ZIP codes have filed 341 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $2.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Wilma in 2005: 64 claims (19% of all) and $535,000, then Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 with 63 and Hurricane Frances in 2004 with 59. The year with the most claims was 2004, with 130. 88% 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, 179 have fewer than Okeechobee.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Wilma2005 | 64 | $535,000 |
| Hurricane Jeanne2004 | 63 | $350,000 |
| Hurricane Frances2004 | 59 | $607,000 |
| Tropical Storm Fay2008 | 45 | $311,000 |
| Hurricane Isaac2012 | 36 | $261,000 |
| Hurricane Irma2017 | 16 | $297,000 |
Okeechobee County, which includes Okeechobee, has been named in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 5 fires, 3 severe storms, 3 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Okeechobee County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding; Relatively Low for tornadoes and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $26.6 million a year, the 40th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $12.4 million (47%), is from inland flooding.
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 Okeechobee
- Indiantown, FL28 mi
- Port St Lucie, FL30 mi
- Lake Placid, FL32 mi
- Fort Pierce, FL33 mi
- Moore Haven, FL34 mi
- Pahokee, FL34 mi
- Palm City, FL35 mi
- Vero Beach, FL36 mi
- Fellsmere, FL37 mi
- Sebring, FL38 mi
- Jensen Beach, FL39 mi
- Stuart, FL40 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Okeechobee with another place →