NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Old Town, 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
80 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Old Town, Florida since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 31 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 19
- Tropical storms
- 61
- Tornadoes
- 31
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Old Town
The strongest storm to pass near Old Town was Helene in 2024, a Category 4 hurricane with 138 mph winds when its centre passed 49 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 6 miles. The record near Old Town begins with an unnamed storm in 1867; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 11 systems, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 80 systems, 17 have come since 2000. Of the 407 Florida cities on this site, 78% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Old Town. The highest rating among the 31 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2, reached 6 times; the most recent, on March 12, 1993, came within 12 miles. Of the 31, none had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 6 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 6. The most recent tornado was on March 18, 2021. Of the 407 Florida cities, 98% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Old Town. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 16 times since 1983, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 83% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Old Town.
Compare Old Town's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Old Town
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 49 mi | Category 4 (138 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 5 | 30 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 39 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | MindySep 9 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 74 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 6 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | DebbyJun 26 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 22 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 18 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 23 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1971 | Unnamed 1971 stormAug 16 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 63 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 10 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | LoveOct 21 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 43 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 5 | 39 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 9 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 73 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 21 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | overhead | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 22 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 25 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 62 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 14 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 6 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 19 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 19 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 63 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 50 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 8 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 48 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 65 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 27 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 70 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 5 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 6 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 18 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 6 | overhead | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Old Town: 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 Old Town
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2000s4
- 1990s10
- 1980s3
- 1970s10
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 1993 | F2 | 12 mi | 1 mi | 3 / 10 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F2 | 8 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Aug 25, 1970 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 3, 1970 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 8, 1957 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 1956 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 30, 1993 | F1 | 24 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1982 | F1 | 15 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 8, 1982 | F1 | 11 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 21, 1979 | F1 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 18, 1975 | F1 | 21 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 25, 1975 | F1 | 23 mi | 19.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 31, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Old Town
The Storm Prediction Center has 16 hail reports within 10 miles of Old Town since 1983, made on 13 separate days. Of these, 7 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on June 5, 1988. The most recent report is from July 21, 2019. July has the most reports, 4.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Old Town
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cross City 1 E, FL, 7 miles west of Old Town at 42 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 66°F and 40°F. August is the wettest at 9.4 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.8 inches; the year adds up to 57.9 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 62% of the year's precipitation (35.7 of 57.9 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 80 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 6.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 81 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 24 nights a year. That 57.9 inches is more than at 89 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (71%). Trenton, 10 miles east, has its own station (Usher Twr, FL): 57.2 inches a year, 0.7 less than here, and an August average high of 89°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 66 | 40 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Feb | 70 | 43 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 75 | 48 | 4.5 | 5 |
| Apr | 80 | 53 | 3.3 | 4 |
| May | 87 | 61 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 7.2 | 11 |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 8.4 | 13 |
| Aug | 91 | 72 | 9.4 | 14 |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 6.2 | 9 |
| Oct | 82 | 59 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Nov | 74 | 48 | 1.8 | 3 |
| Dec | 69 | 43 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Year | 80 | 56 | 57.9 | 84 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cross City 1 E, FL (42 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 Old Town
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 90 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Old Town: 76 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 heavy rain events, 4 flash floods, 3 floods and 2 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on April 5, 2011.
September 26, 2010: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Old Town — $300,000 damage.
March 29, 2001: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Old Town — $250,000 damage.
September 26, 2010: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Old Town — $225,000 damage.
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 Old Town's ZIP code 32680 have filed 212 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1984, and were paid $5.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Helene in 2024: 42 claims (20% of all) and $2.5 million, then Hurricane Idalia in 2023 with 14 and Hurricane Josephine in 1996 with 13. 50% 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, 151 have fewer than Old Town.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene2024 | 42 | $2.5 million |
| Hurricane Idalia2023 | 14 | $591,000 |
| Hurricane Josephine1996 | 13 | $226,000 |
| Hurricane Hermine2016 | 10 | $219,000 |
Dixie County, which includes Old Town, has been named in 45 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1972, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 22 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 6 tropical storms, 3 fires). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Dixie County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for tornadoes; Very Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $9.4 million a year, the 59th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.2 million (45%), 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).
Old Town in the notable storm records: Hurricane Helene (2024)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Old Town
- Cross City, FL8 mi
- Trenton, FL10 mi
- Bell, FL11 mi
- Chiefland, FL15 mi
- Branford, FL20 mi
- Newberry, FL24 mi
- Fort White, FL25 mi
- High Springs, FL26 mi
- Bronson, FL27 mi
- O Brien, FL27 mi
- Archer, FL28 mi
- Alachua, FL32 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Old Town with another place →