NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Palm City, 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
83 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Palm City, Florida since 1851, 33 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Nicole in 2022. Since 1950, 105 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 33
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 105
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
9 deaths in all
What the records show for Palm City
The strongest storm to pass near Palm City was an unnamed storm in 1928, a Category 4 hurricane with 132 mph winds when its centre passed 20 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1871, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Palm City begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Nicole in 2022, a Category 1 hurricane 25 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1870s, with 8 systems, 6 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 83 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Palm City has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The highest rating among the 105 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 6 times; the most recent, on October 9, 2024, came within 13 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on October 9, 2024, killed 6 people. Of the 105, 11 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 49 have come since 2000. October has had the most tornadoes, 20. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Of the 407 Florida cities, 65% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Palm City. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 53 times since 1974, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Palm City has more hail reports within 10 miles than 62% of the 407 Florida cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Palm City
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 25 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 61 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | AlexJun 4 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 2 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 7 | 52 mi | Category 3 (128 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 13 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2014 | ArthurJul 1 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2008 | FayAug 19 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | WilmaOct 24 | 20 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | TammyOct 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 4 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 5 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | IreneOct 16 | 8 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | HarveySep 21 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | MitchNov 5 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 23 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 28 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | BobJul 23 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 27 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1983 | BarryAug 25 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 3 | 7 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | DottieAug 19 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | Unnamed 1974 stormOct 7 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | DollyAug 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1964 | IsbellOct 15 | 20 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 27 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 24 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormJul 12 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 3 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 40 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 24 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormOct 6 | 68 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 22 | 5 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 12 | 62 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 17 | 73 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormNov 2 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 11 | 6 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 9 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 30 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 20 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 8 | 11 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 27 | 35 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 25 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 1 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormSep 26 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 29 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 18 | 63 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 56 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | overhead | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 27 | 61 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 25 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormJun 11 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 7 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormOct 6 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 24 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 24 | 22 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 29 | 66 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 22 | 56 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormJul 2 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormOct 20 | 20 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 16 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 46 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | overhead | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 2 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1870 | Unnamed 1870 stormOct 21 | 11 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormOct 23 | 33 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 17 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 17 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Palm City: 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 Palm City
By decade
- 2020s18(2 EF3+)
- 2010s17
- 2000s14
- 1990s9
- 1980s11
- 1970s19(1 EF3+)
- 1960s8
- 1950s9(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 16 mi | 21.24 mi | 6 / 0 |
| Sep 18, 1954 | F3 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 2 / 2 |
| Oct 19, 1958 | F3 | 13 mi | 20.2 mi | 1 / 24 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 13 mi | 32.89 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | F3 | 13 mi | 9.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | F3 | 20 mi | 14.8 mi | 0 / 20 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 8 mi | 5.71 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 3 mi | 65.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F2 | 8 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 9, 1973 | F2 | 7 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 26, 1970 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 15, 1970 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 2 |
The strongest 12 of 105, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Palm City
The Storm Prediction Center has 53 hail reports within 10 miles of Palm City since 1974, made on 35 separate days. Of these, 35 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 3, 2007. The most recent report is from May 19, 2024. May has the most reports, 29.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Palm City
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Stuart, FL, 5 miles east of Palm City at 13 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 76°F; January is the coolest, at 74°F and 56°F. August is the wettest at 8.5 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 62.9 inches over 92 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 65% of the year's precipitation (41.0 of 62.9 inches); the other six months are drier. Highs reach 90°F on about 81 days a year, almost all from April to October. A night below freezing comes less than once a year on average. That 62.9 inches is more than at 104 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (83%). Hobe Sound, 12 miles southeast, has its own station (Port Salerno 5W, FL): 64.3 inches a year, 1.4 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74 | 56 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Feb | 76 | 59 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Mar | 78 | 61 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Apr | 82 | 67 | 3.6 | 6 |
| May | 86 | 71 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Jun | 89 | 74 | 7.4 | 10 |
| Jul | 91 | 76 | 6.1 | 10 |
| Aug | 91 | 76 | 8.5 | 12 |
| Sep | 89 | 75 | 8.3 | 11 |
| Oct | 85 | 72 | 6.5 | 9 |
| Nov | 80 | 65 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Dec | 76 | 60 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Year | 83 | 68 | 62.9 | 92 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Stuart, FL (13 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 Palm City
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 56 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Palm City: 36 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 lightning strikes, 5 flash floods, 5 heavy rain events and 4 floods. They killed 3 people and injured 5, and the NWS estimated $2.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 97 mph, on March 6, 2008. Of the 277 Florida cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 143 have had fewer than Palm City.
May 17, 2017: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Palm City — 1 killed.
May 27, 2020: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Palm City — 1 killed.
September 27, 2022: flood 3 miles from the centre of Palm City — 1 killed.
NWS: “Heavy rain embedded within the outer bands ahead of Hurricane Ian produced widespread rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across Martin County, resulting in sporadic reports of street, urban, and poor drainage flooding.”
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 Palm City's ZIP code 34990 have filed 570 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $8.2 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Frances in 2004: 104 claims (18% of all) and $2.2 million, then Hurricane Jeanne in 2004 with 80 and Hurricane Irene in 1999 with 34. 62% 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, 212 have fewer than Palm City.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Frances2004 | 104 | $2.2 million |
| Hurricane Jeanne2004 | 80 | $668,000 |
| Hurricane Irene1999 | 34 | $156,000 |
| Hurricane Wilma2005 | 30 | $154,000 |
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 22 | $0 |
| Tropical Storm Fay2008 | 13 | $68,000 |
Martin County, which includes Palm City, has been named in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 23 of them major disasters (by incident: 25 hurricanes, 6 fires, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Martin County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding and coastal flooding; Relatively Low for hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $119.4 million a year, the 25th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $91.8 million (77%), 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 Palm City
- Stuart, FL5 mi
- Jensen Beach, FL8 mi
- Port St Lucie, FL9 mi
- Hobe Sound, FL12 mi
- Indiantown, FL13 mi
- Tequesta, FL19 mi
- Jupiter, FL20 mi
- Fort Pierce, FL20 mi
- Palm Beach Gardens, FL25 mi
- North Palm Beach, FL27 mi
- Loxahatchee, FL29 mi
- Riviera Beach, FL30 mi
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