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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Royal Palm Beach, 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 Royal Palm Beach, Florida since 1851, 38 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Nicole in 2022. Since 1950, 149 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
38

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
45

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
149

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
2

1 deaths in all

What the records show for Royal Palm Beach

The strongest storm to pass near Royal Palm Beach was an unnamed storm in 1928, a Category 4 hurricane with 139 mph winds when its centre passed 5 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1949, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Royal Palm Beach begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Nicole in 2022, a Category 1 hurricane 48 miles away. Of the 83 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Royal Palm Beach has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 88% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The highest rating among the 149 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on October 9, 2024, came within 4 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on October 19, 1958, killed 1 person. Of the 149, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 63 have come since 2000. August has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Royal Palm Beach has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 66% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 55 times since 1961, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Royal Palm Beach has more hail reports within 10 miles than 64% of the 407 Florida cities.

Compare Royal Palm Beach's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Royal Palm Beach

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Royal Palm Beach, Florida, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2022NicoleNov 1048 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
2022AlexJun 434 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2020IsaiasAug 243 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 1
2016MatthewOct 763 miCategory 3 (129 mph)Category 5
2008FayAug 1958 miTropical storm (69 mph)Tropical storm
2006ErnestoAug 3044 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
2005WilmaOct 246 miCategory 3 (113 mph)Category 5
2005TammyOct 551 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2005KatrinaAug 2548 miCategory 1 (76 mph)Category 5
2004JeanneSep 2633 miCategory 3 (121 mph)Category 3
2004FrancesSep 532 miCategory 2 (105 mph)Category 4
1999IreneOct 166 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 2
1999HarveySep 2124 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1998MitchNov 513 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 5
1995JerryAug 2313 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1995ErinAug 251 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 2
1994GordonNov 1664 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1985BobJul 2326 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1984IsidoreSep 279 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1981DennisAug 1854 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1979DavidSep 318 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 5
1976DottieAug 198 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1974Unnamed 1974 stormOct 727 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1964IsbellOct 154 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1964CleoAug 277 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 4
1960FlorenceSep 2416 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1959JudithOct 1822 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 1
1956Unnamed 1956 stormOct 1629 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1953HazelOct 963 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 1
1953Unnamed 1953 stormOct 574 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1953Unnamed 1953 stormJul 1268 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1952Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 3overheadTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
1951HowOct 249 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 2
1950KingOct 1831 miCategory 3 (112 mph)Category 4
1949Unnamed 1949 stormAug 272 miCategory 3 (128 mph)Category 4
1948Unnamed 1948 stormOct 643 miCategory 2 (96 mph)Category 3
1948Unnamed 1948 stormSep 2219 miCategory 2 (96 mph)Category 4
1947Unnamed 1947 stormOct 1236 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 2
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 1743 miCategory 4 (132 mph)Category 4
1946Unnamed 1946 stormNov 1overheadTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1945Unnamed 1945 stormSep 1668 miCategory 2 (109 mph)Category 4
1939Unnamed 1939 stormAug 1129 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1936Unnamed 1936 stormJun 1560 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1935Unnamed 1935 stormNov 457 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 2
1933Unnamed 1933 stormSep 415 miCategory 3 (127 mph)Category 4
1933Unnamed 1933 stormJul 3026 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 1
1928Unnamed 1928 stormSep 175 miCategory 4 (139 mph)Category 5
1928Unnamed 1928 stormAug 828 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 2
1926Unnamed 1926 stormSep 1871 miCategory 4 (130 mph)Category 4
1926Unnamed 1926 stormJul 2745 miCategory 2 (108 mph)Category 4
1925Unnamed 1925 stormDec 167 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormOct 2150 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 5
1916Unnamed 1916 stormAug 2527 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1474 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1909Unnamed 1909 stormSep 2670 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1909Unnamed 1909 stormAug 2919 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1909Unnamed 1909 stormJun 2923 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1906Unnamed 1906 stormOct 1840 miCategory 3 (112 mph)Category 3
1906Unnamed 1906 stormJun 1750 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 2
1904Unnamed 1904 stormOct 1865 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1903Unnamed 1903 stormSep 1233 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 1
1901Unnamed 1901 stormAug 1025 miTropical storm (41 mph)Category 1
1898Unnamed 1898 stormAug 227 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1896Unnamed 1896 stormOct 949 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 2
1892Unnamed 1892 stormJun 1129 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1891Unnamed 1891 stormOct 717 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormOct 67 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 2333 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 83 miTropical storm (51 mph)Tropical storm
1888Unnamed 1888 stormAug 1652 miCategory 2 (107 mph)Category 3
1885Unnamed 1885 stormAug 2426 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 2
1878Unnamed 1878 stormOct 2242 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 2
1878Unnamed 1878 stormJul 27 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1876Unnamed 1876 stormOct 2039 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 3
1876Unnamed 1876 stormSep 1651 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 3
1873Unnamed 1873 stormOct 773 miCategory 2 (101 mph)Category 3
1871Unnamed 1871 stormAug 2525 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 3
1871Unnamed 1871 stormAug 1721 miCategory 3 (115 mph)Category 3
1870Unnamed 1870 stormOct 2137 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 2
1865Unnamed 1865 stormOct 2310 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 2
1863Unnamed 1863 stormSep 1644 miTropical storm (62 mph)Tropical storm
1861Unnamed 1861 stormNov 163 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1859Unnamed 1859 stormOct 1719 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Royal Palm Beach: 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 Royal Palm Beach

By decade

  • 2020s17(1 EF3+)
  • 2010s23
  • 2000s23
  • 1990s19
  • 1980s17
  • 1970s22
  • 1960s16
  • 1950s12(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Royal Palm Beach, Florida
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Oct 19, 1958F325 mi20.2 mi1 / 24
Oct 9, 2024EF34 mi32.89 mi0 / 7
Oct 9, 2024EF225 mi5.71 mi0 / 0
Oct 9, 2024EF213 mi65.49 mi0 / 0
Apr 29, 2023EF211 mi2.61 mi0 / 0
Sep 27, 2022EF218 mi6.98 mi0 / 2
Aug 18, 2008EF26 mi2.72 mi0 / 0
Aug 8, 1983F28 mi0.3 mi0 / 2
Jan 13, 1979F211 mi1 mi0 / 0
Jul 22, 1970F220 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Mar 26, 1970F216 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Mar 14, 1965F214 mi0.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 149, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Royal Palm Beach

The Storm Prediction Center has 55 hail reports within 10 miles of Royal Palm Beach since 1961, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 31 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 5 days, most recently February 24, 2010. The most recent report is from May 23, 2025. May has the most reports, 16.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Radar-estimated hail days in Royal Palm Beach since 2019 →

Weather by month in Royal Palm Beach

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is West Palm Beach International Airport, FL, 8 miles east of Royal Palm Beach at 19 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 77°F; January is the coolest, at 75°F and 58°F. August is the wettest at 8.7 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 61.8 inches over 86 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 65% of the year's precipitation (40.3 of 61.8 inches); the other six months are drier. October has brought the most of the 83 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal October there has highs of 85°F and 5.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 74 days a year, almost all from April to October. A night below freezing comes less than once a year on average. That 61.8 inches is more than at 100 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (80%). Loxahatchee, 5 miles northwest, has its own station (Palm Beach Gardens, FL): 66.2 inches a year, 4.4 more than here, and an August average high of 89°F against 90°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Lake Worth Pier, Atlantic Ocean, FL, 14 miles southeast, averaged 86°F in August and 75°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to October. Sea level at the Lake Worth Pier tide gauge, 14 miles from Royal Palm Beach, has risen 1.62 ± 0.10 inches per decade from 1970 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 16.2 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 99 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at West Palm Beach International Airport, FL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan75583.5575
Feb77602.6475
Mar79633.3476
Apr82683.7578
May86724.9781
Jun88758.51183
Jul90765.61086
Aug90778.71286
Sep88768.01186
Oct85735.9782
Nov80663.6580
Dec77623.5578
Year836961.88681

Averages for 1991–2020 at West Palm Beach International Airport, FL (19 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Lake Worth Pier, Atlantic Ocean, FL, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Florida weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Royal Palm Beach

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 110 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Royal Palm Beach: 78 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 lightning strikes, 11 floods, 6 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 11, and the NWS estimated $468,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 25, 1999. May has had the most flash floods, 2 of 6. Of the 277 Florida cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 157 have had fewer than Royal Palm Beach.

  • July 30, 2019: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Royal Palm Beach — 1 killed, 5 injured.

  • June 23, 2009: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Royal Palm Beach — 1 injured.

  • August 2, 2010: lightning strike 7 miles from the centre of Royal Palm Beach — 1 injured.

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 Royal Palm Beach's ZIP code 33411 have filed 178 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $1.1 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Frances in 2004: 39 claims (22% of all) and $160,000, then Hurricane Isaac in 2012 with 28 and Hurricane Irene in 1999 with 18. 71% 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, 136 have fewer than Royal Palm Beach.

Flood insurance claims in Royal Palm Beach by named event
EventClaimsPaid
Hurricane Frances200439$160,000
Hurricane Isaac201228$460,000
Hurricane Irene199918$179,000
Hurricane Jeanne200418$26,000

Palm Beach County, which includes Royal Palm Beach, has been named in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1965, 25 of them major disasters (by incident: 25 hurricanes, 3 fires, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Palm Beach County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $518.6 million a year, the 3rd highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $286.9 million (55%), 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 Royal Palm Beach