NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit South Bay, 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 South Bay, Florida since 1851, 43 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Nicole in 2022. Since 1950, 82 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 43
- Tropical storms
- 43
- Tornadoes
- 82
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for South Bay
The strongest storm to pass near South Bay was an unnamed storm in 1928, a Category 3 hurricane with 129 mph winds when its centre passed 22 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was King in 1950, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near South Bay begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Nicole in 2022, a Category 1 hurricane 68 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 8 systems, 7 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 86 systems, 11 have come since 2000. South Bay is tied for the most hurricanes within 75 miles among the 407 Florida cities on this site. The highest rating among the 82 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on October 9, 2024, came within 25 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on October 19, 1958, killed 1 person. Of the 82, 21 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 38 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on May 24, 2025. Of the 407 Florida cities, 82% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than South Bay. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 7 times since 1968, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 95% have more hail reports within 10 miles than South Bay.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near South Bay
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 68 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 68 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | AlexJun 4 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 2 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 10 | 61 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2008 | FayAug 19 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoAug 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | WilmaOct 24 | 12 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 25 | 59 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 44 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 5 | 47 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1999 | IreneOct 16 | 21 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | HarveySep 21 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | MitchNov 5 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 23 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 71 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | GordonNov 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | BobJul 23 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 27 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 18 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 3 | 46 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | DottieAug 19 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | Unnamed 1974 stormOct 7 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1969 | JennyOct 3 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | IsbellOct 15 | 17 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 27 | 24 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | FlorenceSep 23 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 10 | 69 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | JudithOct 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 16 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | HazelOct 9 | 49 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormFeb 3 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1951 | HowOct 2 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 2 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 19 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormOct 6 | 64 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 22 | 3 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 12 | 53 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 17 | 36 mi | Category 3 (113 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormNov 2 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 41 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 6 | 57 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 11 | 48 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 29 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJun 15 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormNov 4 | 59 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 33 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormAug 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 22 mi | Category 3 (129 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 8 | 53 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 18 | 53 mi | Category 3 (119 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 27 | 74 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1925 | Unnamed 1925 stormDec 1 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormOct 21 | 50 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormAug 25 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 14 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormAug 29 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 18 | 61 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 17 | 67 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormOct 18 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 14 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormOct 9 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 25 | 74 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormJun 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormOct 7 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1891 | Unnamed 1891 stormAug 24 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormOct 6 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 23 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormAug 17 | 34 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 24 | 56 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 22 | 70 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormOct 20 | 13 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormOct 7 | 55 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 40 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 39 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1870 | Unnamed 1870 stormOct 21 | 18 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1865 | Unnamed 1865 stormOct 23 | 32 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1861 | Unnamed 1861 stormNov 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 17 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in South Bay: 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 South Bay
By decade
- 2020s14(1 EF3+)
- 2010s11
- 2000s13
- 1990s11
- 1980s9
- 1970s11(1 EF3+)
- 1960s8
- 1950s5(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 19, 1958 | F3 | 11 mi | 20.2 mi | 1 / 24 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF3 | 25 mi | 32.89 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Jan 24, 1979 | F3 | 23 mi | 9.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF2 | 17 mi | 65.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 13, 2004 | F2 | 13 mi | 42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 11, 1968 | F2 | 18 mi | 65.4 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1.74 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1.26 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 2024 | EF1 | 16 mi | 16.97 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1.39 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 2022 | EF1 | 23 mi | 7.48 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 2003 | F1 | 4 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 82, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in South Bay
The Storm Prediction Center has 7 hail reports within 10 miles of South Bay since 1968. Of these, 6 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on July 17, 1968. The most recent report is from May 3, 2007.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in South Bay
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Belle Glade, FL, 4 miles northeast of South Bay at 20 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 76°F and 52°F. June is the wettest at 9.5 inches of precipitation on average and February the driest at 1.9 inches; the year adds up to 55.3 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 71% of the year's precipitation (39.3 of 55.3 inches); the other six months are drier. October has brought the most of the 86 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal October there has highs of 87°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 124 days a year, almost all from March to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 1 nights a year. That 55.3 inches is more than at 69 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (55%). Pahokee, 11 miles north, has its own station (Canal Pt Usda, FL): 55.6 inches a year, 0.3 more than here, and the same August average high, 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 76 | 52 | 2.3 | 4 |
| Feb | 79 | 53 | 1.9 | 4 |
| Mar | 82 | 57 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Apr | 86 | 61 | 2.1 | 4 |
| May | 89 | 66 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 9.5 | 11 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 7.0 | 10 |
| Aug | 92 | 73 | 8.6 | 11 |
| Sep | 91 | 72 | 7.3 | 11 |
| Oct | 87 | 67 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Nov | 81 | 60 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Dec | 78 | 56 | 2.1 | 3 |
| Year | 85 | 63 | 55.3 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Belle Glade, FL (20 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 South Bay
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 17 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of South Bay: 14 thunderstorm wind reports, 2 lightning strikes and 1 flood. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $63,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 16, 2023.
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
Palm Beach County, which includes South Bay, 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 South Bay
- Belle Glade, FL4 mi
- Pahokee, FL11 mi
- Clewiston, FL18 mi
- Loxahatchee, FL26 mi
- Moore Haven, FL27 mi
- Wellington, FL29 mi
- Indiantown, FL30 mi
- Royal Palm Beach, FL31 mi
- Greenacres, FL36 mi
- Lake Worth, FL36 mi
- West Palm Beach, FL38 mi
- Boynton Beach, FL38 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare South Bay with another place →