NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Tampa, 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
77 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Tampa, Florida since 1851, 29 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 343 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 29
- Tropical storms
- 48
- Tornadoes
- 343
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
20 deaths in all
What the records show for Tampa
The strongest storm to pass near Tampa was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1852, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Tampa begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Milton in 2024, a Category 2 hurricane 32 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1940s, with 9 systems, 6 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 77 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Tampa has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 67% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The strongest of the 343 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on April 4, 1966; its path came within 1 mile, and it killed 11 people. Of the 343, 40 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 86 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 59. The most recent tornado was on September 25, 2025. Tampa has more tornadoes within 25 miles than any other of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 133 times since 1959, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Tampa has more hail reports within 10 miles than 92% of the 407 Florida cities.
Compare Tampa's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Tampa
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 32 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanSep 29 | 73 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 20 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 48 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 17 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 19 | 41 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 9 | 66 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 43 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | KingOct 18 | 69 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 21 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 21 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 5 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 44 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 24 | 43 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 19 | 15 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 20 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 6 | 56 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 29 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 46 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 25 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 13 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 19 | 69 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 25 | 17 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 35 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormJul 31 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 68 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 52 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 18 | 36 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 55 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 36 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 64 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | overhead | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 51 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 11 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 18 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 3 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Tampa: 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 Tampa
By decade
- 2020s22
- 2010s34
- 2000s30
- 1990s83(1 EF3+)
- 1980s42
- 1970s79(1 EF3+)
- 1960s40(1 EF3+)
- 1950s13
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 1966 | F4 | 1 mi | 135.8 mi | 11 / 530 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F3 | 18 mi | 2.6 mi | 3 / 75 |
| May 4, 1978 | F3 | 15 mi | 1.5 mi | 3 / 94 |
| Dec 7, 1996 | F2 | 17 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F2 | 18 mi | 3 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF2 | 18 mi | 4.97 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | EF2 | 7 mi | 13.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 2006 | F2 | 22 mi | 0.83 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F2 | 18 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Dec 11, 1983 | F2 | 14 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F2 | 16 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 15, 1981 | F2 | 20 mi | 4.7 mi | 0 / 5 |
The strongest 12 of 343, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Tampa
The Storm Prediction Center has 133 hail reports within 10 miles of Tampa since 1959, made on 107 separate days. Of these, 69 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on June 6, 1969. The most recent report is from June 2, 2025. June has the most reports, 39.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Tampa
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Tampa International Airport, FL, 5 miles southwest of Tampa at 19 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 77°F; January is the coolest, at 71°F and 53°F. August is the wettest at 9.0 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 1.4 inches; the year adds up to 49.6 inches over 69 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 69% of the year's precipitation (34.0 of 49.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 77 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (29); a normal September there has highs of 90°F and 6.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 94 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 1 nights a year. That 49.6 inches is more than at 15 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (12%). Odessa, 11 miles northwest, has its own station (Tarpon Spgs Sewage Plt, FL): 54.4 inches a year, 4.8 more than here, and the same August average high, 91°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station East Bay, FL, 7 miles southeast, averaged 89°F in July and 64°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from May to October. Sea level at the East Bay tide gauge, 7 miles from Tampa, has risen 2.17 ± 0.16 inches per decade from 1976 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 21.7 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 125 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 71 | 53 | 2.7 | 4 | 64 |
| Feb | 74 | 56 | 2.6 | 4 | 67 |
| Mar | 78 | 59 | 2.5 | 3 | 74 |
| Apr | 83 | 65 | 2.6 | 3 | 78 |
| May | 88 | 71 | 2.6 | 4 | 84 |
| Jun | 91 | 75 | 7.4 | 10 | 87 |
| Jul | 91 | 77 | 7.8 | 11 | 89 |
| Aug | 91 | 77 | 9.0 | 11 | 89 |
| Sep | 90 | 75 | 6.1 | 8 | 86 |
| Oct | 86 | 69 | 2.3 | 4 | 80 |
| Nov | 79 | 61 | 1.4 | 2 | 74 |
| Dec | 74 | 56 | 2.6 | 4 | 68 |
| Year | 83 | 66 | 49.6 | 69 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Tampa 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 East Bay, 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.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Tampa
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 213 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Tampa: 155 thunderstorm wind reports, 23 lightning strikes, 20 heavy rain events, 13 floods and 2 flash floods. They killed 3 people and injured 44, and the NWS estimated $8.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on June 26, 1997.
August 13, 2012: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Tampa — 1 killed, $385,000 damage.
September 10, 2011: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Tampa — 1 killed.
July 12, 2016: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Tampa — 1 killed.
NWS: “Thunderstorm wind gusts knocked down power lines along the Courtney Campbell Causeway near the Rocky Point area on the evening of the 12th. The downed power lines apparently went unnoticed until the morning of the 13th, when a 47 year old man riding a bicycle was electrocuted and killed by the live wires.”
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 Tampa's 24 ZIP codes have filed 13,828 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $955.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Helene in 2024: 5,879 claims (43% of all) and $733.4 million, then Hurricane Milton in 2024 with 1,889 and Hurricane Elena in 1985 with 1,054. 84% 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, 337 have fewer than Tampa.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene2024 | 5,879 | $733.4 million |
| Hurricane Milton2024 | 1,889 | $143.7 million |
| Hurricane Elena1985 | 1,054 | $11.2 million |
| Flooding1988 | 558 | $1.3 million |
| Hurricane Josephine1996 | 521 | $9.0 million |
| Hurricane Frances2004 | 407 | $6.8 million |
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, has been named in 47 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1968, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 21 hurricanes, 7 severe storms, 5 fires, 5 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Milton, on October 11, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Hillsborough County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively High for hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding and heat waves; Relatively Moderate for strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $494.6 million a year, the 4th highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $178.3 million (36%), 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).
Tampa in the notable storm records: Hurricane Helene (2024)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.