NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Valparaiso, 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
75 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Valparaiso, Florida since 1851, 28 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 140 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 28
- Tropical storms
- 47
- Tornadoes
- 140
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Valparaiso
The strongest storm to pass near Valparaiso was Michael in 2018, a Category 5 hurricane with 158 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1917, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Valparaiso begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 65 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 75 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Valparaiso has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 62% of the 407 Florida cities on this site. The highest rating among the 140 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on December 10, 1967, came within 19 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on October 4, 1995, killed 1 person. Of the 140, 18 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 44 have come since 2000. The most recent tornado was on May 10, 2025. Valparaiso has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 62% of the 407 Florida cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 23 times since 1962, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 407 Florida cities, 75% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Valparaiso.
Compare Valparaiso's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Valparaiso
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 16 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 57 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 68 mi | Category 5 (158 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | AlbertoMay 28 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | ClaudetteAug 17 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 23 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 36 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | ArleneJun 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | BarryAug 6 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 22 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 51 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 20 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 4 | 29 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 3 | 38 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 15 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 21 | 73 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 66 mi | Category 3 (123 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 13 mi | Category 3 (125 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 19 | 60 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1969 | Unnamed 1969 stormOct 1 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | IreneOct 8 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 24 | 9 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 26 | 20 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | AliceJun 6 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormSep 20 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 31 | 9 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 50 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 20 | 33 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 1 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 52 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 66 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 11 | 50 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 28 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 28 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 12 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 3 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 43 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 10 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 5 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 52 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 7 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 2 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 28 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 30 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 9 mi | Category 3 (117 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 10 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 69 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 5 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 41 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 23 | 55 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Valparaiso: 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 Valparaiso
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s8
- 2000s21
- 1990s28
- 1980s25
- 1970s28
- 1960s14(2 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 1967 | F3 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 1964 | F3 | 2 mi | 12.8 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Oct 4, 1995 | F2 | 18 mi | 1.8 mi | 1 / 3 |
| May 26, 1973 | F2 | 20 mi | 105.4 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Dec 10, 1967 | F2 | 6 mi | 6.8 mi | 1 / 50 |
| Jan 5, 1962 | F2 | 19 mi | 2.5 mi | 1 / 30 |
| Jan 22, 2023 | EF2 | 13 mi | 0.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 1, 1996 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 1, 1989 | F2 | 3 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 7, 1974 | F2 | 13 mi | 5.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 27, 1972 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1971 | F2 | 8 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 140, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Valparaiso
The Storm Prediction Center has 23 hail reports within 10 miles of Valparaiso since 1962, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 8 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently August 29, 2000. The most recent report is from May 6, 2022. July has the most reports, 6.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Valparaiso
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Niceville, FL, 2 miles north of Valparaiso at 60 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 38°F. August is the wettest at 9.2 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 73.6 inches over 88 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (41.5 of 73.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 75 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 7.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 52 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 36 nights a year. That 73.6 inches is more than at 124 of the 125 Florida stations used on this site (99%). Eglin Afb, 5 miles southwest, has its own station (Destin Fort Walton Airport, FL): 55.4 inches a year, 18.2 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 38 | 5.9 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 41 | 5.3 | 7 |
| Mar | 70 | 46 | 5.4 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 53 | 6.0 | 6 |
| May | 84 | 61 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Jun | 88 | 69 | 6.8 | 10 |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 8.9 | 12 |
| Aug | 90 | 72 | 9.2 | 12 |
| Sep | 87 | 68 | 7.0 | 7 |
| Oct | 80 | 57 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Nov | 71 | 45 | 5.0 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 41 | 5.7 | 7 |
| Year | 77 | 55 | 73.6 | 88 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Niceville, FL (60 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 Valparaiso
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 100 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Valparaiso: 69 thunderstorm wind reports, 25 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes and 2 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 24, and the NWS estimated $1.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on February 7, 2017. April has had the most flash floods, 6 of 25. Of the 277 Florida cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 241 have had fewer than Valparaiso.
August 12, 2015: lightning strike 5 miles from the centre of Valparaiso — 20 injured.
February 22, 2010: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Valparaiso — 4 injured.
July 2, 2009: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Valparaiso — $1.0 million 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 Valparaiso's ZIP code 32580 have filed 90 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1990, and were paid $1.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Opal in 1995: 48 claims (53% of all) and $1.2 million, then Hurricane Ivan in 2004 with 26. 96% 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, 102 have fewer than Valparaiso.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Opal1995 | 48 | $1.2 million |
| Hurricane Ivan2004 | 26 | $223,000 |
Okaloosa County, which includes Valparaiso, has been named in 42 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1970, 28 of them major disasters (by incident: 24 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 5 floods, 4 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 28, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Okaloosa County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $134.5 million a year, the 21st highest of 67 Florida counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $87.2 million (65%), 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 Valparaiso
- Niceville, FL3 mi
- Eglin Afb, FL5 mi
- Shalimar, FL6 mi
- Destin, FL9 mi
- Fort Walton Beach, FL9 mi
- Hurlburt Field, FL9 mi
- Miramar Beach, FL12 mi
- Mary Esther, FL15 mi
- Crestview, FL18 mi
- Freeport, FL20 mi
- Santa Rosa Beach, FL21 mi
- Navarre, FL24 mi
All Florida cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Valparaiso with another place →