Lake County, Florida Hurricane History
Since 1852, 73 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lake County, Florida — about one every 2.4 years. Of those, 18 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 35 miles away on 10 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 35 mi away, 10 November 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1921) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJenny (1969) — 2.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles33 of 73
- Peak monthSeptember — 22 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year1968 — 3 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 8 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1852–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 16 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 10 Nov 2022 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Julia (2016) | 13 Sep 2016 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Debby (2012) | 27 Jun 2012 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 22 Aug 2008 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Barry (2007) | 2 Jun 2007 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 26 Sep 2004 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 22.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Henri (2003) | 6 Sep 2003 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Edouard (2002) | 5 Sep 2002 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Gabrielle (2001) | 15 Sep 2001 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Leslie (2000) | 4 Oct 2000 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 24 Aug 1995 | 24.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 2 Aug 1995 | 40.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 4 Nov 1987 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Isidore (1984) | 28 Sep 1984 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1982) | 18 Jun 1982 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 18 Nov 1980 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 13 Sep 1976 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1974) | 25 Jun 1974 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 14 Aug 1971 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jenny (1969) | 4 Oct 1969 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gladys (1968) | 19 Oct 1968 | 34.8 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1968) | 31 Aug 1968 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Brenda (1968) | 19 Jun 1968 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 18 Oct 1965 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 28 Aug 1964 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Donna (1960) | 11 Sep 1960 | 14.9 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1959) | 18 Jun 1959 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 21 Sep 1953 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| King (1950) | 18 Oct 1950 | 6.1 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 6 Sep 1950 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 27 Aug 1949 | 45.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 2 Nov 1946 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 16 Sep 1945 | 6.2 mi | Cat 1 | 69 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 24 Jun 1945 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 19 Oct 1944 | 16.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 22 Oct 1941 | 22.5 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 30 Aug 1937 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 30 Jul 1937 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 22 Aug 1936 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 23 Jul 1934 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 4 Sep 1933 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1930) | 9 Sep 1930 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 17 Sep 1928 | 26.5 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 9 Aug 1928 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 28 Jul 1926 | 47.6 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1921) | 26 Oct 1921 | 6.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 30 Sep 1920 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 May 1916 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 2 Aug 1915 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 18 Oct 1910 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 30 Aug 1909 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 29 Jun 1909 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 21 Oct 1906 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 5 Oct 1899 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1897) | 21 Sep 1897 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 26 Sep 1894 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 61 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 30 Oct 1887 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 19 Jul 1886 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 61 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 8 Oct 1880 | 45.2 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 30 Aug 1880 | 23.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 27 Oct 1879 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 10 Sep 1878 | 33.1 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 23 Sep 1873 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 23 Oct 1872 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 25 Aug 1871 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 17 Aug 1871 | 13.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 28 Oct 1859 | 39.6 mi | Cat 1 | 77 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1858) | 14 Sep 1858 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 12 Sep 1852 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 2 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ana (1991) | Remnant low | 1 Jul 1991 | 41.9 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 4 Oct 1912 | 27.9 mi | 30 kt |
How Lake County, Florida compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lake County, Florida ranks #21 — more exposed than 99.0% of them. Within Florida it ranks #2 of 67, against a state average of 63.4 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1921) passed 7 miles away on 26 October 1921 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gladys (1968) passed 35 miles away on 19 October 1968 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1928) passed 26 miles away on 17 September 1928 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 33 miles away on 10 September 1878 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
63 of the 73 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 73 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 11 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 12 years, between 1859 and 1871. It has been 3 years since the last one; 18 of the 60 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lake County, Florida?
18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lake County, Florida at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 73.
When was the last hurricane in Lake County, Florida?
Irma (2017), on 11 September 2017, passing 40 miles away — 9 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Nicole (2022) in 2022.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lake County, Florida?
Unnamed Storm (1921), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 7 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lake County, Florida?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.4 years — 73 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Lake County, Florida borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Marion County, Florida has 71 on record.