NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Clearwater, FL
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
80 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Clearwater, Florida since 1851, 30 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Milton in 2024. Since 1950, 263 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 30
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 263
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
19 deaths in all
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Clearwater
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MiltonOct 10 | 38 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 37 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | EmilyJul 31 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 2 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 26 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 13 | 63 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | GabrielleSep 14 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2000 | GordonSep 17 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | JerryAug 24 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | ErinAug 2 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1990 | MarcoOct 11 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1988 | KeithNov 23 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1974 | Unnamed 1974 stormJun 25 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1968 | GladysOct 18 | 32 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 4 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | Unnamed 1966 stormJul 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 9 | 51 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 11 | 59 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | Unnamed 1959 stormJun 18 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | Unnamed 1953 stormSep 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | EasySep 6 | 31 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 27 | 37 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 23 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 12 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 16 | 61 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 5 | 62 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 | 30 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 20 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 6 | 42 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 12 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormJul 29 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 4 | 30 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 4 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormJul 31 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1930 | Unnamed 1930 stormSep 9 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 17 | 42 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 13 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 9 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 19 | 57 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1921 | Unnamed 1921 stormOct 25 | 8 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 30 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 15 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 18 | 52 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 29 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 12 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 14 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 11 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 5 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormJul 31 | 56 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 2 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1897 | Unnamed 1897 stormSep 21 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 54 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 26 | 67 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormOct 24 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 10 | 72 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 8 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 30 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 18 | 22 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 10 | 67 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormOct 8 | 47 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 30 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 27 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 10 | 28 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 52 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 23 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 23 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 25 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 17 | 68 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormOct 28 | 15 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1858 | Unnamed 1858 stormSep 14 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormSep 12 | 3 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Clearwater: 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 Clearwater
By decade
- 2020s18
- 2010s29
- 2000s21
- 1990s66(1 EF3+)
- 1980s33
- 1970s50(1 EF3+)
- 1960s35(1 EF3+)
- 1950s11(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 1966 | F4 | 2 mi | 135.8 mi | 11 / 530 |
| Apr 15, 1958 | F4 | 22 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F3 | 10 mi | 2.6 mi | 3 / 75 |
| May 4, 1978 | F3 | 4 mi | 1.5 mi | 3 / 94 |
| Oct 3, 1992 | F2 | 4 mi | 3 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Oct 11, 2023 | EF2 | 5 mi | 4.97 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 16, 2020 | EF2 | 6 mi | 13.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 12, 1992 | F2 | 4 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Dec 11, 1983 | F2 | 9 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 15, 1981 | F2 | 14 mi | 4.7 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Dec 1, 1978 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 31, 1973 | F2 | 1 mi | 27.9 mi | 0 / 17 |
The strongest 12 of 263, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
How to read this page
A storm is listed when the centre of its track passed within 75 miles of Clearwater while it was at least a tropical storm, which is the reach of damaging wind and rain for a typical hurricane. Being on the list does not mean the city took a direct hit; the "closest" column says how near the centre came. Tornadoes are counted when any part of the path came within 25 miles.
Tornado records before the 1990s are thinner, because weak tornadoes in open country often went unreported before Doppler radar and mobile phones. A rise in the decade counts is mostly better reporting, not a change in the weather.
Tracks come from the National Hurricane Center's HURDAT2 database, tornadoes from the Storm Prediction Center's database. Both are the official federal records and both are revised as old storms are re-analysed.