Okeechobee storm history
Storm events recorded in Okeechobee, Florida between 1950 and 2025.
156
Total events
27
Tornadoes
46
Hail
6
Floods
8
Deaths
$190.0M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
A tornado cut a path up to 150 yards wide and 4.5 miles long as it moved north from Taylor Creek, affecting Treasure Island Park, a fishing lodge and several other mobile home parks. Six people were killed and 44 were injured (many seriously). Over one hundred mobile homes were d…
An F1 tornado touched down along the north shore of Lake Okeechobee near Highway 441. The tornado moved northeast though Okeechobee damaging six businesses and nine homes. Thirteen mobile homes and recreational vehicles were destroyed. About 100 others were damaged. Ten people we…
A tornado impacted portions of southwest Okeechobee County, where it produced widespread EF-1 and at least some EF-2 damage. Based on radar analysis and public reports, the tornado touched down south of US-98 just northwest of the Okeechobee County Airport. The first damage encou…
Based on radar analysis and public video provided to the NWS, the tornado touched down immediately south of SR-70. At this location, irrigation equipment was flipped over, indicative of EF-0 winds of 75 - 85 mph. The tornado continued northeast to NE 120th St., where an outbuildi…
Hurricane Ian's slow movement and large wind field led to a long period of tropical storm force winds, with hurricane force gusts in squalls, in Okeechobee County. Emergency management officials reported trees and power lines downed, as well as some damage to roofs, awnings, fenc…
Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples during the late afternoon of September 10. Irma then moved northward across west-central Florida during the evening while weakening to a Category 2 hurricane approximately 60 miles west of Okeechobee. A long duration of damaging…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Thunderstorm damage was noted in a southwest to northeast swath between NW 102nd St and NW 110th St near US Hwy 441. Several homes were damaged including partial roof shingle loss, uplift of awnings and porch overhangs, overturned trucks/campers, and significant tree damage.
Tornado EF1 Tornado
The tornado has been confirmed using a combination of dual polarimetric data from the KMLB WSR-88D as well as photographic evidence of damage from Florida Power and Light's Fort Drum and Cavendish Solar Farms. Based on a tornado debris signature (TDS), touch down occurred in a ru…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
A tornado occurred, which produced localized EF-1 and EF-2 damage. Based on radar analysis and public video provided to the local emergency manager, the tornado touched down southeast of C & M Rucks Dairy. While the tornado started over open pasture, damage occurred as it moved o…
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Okeechobee County Emergency Management reported a few instances of downed trees and powerlines due to Hurricane Milton's winds which surface observations indicate peaked between 50 to 70 mph. Four tornadoes were confirmed to have affected the county. Rainfall totals were generall…
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Okeechobee County Emergency Management reported limited damage, mainly in the form of fallen trees and power lines. Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 40 to 50 mph. Rainfall totals were generally under 1 inch.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An analysis of radar imagery, photos, and videos as well as a damage assessment conducted by the Okeechobee County Emergency Management indicate that a straight-line wind event caused damage in the City of Okeechobee around 620 pm EDT on Thursday, Jun 15, 2023. Peak winds during …
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Hurricane Nicole's extensive wind field led to a period of tropical storm force winds and heavy rain in Okeechobee County. Minimal damage was reported by the county. A few reports of trees downed due to strong winds, which surface observations indicated peaks between 40 to 50 mph…
Flood Flood
Heavy rain embedded within the outer bands ahead of Hurricane Ian produced widespread rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches across Okeechobee County, resulting in isolated reports of street, urban, and poor drainage flooding. Emergency management officials indicated minimal damage to …
Excessive Heat Excessive Heat
The AWOS at the Okeechobee County Airport, KOBE, measured a peak heat index of 115F.
Strong Wind Strong Wind
Strong non-thunderstorm wind gusts in and near the city of Okeechobee downed power and cable lines as well as snapping several small tree branches during the late morning hours on December 21st.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Multiple trained spotters reported a funnel cloud with a strong thunderstorm over Kissimmee Prairie State Park.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Okeechobee County Emergency Management relayed reports of wind damage at a local farm in the Dark Hammock area, located near the intersection of NE 120th Street and NE 56th Avenue. Three chicken barns suffered extensive roof damage and one grain storage bin was destroyed. Two tra…
Tropical Depression Tropical Depression
In Okeechobee County, sustained winds remained below tropical storm force with the strongest winds occurring in outer rain bands. The highest peak wind gust measured was at the Okeechobee County Airport (32 mph from the east at 2155LST on November 8).
Hail Hail
Hail up to quarter size was observed at the River Bluff RV Resort.
Hail Hail
A storm chaser near Fort Drum reported quarter sized hail.
Flood Flood
Rainbands associated with Hurricane Irma produced rainfall totals between 8 and 14 inches, resulting in areas of urban and poor drainage flooding. Many roadways were impacted by significant levels of standing water and many retention ponds reached capacity or overflowed. The heav…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A weather spotter observed a funnel cloud to his north as he was driving on US Highway 441 at the intersection of NE 240th Street, south of Fort Drum.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Okeechobee County Emergency Management forwarded a report and photos of damage at a residence in a rural area along the Kissimmee River between Basinger and Okeechobee. A tree was toppled and several large branches were downed, along with damage to a car and fence nearby.
Wildfire Wildfire
The Florida Forest Service reported that a 185 acre wildfire in northern Okeechobee County destroyed one mobile home and damaged another mobile home. Initial evacuation orders were issued for other residents living nearby, but those were lifted and residents allowed to return hom…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A large rotten oak tree fell on a mobile home near Okeechobee City as a thunderstorm passed over the area with estimated wind gusts estimated near 40 mph. The fallen tree caused damage to the kitchen and bedroom areas of the mobile home.
A Kissimmee Prairie Preserve biologist reported that a storm flipped over two travel trailers, uprooted several large trees and caused sheet metal to become lodged in a tree. Two people within one of the trailers were injured, one suffered a punctured lung and several broken ribs…
Tornado EF2 Tornado
A NWS damage survey found that tornado damage began in Fort Drum, just west of US-441 and NW 358th Boulevard. The tornado continued eastward for 4.1 miles, crossing Highway 441 and the Florida Turnpike before dissipating. While much of the path occurred through an unpopulated are…
Tropical Depression Tropical Depression
As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Treasure Coast during the early morning hours of October 7, several hours of frequent wind gusts to minimal tropical storm force impacted Okeechobee County. Only minor roof damage was reported to one home. Up to 2,300 customers were w…
Hail Hail
A severe thunderstorm produced hail up to golf ball size at the Country Hills Estates, north of the City of Okeechobee. The hail was observed at Okeechobee County Fire Rescue Station 4 near the intersection of Highway 441 and NE 168th Street, and also by nearby residents. The hai…
Hail Hail
Numerous reports via broadcast media and social media of quarter-sized hail in the city of Okeechobee. According to reports, duration of the hail was approximately 10 minutes.
Hail Hail
Broadcast media relayed report from public of golf ball-sized hail that fell in the Ancient Oaks subdivision along US-441 southeast of Taylor Creek. The public estimated that the hail fell for approximately 8 minutes.
Hail Hail
A SKYWARN spotter in The Vikings (also known at The Prairie) subdivision reported 10 to 15 minutes of small hail up to nickel sized associated with a strong storm moving over the area.
Flood Flood
A slow moving strong storm across Okeechobee County produced 5 to 7 inches of rain across the northwest and central portions of the county during the afternoon and evening, primarily over the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve. The COOP observer at the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve reported…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A low-end EF-0 tornado touched down in rural Okeechobee, just south of SE 8th Street, crossed the street, then moved through a line of trees into an open field. Several trees were toppled and a 20 foot by 20 foot light weight shed in the field experienced a direct hit from the to…
Hail Hail
A report relayed from NSSL indicated nickel size hail fell 5 miles east-northeast of Four Seasons Estates in Okeechobee County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
West Palm Beach media forwarded a report that a trailer was blown onto its side and moved 100 feet due to the winds from a severe thunderstorm. Nearby, a large oak tree was split in half due to the high winds.
Flood Flood
Persistent heavy rainbands from Tropical Storm Isaac produced widespread urban and lowland flooding across much of the county. Rainfall from the morning of August 26 until the evening of August 27 averaged 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals of 10 to 14 inches, most of which fell…
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
Persistent heavy rainbands from Tropical Storm Isaac produced widespread flooding across the county. Rainfall totals from the morning of August 26 through late on August 27 averaged 4 to 8 inches, with isolated totals of 10 to 14 inches. One hundred and sixty homes sustained wate…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several wooden power poles to the northeast of Okeechobee, near 7200 U.S. Highway 441 North, were tilted by severe thunderstorm winds, with the two poles experiencing broken cross members. While a funnel cloud was reported in the area (see separate event), the wind damage appeare…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Okeechobee County Fire/Rescue relayed a public report of a funnel cloud near Okeechobee.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
A fire department official, looking north from the Okeechobee County Correctional Institution, briefly observed a funnel cloud.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
South Florida Water Management District site S65CW measured a thunderstorm wind gust of 60 mph along the Kissimmee River.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
An off-duty sheriff's office deputy sighted a large funnel cloud for several minutes northeast of his location at the 8000 block of State Road 70 West.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 6 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | 3 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 | 10 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | 2 | 0 |
| 2007 | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 | 1 |
| 2004 | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 | 4 | 0 |
| 2001 | 2 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 |
| 1998 | 10 | 1 |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 4 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 |
| 1988 | 3 | 2 |
| 1985 | 4 | 1 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 |
| 1983 | 1 | 1 |
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1981 | 3 | 2 |
| 1980 | 2 | 1 |
| 1979 | 2 | 1 |
| 1978 | 1 | 0 |
| 1976 | 2 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 | 2 | 2 |
| 1970 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 1 |