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Wind in DeSoto County, Florida
44 damaging wind events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Thunderstorm Wind, High Wind, Strong Wind.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
DeSoto County, Florida, has 44 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 23 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 9 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 34 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.3% of the 15,461 wind events recorded in Florida; its 6.9 per 100 square miles compares with 28.8 statewide.
10 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 0 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Compared with Florida
| Measure | DeSoto County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 44 | 15,461 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.9 | 28.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.8 | 7.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 58 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | May | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
1Mar
2Apr
5May
9Jun
9Jul
6Aug
2Sep
2Oct
0Nov
1Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
NWS wind thresholds
- under 58 mph
- below severe threshold
- 58–73 mph
- severe
- 74–95 mph
- hurricane-force
- 96 mph and over
- extreme
Wind speed converted from the knots NCEI records; estimated and measured gusts are combined. Events without a speed are not binned.
Recorded events
All 44 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Sep 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jan 1982 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1981 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1975 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has DeSoto County had?
44 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of damaging wind became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded wind event in DeSoto County?
17 Jan 2016 (Thunderstorm Wind, 58 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in DeSoto County?
The thunderstorm wind of 3 Jan 1999, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $150K.
How does DeSoto County compare with Florida for wind?
6.9 events per 100 square miles against 28.8 statewide; the county holds 44 of the state's 15,461 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Wind hub and the county page.