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Wind in Highlands County, Florida
105 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.
Highlands County, Florida, has 105 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 37 different years.
July is the busiest month, with 22 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 32 events against 59 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 15,461 wind events recorded in Florida; its 10.3 per 100 square miles compares with 28.8 statewide.
17 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 1 reached hurricane force (74 mph).
Some winter weather and high wind events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county; zone-recorded events whose zone is named for the county are included and marked "Forecast zone" in the table.
Compared with Florida
| Measure | Highlands County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 105 | 15,461 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 10.3 | 28.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 10.2 | 7.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 58 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | July | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
6Feb
6Mar
10Apr
15May
13Jun
18Jul
22Aug
9Sep
4Oct
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 105 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Sep 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 51 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $38K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 70 mph | $452M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 69 mph | $22M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2004 | High Wind | 75 mph | $78M | $25M | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 31 Aug 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $60K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jan 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jul 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jan 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1990 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1989 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1987 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1986 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1985 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1984 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1980 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1978 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1976 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 1974 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1971 | Thunderstorm Wind | 67 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Feb 1970 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Highlands County had?
105 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 Highlands County?
19 Jun 2026 (Thunderstorm Wind, 55 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Highlands County?
The high wind of 25 Sep 2004, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $452M.
How does Highlands County compare with Florida for wind?
10.3 events per 100 square miles against 28.8 statewide; the county holds 105 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.