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Wind in Polk County, Florida
357 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.
Polk County, Florida, has 357 wind events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 59 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 77 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 90 events against 203 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.3% of the 15,461 wind events recorded in Florida; its 19.9 per 100 square miles compares with 28.8 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to damaging wind.
81 wind reports with a measured or estimated speed reached the 58 mph severe threshold, and 10 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 | Polk County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind events since 1950 | 357 | 15,461 | 701,953 |
| Per 100 square miles | 19.9 | 28.8 | 19.9 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.7 | 7.1 | 21.1 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 58 | 2,166 |
| Busiest month | June | June | June |
By year
Seasonality
14Feb
20Mar
36Apr
35May
43Jun
77Jul
59Aug
41Sep
17Oct
4Nov
6Dec
5
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
The 177 events kept for this page are the 120 most recent plus the 80 with the most damage, deaths or injuries out of 357. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2022 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jun 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 62 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jan 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Aug 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 52 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | $10K | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 72 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 66 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 55 mph | $900K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | $113K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 49 mph | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 70 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | 59 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Sep 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 64 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 May 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Dec 2004 | Strong Wind | 45 mph | $1K | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 25 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 58 mph | $250M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 5 Sep 2004 | High Wind | 69 mph | $94M | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 13 Aug 2004 | High Wind | 78 mph | $674M | $75M | 1 | 6 | Forecast zone |
| 11 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | 46 mph | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jul 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Nov 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | — | $5K | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 69 mph | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 60 mph | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $12K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 Apr 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2002 | High Wind | — | — | — | — | — | Forecast zone |
| 4 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jul 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $279K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jul 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Mar 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | 58 mph | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $3K | — | — | 9 | County |
| 26 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Aug 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $130K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $180K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 86 mph | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $12K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $5.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | $500 | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Apr 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 25 Feb 1992 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Thunderstorm Wind | 0 mph | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Sep 1988 | Thunderstorm Wind | 63 mph | — | — | — | 3 | County |
Questions and answers
How many wind events has Polk County had?
357 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 Polk County?
5 Jun 2024 (Thunderstorm Wind, 60 mph). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging wind event recorded in Polk County?
The high wind of 13 Aug 2004, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $674M and crop damage at $75M; 1 death recorded.
How does Polk County compare with Florida for wind?
19.9 events per 100 square miles against 28.8 statewide; the county holds 357 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.