Bradford County, Florida
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 12007 · population 28,233 · 294 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 254 records for Bradford County, Florida from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 181 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (125 records). The most damaging was the September 10, 2017 tropical storm ($4.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 34 declarations naming the county since 1998, 32 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Milton” on October 11, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 254on 181 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 012 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $13Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 21strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 34latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Bradford County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 125 since 1978. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1978 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Florida's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 125 | 94 | 1978-2026 | 0 | 3 | $159K | 12 of 67 |
| Hail | 33 | 24 | 1961-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 25 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 21 | 21 | 1971-2021 | 0 | 6 | $7.0M | 22 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 17 | 12 | 2009-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 67 |
| Floods | 16 | 13 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $457K | 28 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 12 | 12 | 2004-2024 | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | 19 of 67 |
| Lightning | 8 | 7 | 2002-2017 | 0 | 3 | $264K | 28 of 67 |
| Drought | 7 | 7 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | $47K | 23 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 6 | 6 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 11 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 1998-2011 | 0 | 0 | $16K | 4 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 2005-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 45 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 30 of 67 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Bradford County had?
NOAA records 21 tornadoes in Bradford County from 1971 to 2021, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 6 injuries recorded in the county. That is 22nd of 67 Florida counties and 174th of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 21 tornadoes whose track touched Bradford County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 21, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Florida.
Every tornado record filed for Bradford County (21)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-12-08 | Starke, Bradford County | EF1 0.54 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-12-24 | Hampton, Bradford County | EF1 4.12 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2018-10-10 | Theressa, Bradford County | EF0 16.64 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-02-07 | Lawtey, Bradford County | EF1 1.06 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2015-09-12 | Starke, Bradford County | EF0 2.55 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-01-21 | New River, Bradford County | EF1 8.7 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.7M |
| 2006-08-25 | Starke, Bradford County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-08-12 | Lawtey, Bradford County | F1 1 mi x 1 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2000-03-30 | Starke, Bradford County | F0 5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $51K |
| 1994-01-03 | E Of Brooker, Bradford County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1988-06-10 | Bradford County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1987-07-23 | Bradford County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $250 step |
| 1983-06-07 | Bradford County | F1 0.4 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1982-07-12 | Bradford County | F0 0.5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1980-07-14 | Bradford County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1978-05-04 | Bradford County | F0 0.1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1977-08-10 | Bradford County | F1 1 mi x 13 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-07-21 | Bradford County | F1 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-02-06 | Bradford County | F1 12.2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1972-03-28 | Bradford County | F1 6.8 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-02-07 | Bradford County | F2 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Bradford County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindLincoln City, Bradford County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindLawtey, Bradford County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | WildfireBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-21 | WildfireBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindTheressa, Bradford County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | DroughtBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-12-08 | TornadoStarke, Bradford County | EF1 0.54 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-12-24 | Thunderstorm WindLincoln City, Bradford County Major wind damage to homes occurred in Starke and families are displaced. Possible tornado damage. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2020-12-24 | TornadoHampton, Bradford County A weak tornado touched down just SW of Stark around 6:16 pm. The vortex damaged trees, fences, and roofs on manufactured homes along its 4 mile path. Four people were displaced on Christmas Eve by the tornado. Two people were taken to the hospital as a precaution and later released. The tornado was 100 yards at its ... | EF1 4.12 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2017-02-07 | TornadoLawtey, Bradford County The Lawtey Elementary School experienced wind damage to the roof. The school was closed the following day due to wind damage. There were also numerous trees and power lines blown down and damaged in the area. Local broadcast media relayed a report that 2 people were injured in Lawtey when part of a building fell on ... | EF1 1.06 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2007-07-16 | LightningLawtey, Bradford County Two people were injured in Lawtey from a lightning strike. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2015-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindLake Sampson, Bradford County Six trees were blown down onto a property along SW 160th Street. One tree fell on his car. A tree limb fell on the resident's head, an indirect injury while pulling on a line hung up in a tree. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2008-07-08 | LightningSampson City, Bradford County A 54 year old man was struck by lightning while sitting under a tin frame shelter open that was exposed on three sides. He suffered a minor burn on his right side. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1980-07-14 | TornadoBradford County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1971-02-07 | TornadoBradford County | F2 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-09-10 | Tropical StormBradford County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | $4.8M | |
| 2010-01-21 | TornadoNew River, Bradford County | EF1 8.7 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $4.7M |
| 1998-03-01 | FloodBradford County and Clay County · forecast zone Bradford | 0 | 0 | $308K | |
| 2000-03-30 | TornadoStarke, Bradford County | F0 5 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $51K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 6, 1975 (tornado, Bradford County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Bradford County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 25 | 66 | 15 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 2 | 4 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | 8 | 4 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1978 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 8 · Feb 20 · Mar 28 · Apr 20 · May 39 · Jun 42 · Jul 45 · Aug 16 · Sep 14 · Oct 16 · Nov 1 · Dec 5 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Bradford County
FEMA's register lists 34 declarations that include Bradford County: 17 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (16) and tropical storm (5).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10-11 | DR-4834 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| 2024-10-07 | EM-3622 | Hurricane | Hurricane Milton |
| 2024-09-28 | DR-4828 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | EM-3615 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Helene |
| 2024-08-10 | DR-4806 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2024-08-03 | EM-3605 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2023-08-31 | DR-4734 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2023-08-28 | EM-3596 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Idalia |
| 2022-12-13 | DR-4680 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nicole |
| 2022-11-08 | EM-3587 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Nicole |
| 2022-09-29 | DR-4673 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2022-09-24 | EM-3584 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Ian |
| 2021-07-04 | EM-3561 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Elsa |
| 2020-03-25 | DR-4486 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3432 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-08-30 | EM-3419 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-10-09 | EM-3405 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-10 | DR-4337 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-05 | EM-3385 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-10-08 | DR-4283 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2012-07-03 | DR-4068 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2008-08-24 | DR-1785 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2008-08-21 | EM-3288 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2007-05-07 | FM-2689 | Fire | Suwannee Fire Complex |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3220 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-26 | DR-1561 | Hurricane | Hurricane Jeanne |
| 2004-09-04 | DR-1545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Frances |
| 2004-08-13 | DR-1539 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley |
| 2001-02-05 | DR-1359 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 2000-06-05 | FM-2306 | Fire | Fl, Suwannee Fire Complex |
| 1999-04-27 | EM-3139 | Fire | Fl-Fires 04/15/99 |
| 1999-04-20 | FM-2258 | Fire | Fl-Fires 04/13/99 |
| 1998-06-18 | DR-1223 | Fire | Extreme Fire Hazard |
| 1998-01-06 | DR-1195 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, High Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Bradford County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Bradford County from 1998 to 2024, on 13 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bradford County ranks 987th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $4.2 million on 184 claims filed in Bradford County; the most in one year was 89 in 2017. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1992: 1 · 1993: 2 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 25 · 2004: 15 · 2005: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 25 · 2013: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 89 · 2018: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Bradford County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bradford County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $4.9M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $647K | 83 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $402K | once in about 277 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $314K | 3.6 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $840K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $140K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $114K | once in about 1,101 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Very Low | $3.3M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Bradford County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in FloridaEvery Florida tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in FloridaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Florida recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Bradford CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Bradford County's FEMA declarations (CSV)34 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis