Levy County, Florida
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 12075 · population 42,750 · 1,118 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 284 records for Levy County, Florida from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 194 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (153 records). The deadliest single record is the March 12, 1993 tornado: 3 deaths, 10 injuries and $102 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 44 declarations naming the county since 1972, 42 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Cow Creek Fire” on April 23, 2026.
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
- 284on 194 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 518 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $125Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 23strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 44latest 2026
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 Levy County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 153 since 1979. 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 | 153 | 111 | 1979-2026 | 0 | 2 | $5.7M | 54 of 67 |
| Hail | 57 | 48 | 1981-2023 | 0 | 0 | $44K | 49 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 23 | 19 | 1968-2012 | 3 | 11 | $115M | 64 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 22 | 11 | 2016-2024 | 1 | 0 | $3.0M | 65 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 10 | 9 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 42 of 67 |
| Floods | 8 | 8 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $712K | 66 of 67 |
| Lightning | 7 | 7 | 1997-2018 | 1 | 5 | $55K | 48 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 3 | 3 | 1999-1999 | 0 | 0 | – | 48 of 67 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | $24K | 55 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 Levy County had?
NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Levy County from 1968 to 2012, the strongest rated F2, with 3 deaths and 11 injuries recorded in the county. 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Levy County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-03-12 22:38, as SPC files it | Chiefland | F2 | 1 mi | 3 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Florida.
Every tornado record filed for Levy County (23)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-05-29 | Yankeetown, Levy County | EF0 2.84 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2007-07-24 | Cedar Key Airport, Levy County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-15 | Bronson, Levy County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-15 | Williston, Levy County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-08-14 | Chiefland, Levy County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-07-11 | Lebanon, Levy County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 2002-10-15 | Inglis, Levy County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $738K |
| 2000-07-18 | Gulf Hammock, Levy County | F0 0.1 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-04-23 | Chiefland, Levy County | F0 1.2 mi x 5 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 1994-10-30 | Se Williston, Levy County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1993-10-30 | Levy County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1993-10-30 | Levy County | F1 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 1993-10-30 | Levy County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 1993-10-30 | Levy County | F1 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.0M |
| 1993-03-12 | Chiefland, Levy County | F2 1 mi x 80 yd | 3 | 10 | $102M |
| 1992-10-03 | Levy County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1989-06-16 | Levy County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1986-08-25 | Levy County | F0 1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1982-06-11 | Levy County | F2 6 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1982-04-08 | Levy County | F1 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1976-05-14 | Levy County | F0 0.3 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1974-05-12 | Levy County | F1 8.9 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1968-03-12 | Levy County | 0 | 0 | – |
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 Levy County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 25, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindBronson, Levy County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $25K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindHardeetown, Levy County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFanning Springs, Levy County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 2024-08-04 | Tropical StormLevy County · forecast zone Inland Levy | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindInglis, Levy County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $151K |
| 2021-04-18 | Thunderstorm WindBronson, Levy County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.7M |
| 2020-04-20 | Thunderstorm WindLebanon Station, Levy County | 87 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2018-09-01 | LightningWilliston Municipal Airport, Levy County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2017-10-07 | LightningChiefland, Levy County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2016-09-01 | Storm Surge/TideLevy County · forecast zone Coastal Levy | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 2014-08-31 | LightningChiefland, Levy County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2013-02-26 | Thunderstorm WindCedar Key C-Man, Levy County | 79 kt wind | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-03-12 | TornadoChiefland, Levy County A tornado struck a home in which four people were asleep, pinning two of them under a fallen wall and suffocating them. Two others were injured. A nearby mobile home was destroyed killing its elderly occupant. The tornado went on to destroy or damage other mobile homes injuring five more people, and knocking down ... | F2 1 mi x 80 yd | 3 | 10 | $102M |
| 2024-08-04 | Tropical StormLevy County · forecast zone Inland Levy Surface observations indicate peak wind gusts generally between 50 to 60 mph, with a maximum gust of 58 mph at Cedar Key at 12:48 AM EST on August 5. Rainfall ranged from 6 to 10 inches, with a maximum total of 9.67 inches near the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. A direct fatality occurred when a tree fell ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2018-09-01 | LightningWilliston Municipal Airport, Levy County A 49 year old woman was stripping bark off a tree in her yard when the tree was struck by lightning, injuring her. She was transported to a hospital where she died the next day. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2022-03-12 | Thunderstorm WindInglis, Levy County A line of strong to severe thunderstorms produced what was determined to be a swath of straight-line damage across areas of Levy and Citrus counties near the Withlacoochee River and Lake Rousseau...with most damage strewn toward the northeast. One manufactured home suffered major roof damage with minor roof damage ... | 65 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $151K |
| 2008-06-21 | LightningBronson, Levy County Two males were working in a field near the intersection of County Road 337 and County Road 343 when they were struck and injured by lightning. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2017-10-07 | LightningChiefland, Levy County A woman who was outside during a thunderstorm was injured by lightning when the metal fence she was leaning on at the time was struck. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2014-08-31 | LightningChiefland, Levy County Levy County Department of Public Safety reported a woman had been struck by lightning in Chiefland and was transported to a hospital, although injuries appeared to be minor. Time was estimated from radar. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2008-06-25 | LightningChiefland, Levy County A male was struck and injured by lightning in Chiefland. | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-03-12 | TornadoChiefland, Levy County | F2 1 mi x 80 yd | 3 | 10 | $102M |
| 1993-10-30 | TornadoLevy County | F1 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $10M |
| 2021-04-18 | Thunderstorm WindBronson, Levy County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2.7M |
| 2016-09-01 | Storm Surge/TideLevy County · forecast zone Coastal Levy | 0 | 0 | $2.6M | |
| 1993-10-30 | TornadoLevy County | F1 1 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.0M |
| 2002-10-15 | TornadoInglis, Levy County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $738K |
| 2003-06-20 | Flash FloodInglis, Levy County | 0 | 0 | $541K | |
| 1998-06-23 | Thunderstorm WindWilliston, Levy County | 0 | 0 | $453K |
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: June 11, 1982 (tornado, Levy 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 Levy 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 | 11 | 37 | 29 | 51 | 24 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 | 18 | 12 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 8 | 14 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Levy County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 10 · Feb 22 · Mar 26 · Apr 37 · May 22 · Jun 53 · Jul 38 · Aug 32 · Sep 12 · Oct 16 · Nov 10 · Dec 6 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Levy County
FEMA's register lists 44 declarations that include Levy County: 25 major disasters, 16 emergencies and 3 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (21) and severe storm (7).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-23 | FM-5632 | Fire | Cow Creek Fire |
| 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 |
| 2021-08-16 | EM-3562 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Fred |
| 2021-07-04 | EM-3561 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Elsa |
| 2020-11-11 | EM-3551 | Hurricane | Hurricane Eta |
| 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 |
| 2016-09-28 | DR-4280 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hermine |
| 2012-07-03 | DR-4068 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2009-04-21 | DR-1831 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-21 | EM-3288 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Fay |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3220 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1595 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-26 | DR-1561 | Hurricane | Hurricane Jeanne |
| 2004-09-16 | DR-1551 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2004-09-04 | DR-1545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Frances |
| 2004-08-13 | DR-1539 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley |
| 2003-07-29 | DR-1481 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2001-02-05 | DR-1359 | Freezing | Severe Freeze |
| 2000-05-29 | FM-2303 | Fire | Fl, Waccasassa Fire Complex |
| 1999-04-27 | EM-3139 | Fire | Fl-Fires 04/15/99 |
| 1999-04-15 | FM-2252 | 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 |
| 1996-10-15 | DR-1141 | Severe Storm | Tropical Storm Josephine |
The 40 most recent of 44 are listed; the CSV has every one.
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 Levy County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 8 flood or flash flood records for Levy County from 1996 to 2023, on 8 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Levy County ranks 268th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Debby | 2024-08-04 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Hermine | 2016-09-01 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $55.3 million on 1,316 claims filed in Levy County; the most in one year was 312 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1982: 2 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 17 · 1985: 38 · 1986: 10 · 1987: 5 · 1988: 3 · 1990: 1 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 3 · 1993: 190 · 1995: 39 · 1996: 200 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 41 · 2000: 2 · 2001: 7 · 2003: 5 · 2004: 36 · 2005: 22 · 2006: 6 · 2009: 7 · 2010: 2 · 2012: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 154 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 10 · 2021: 3 · 2023: 177 · 2024: 312 · 2026: 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 Levy County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Levy County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $15.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $749K | 88 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $6.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Coastal Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $792K | 3.8 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.2M | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $552K | once in about 387 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $259K | 2.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.1M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Levy 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 Levy CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Levy County's FEMA declarations (CSV)44 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis