Polk County Storm Activity
Wind, hail, and tornado activity from official NOAA sources (NWS & SPC) · Last 180 days · Updated Sep 11, 2026
Looking for storm and wind reports in Polk County, Florida? Official National Weather Service (NWS) and Storm Prediction Center (SPC) records show 60 severe weather events in the last 180 days — 32 high-wind reports with gusts up to 55 mph, plus 28 hail reports with hail up to 0.88". The most recent recorded storm activity was in September 2026. This page updates daily: every event comes straight from official NOAA data — no estimates, no modeling, just the record.
What the radar showed
Last 30 days in Polk County
Recent storms — full detail available in the app
Storm activity from the last 30 days is summarized at the county level on this page. Exact locations, radar snapshots, and official warning boundaries for recent events are available with a free account.
See the specifics — free →Storm log — the official record, day by day
Events older than 30 days, as recorded by the National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center. Excerpts are quoted directly from official warnings and verified reports.
Thursday, August 6, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 413 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 14 miles northwest of Wauchula, moving northwest at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts 40 to to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
“At 330 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles west of Kissimmee Prairie Preserve to near Lake Placid. Movement was west at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 727 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles northwest of Ona, or 13 miles west of Wauchula, moving northwest at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 722 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Auburndale, moving northeast at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 235 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Lake Wales, moving southeast at 10 mph. Additional storm development is possible as an outflow boundary lifts north across this area. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, July 25, 2026
3 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 742 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Four Corners to 6 miles north of Auburndale. Movement was southwest at 5 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Lakeland, Auburndale, Lake Alfred, and Polk City.”
“At 620 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles southwest of Bartow to 16 miles west of Ona to near Myakka City to near Lake Sarasota. Movement was south at 20 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, July 20, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 124 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Winter Haven, moving north at 35 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Sunday, July 12, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.25"
“At 355 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Wauchula, moving east at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Wauchula, Fort Meade, Crooked Lake Park, and Bowling Green.”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 129 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles southwest of Bartow, moving southeast at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Bartow, Fort Meade, Mulberry, Bradley Junction, and Homeland.”
“At 122 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles east of Greater Sun Center, or 13 miles south of Fish Hawk, moving southeast at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, June 27, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.88"
“At 515 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a line of strong thunderstorms along the sea breeze capable of producing strong wind gusts, hail or a landspout along a line extending from near Plant City to near Myakka City to near Palmona Park. Movement was northwest at 15 mph. Hazard: Landspouts, wind gusts up to 50 mph, and nickel size hail. Impact: Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”
- Hail 0.88" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, June 26, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.25"
“At 606 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Bartow to 12 miles south of Medulla to 6 miles north of Ona. These storms were nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, June 25, 2026
3 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.25"
“At 251 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Lakeland, moving northeast at 20 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 226 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Medulla, or 10 miles southeast of Plant City, moving north at 10 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.5"
“At 441 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles north of Avon Park, moving south at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Friday, June 19, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.25"
“At 434 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 12 miles southwest of Lake Kissimmee. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... River Ranch and Indian Lake Estates.”
“At 319 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles east of Lake Wales, moving northeast at 20 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Lake Wales, Hillcrest Heights, Highland Park, and Babson Park.”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, June 13, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.5"
“At 639 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 11 miles north of Ona, or 11 miles northwest of Wauchula. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 845 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Fussels Corner, or near Auburndale. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 554 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms near Winter Haven, moving east at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Thursday, May 28, 2026
1 NWS warning — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 423 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 6 miles east of Zephyrhills North to 6 miles northwest of Lakeland Linder Airport to near Plant City. Movement was east at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Sunday, May 24, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.25"
“At 544 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 7 miles east of Zephyrhills North, or 8 miles east of Zephyrhills, moving northwest at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, May 23, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.5"
“At 604 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Brandon to 7 miles east of Fish Hawk. Movement was northeast at 5 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
4 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.5", wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 307 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms capable of producing a landspout along a line extending from near Pine Island to near New Port Richey East to Palm Harbor. Movement was northeast at 45 mph. Hazard: Landspouts and wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
“At 235 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles north of Combee Settlement, or 11 miles northwest of Auburndale, moving east at 20 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include... Lakeland, Davenport, Polk City, Gibsonia, and Loughman.”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, May 2, 2026
2 NWS warnings — wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 339 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 13 miles southwest of Lake Louisa to near Lakeland to Ruskin to 10 miles northwest of Saint Armands Key. Movement was east at 25 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
“At 255 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from Land O Lakes to near Tampa International Airport to 8 miles west of Fort Desoto Park. Movement was east at 40 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Saturday, April 25, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.25"
“At 513 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 10 miles north of Auburndale, moving east at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 358 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 13 miles north of Ona, or 14 miles northwest of Wauchula, moving east at 10 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Bartow, Fort Meade, and Homeland.”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, April 6, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.25"
“At 744 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a cluster of strong thunderstorms 8 miles east of Fish Hawk, moving northeast at 10 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
2 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.5"
“At 515 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles northeast of Sebring Regional Airport, or 12 miles northeast of Sebring. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
“At 434 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 9 miles north of Sebring Regional Airport, or 10 miles east of Avon Park. This thunderstorm was nearly stationary. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Monday, March 16, 2026
3 NWS warnings — hail up to 0.75", wind gusts up to 50 mph
“At 537 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Fussels Corner to near Greater Sun Center to 9 miles northwest of Saint Armands Key. Movement was east at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Locations impacted include...”
“At 324 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 10 miles northeast of Inverness to near Hudson. Movement was east at 30 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include...”
- Wind 50 mph Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.75" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
- Hail 0.25" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1 NWS warning — hail up to 0.5"
“At 613 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Plant City, moving northeast at 15 mph. Hazard: Wind gusts up to 40 mph and half inch hail. Impact: Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible. Locations impacted include... Saint Leo, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Hillsborough River State Park, St.”
- Hail 0.5" Polk County NWS severe weather mention
Today's severe weather outlook
Common questions
When was the last severe storm in Polk County, FL?
The most recent recorded event was in September 2026. Official NWS and SPC records show 60 severe weather events in Polk County over the last 180 days. Exact dates and locations for recent storms are available in the app with a free account.
Has there been hail in Polk County recently?
Yes — 28 hail reports in the last 180 days, with hail up to 0.88" recorded.
How do I check whether a specific address was affected?
Create a free IDOLCheck account and run an address check. It shows verified storm reports and official NWS warning boundaries around any specific property — county-level pages like this one only tell part of the story.