1953 – morning – Hillsborough Co. – A tornado destroyed five homes and damaged 53 from Lithia to Hopewell in southwest part of county injuring 12 people. Other tornadoes were reported in Clermont, Minneola, and Brooksville. Severe thunderstorm winds were reported in Ft. Myers and Sarasota. There were many reports of trees and power lines down and roof damage. Storm waves washed over the beach road on south Captiva Island
1996 – west central peninsula – Damaging freeze – Sub-freezing temperatures severely damaged vegetable crops with losses estimated over $2 million dollars in Hillsborough and Lee counties; with minor damage to the dormant citrus crop in Pasco County. Several tropical fish farms lost over 50 percent of their harvest with the estimated loss at $5.5 million dollars.