Editing Polk County, Florida (section)

====Tropical cyclones====
[[File:Hurricane Irma max wind gusts Polk County.png|thumb|Maximum recorded wind gusts during Hurricane Irma (in mph)]]
[[File:Hurricane Charley wind field.png|thumb|left|Wind field of Hurricane Charley]]
The eyes of 12 hurricanes have passed through the county at hurricane strength in recorded history, including [[Hurricane Irma]] (2017, category&nbsp;1), [[Hurricane Jeanne]] (2004, category&nbsp;1), [[Hurricane Charley]] (2004, category&nbsp;2), [[Hurricane Donna]] (1960, category&nbsp;2), [[Hurricane King]] (1950, category&nbsp;1), the [[1949 Florida hurricane]] (category&nbsp;2), the [[1945 Homestead hurricane]] (category&nbsp;1), the [[1933 Treasure Coast hurricane]] (category&nbsp;1), the [[1928 Okeechobee hurricane]] (category&nbsp;2), [[1894 Atlantic hurricane season#Hurricane Four|Hurricane Four of the 1894 season]] (category&nbsp;1), and [[1871 Atlantic hurricane season#Hurricane Three|Hurricane Three of the 1871&nbsp;season]], and [[1859 Atlantic hurricane season#Hurricane Eight|Hurricane Eight of the 1859 season]] (category&nbsp;1).<ref name="Historical Hurricane Tracks">{{cite web |title=Historical Hurricane Tracks |url=https://coast.noaa.gov/hurricanes/ |website=NOAA Historical Hurricane Tracks Tool |publisher=NOAA |access-date=October 16, 2018}}<!-- searched for "Polk County (Civil), Polk County, FL", 1 nmi limit, unselected "ET", "TD", & "TS" under "Advanced Filters" --></ref> Additionally, four storms were downgraded from hurricane strength at a location outside the county to tropical storm force at some point within the county and, given the hours between [[National Hurricane Center]] updates (modern era) or earlier estimates, it is not clear whether these brought hurricane-force sustained winds to Polk County: [[Hurricane Frances]] (2004), [[Hurricane Erin (1995)]] [[1939 Atlantic hurricane season#Hurricane Two|Hurricane Two of the 1939 season]], and the [[1910 Cuba hurricane]] (category 1).<ref name="Historical Hurricane Tracks"/> Numerous tropical storms have passed through the county.<ref name="Historical Hurricane Tracks"/>

Hurricane Charley in 2004—the first of three hurricanes to hit the county in six weeks—is the strongest storm in recent history to pass through the county, mainly impacting the eastern half of the county. The Lake Wales Fire Department recorded an unofficial maximum wind speed of {{convert|95|mph|abbr=on}} sustained and a gust of {{convert|101|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chambliss |first1=John |last2=Rousso |first2=Rick |title=Charley Whips Through Polk |url=https://www.theledger.com/article/LK/20040813/News/608120847/LL/ |access-date=October 16, 2018 |work=The Ledger |date=August 13, 2004 |location=Lakeland, Florida |quote=Over land, Charley lost some punch but still pummeled Lake Wales with gusts up to 101 mph and sustained winds of 95 mph for about 45 minutes, according to the Lake Wales Fire Department.}}</ref> The hurricane entered the county south of Fort Meade, shortly after it passed [[Wauchula, Florida|Wauchula]] (in Hardee County), where a maximum wind gust of {{convert|109|mph|abbr=on}} was recorded by emergency management officials.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldsmith |first1=Barry |title=Hurricane Charley Preliminary Storm Survey I |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/tbw/HurricaneCharley/text/charleylocalsummary.pdf |publisher=[[National Weather Service]] Tampa Bay Area Weather Forecast Office |access-date=October 16, 2018 |date=2004|pages=3–4}}</ref> The hurricane-force wind field was relatively narrow, with the most intense wind damage being within {{convert|10|mi|abbr=on}} of the center of the eye.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Linhares |first1=Mark |title=Hurricane Charley Preliminary Storm Survey II |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/tbw/HurricaneCharley/text/charleylocalsummary2.pdf |publisher=[[National Weather Service]] Tampa Bay Area Weather Forecast Office |access-date=October 16, 2018 |pages=1, 3 |date=2004}}</ref> For example, maximum recorded winds were only {{convert|41|kn|abbr=on}} sustained and a gust of {{convert|54|kn|abbr=on}} at [[Winter Haven's Gilbert Airport|Gilbert Airport]] on the northwest side of the city.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pasch |first1=Richard |last2=Brown |first2=Daniel |last3=Blake |first3=Erik |title=Tropical Cyclone Report - Hurricane Charley - 9-14 August 2004 |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL032004_Charley.pdf |publisher=National Hurricane Center |access-date=October 16, 2018 |page=8 |date=October 18, 2004}}</ref>