Highland City, Florida is located more than 20 miles away from the West Coast of the Florida peninsula, which would initially appear to decrease its hurricane landfall risk. However, the flat topography of Florida means that hurricanes can maintain their strength or even gain intensity as they traverse the peninsula. Given Highland City's central location, it is equally susceptible to hurricanes from either coast. The town's elevation of less than 200 feet above sea level does present an increased risk for freshwater flooding, particularly inundation from heavy rain, which is a common feature of tropical cyclones. Historically, Highland City's risk of severe flooding has been moderate. However, the town has been affected by significant hurricanes in the past 30 years, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 which led to a substantial flooding event due to its large size, slow speed, and the saturation of regional waterways. Prior, in 2004, the city had to endure three major hurricanes - Charley, Frances, and Jeanne - all of which caused extensive wind and water damage. With the potential for more intense and wetter hurricanes in the future due to climate change, careful consideration on the town's infrastructure and emergency planning would be an essential step to mitigate future storm impacts.