Zephyrhills West, Florida, while not directly along the Florida coast, is potentially susceptible to significant impacts from hurricanes and tropical storms. Its relative proximity (approximately 35-40 miles) to the Gulf of Mexico (western coast) and Tampa Bay leaves it vulnerable to the rain bands and winds that accompany these atmospheric systems. The town itself is located on relatively flat terrain with an average elevation of about 90 feet, and could be prone to flooding during a major storm - especially considering Florida's typically high water table and potent rainfall from hurricane systems. Flooding concerns could be exacerbated by heavy rainfall occuring simultaneously with local river swelling, or in cases where the ground has already been saturated by recent rainfall activity. Historically, a number of major hurricanes have come close to or directly affected Zephyrhills West. In fact, the town was in the path of the devastating Hurricane Irma in September, 2017. This storm brought heavy rains and strong winds to the area, resulting in widespread power outages, downed trees, and structural damage. The "No Name Storm", also known as the Storm of the Century in 1993, also particularly impacted the region. In both storms, significant flooding, ironically, was not the main issue, but rather the intense winds and rain resulted in other damages. Despite these events, historically the town has managed to escape some of the more severe flooding issues that other Florida communities face. However, as climate patterns change, this could potentially evolve in the future.