Florence, AZ Tornado History — 16 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Florence, AZ had?
Florence has had 16 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Florence?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Florence was an Unrated on March 7, 2024.
When is tornado season in Florence?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Florence, with 4 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Florence
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 2 total, averaging 0.1 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Have any tornadoes near Florence been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Florence from any of the 16 tornadoes since 1950, though 8 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Florence
About Tornadoes in Florence
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Florence, Arizona, located in the Sonoran Desert southeast of Phoenix, has experienced 16 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively modest total reflects the region's arid climate, where the atmospheric conditions necessary for tornado formation occur less frequently than in more humid parts of the country. Despite Arizona's desert environment, tornadoes do occur when sufficient moisture and instability combine, often during the monsoon season or when spring storm systems move through the area.
The historical record shows notable clustering in the 1970s and 1980s, with five tornadoes documented in each decade. Activity was minimal in the 1950s with just one event, followed by three tornadoes in the 1990s. The 2010s and 2020s have each recorded one tornado, including the most recent event on March 7, 2024, an unrated tornado with a 0.3-mile path length and maximum width of 40 yards that caused no damage or injuries. March has been the most active month historically, accounting for four of the 16 recorded tornadoes.
The intensity distribution reveals that tornadoes near Florence have been relatively weak. Nine events were rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage, while six reached EF1 strength. One tornado remains unrated in the historical records. None of the tornadoes on record resulted in fatalities, though several caused property damage. The costliest and widest tornado occurred on June 21, 1972, an F1-rated event that carved a one-mile path with a maximum width of 1,000 yards and caused $2.75 million in property damage.
The longest-tracked tornado in the area's history touched down on September 2, 1971, traveling an impressive 32.4 miles while maintaining a relatively narrow width of just 10 yards. This F1 tornado caused $275,000 in property damage but no injuries. While tornadoes remain an infrequent hazard in the Florence area compared to regions with more favorable atmospheric conditions for severe weather, the historical record demonstrates that residents should maintain awareness of tornado safety procedures, particularly during the spring months when activity has been most common.