Auburndale, FL Tornado History — 188 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Auburndale, FL had?
Auburndale has had 188 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Auburndale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Auburndale was an EF0 on September 26, 2024.
When is tornado season in Auburndale?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Auburndale, with 38 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 Auburndale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 23 total, averaging 1.1 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
Casualties on Record Near Auburndale
37 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Auburndale since 1950, across 3 events. 797 injuries have been reported across all events. 1998 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on February 23, 1998, which caused 25 fatalities along a 28.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Auburndale
About Tornadoes in Auburndale
This overview was written July 29, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Auburndale lies among the chain of lakes in Polk County, in the heart of central Florida's Interstate 4 corridor, where tornado weather comes in two distinct modes: brief spin-ups from summer sea-breeze storms, and potent cool-season systems that ride strong fronts across the peninsula.
The cool season has brought the area real tragedy. On April 4, 1966, a deadly F4 tornado tore a 135.8-mile path across the region, killing 11 people and injuring 530; an F2 tracked 123.3 miles through the area that same day. On February 23, 1998, an F3 carved a 28-mile path up to 250 yards wide, killing 25 people and injuring 150. Spring has turned violent as well: an F2 on May 8, 1979 killed one person, injured 40, and caused $27.5 million in property damage along a 4-mile track.
More recent seasons have kept the threat current. An EF2 on June 25, 2012 ran 6.22 miles through the area, and on October 19, 2019 an EF2 up to 525 yards wide traveled 11.45 miles and caused $10 million in damage. Summer spin-ups remain routine, too — EF0s touched down on July 23, August 4, and September 26, 2024 — a reminder that in this corner of Polk County, tornado season never fully closes.