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Bonita Springs, FL Tornado History — 157 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Bonita Springs, FL had?

Bonita Springs has had 157 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Bonita Springs?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bonita Springs was an EF0 on October 9, 2024.

When is tornado season in Bonita Springs?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bonita Springs, with 30 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

Tornadoes Since 1950
157
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
June
30 on record
Per Year Avg
2.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Bonita Springs

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 32 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+3 prelim
2025 0
2024 5
2023 1
2022 5
2021 1
2020 0
2019 1
2018 0
2017 3
2016 3
2015 1
2014 1
2013 0
2012 5
2011 0
2010 0
2009 0
2008 2
2007 4

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Bonita Springs since December 29, 2025

These are 3 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary July 10, 2026
Cape Coral, Lee County, FL
Preliminary July 2, 2026
3 ESE Fort Myers, Lee County, FL
Preliminary May 17, 2026
2 N Cape Coral, Lee County, FL

Within 25 miles of Bonita Springs. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 13
1970s 16
1980s 22
1990s 54
2000s 23
2010s 14
2020s 12

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.

EF0 109
EF1 32
EF2 15
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 10
Feb 6
Mar 9
Apr 9
May 10
Jun 30
Jul 16
Aug 18
Sep 28
Oct 12
Nov 5
Dec 4

Casualties on Record Near Bonita Springs

3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bonita Springs since 1950, across 2 events. 57 injuries have been reported across all events. 1968 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F2 on November 9, 1968, which caused 2 fatalities along a 45.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Bonita Springs

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on November 9, 1968 — 2 fatalities, 45.6 mi path, 100 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF2 on January 16, 2022 — $10.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on October 9, 2024 — 500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on November 11, 1968 — 65.4 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on October 9, 2024.

About Tornadoes in Bonita Springs

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.

Bonita Springs sits on Lee County's Gulf coast between Fort Myers and Naples, where summer sea-breeze thunderstorms and landfalling tropical systems alike can spin up tornadoes — often brief, weak ones over the coastal flats and inland sloughs. The area's history holds far more serious events, though.

On November 9, 1968, an F2 tornado tracked 45.6 miles through the region, killing two people and injuring 17. Just two days later, on November 11, 1968, another F2 tore a 65.4-mile path, injuring three and causing $275,000 in damage. In the heart of the wet season, an F2 on August 9, 1986 injured 12 people and caused $2,750,000 in damage along a 1.5-mile path.

The cool season has produced destructive tornadoes here as well. An EF2 on January 9, 2016 injured three people and caused $2,000,000 in damage on a 3.35-mile track, and on January 16, 2022 an EF2 ran 7.01 miles through the area, causing $10 million in damage. More recently, on October 9, 2024, an EF2 tracked 16.29 miles with a path up to 500 yards wide, causing $500,000 in damage.

For a community wedged between the Gulf and the interior wetlands of Southwest Florida, the picture that emerges is twofold: quick-hitting tornadoes during the humid summer months, and the potential for stronger, longer-track tornadoes when organized storm systems cross the region in fall and winter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Bonita Springs, FL had?
Since 1950, 157 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Bonita Springs. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Bonita Springs?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Bonita Springs was a F2 on November 9, 1968, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Bonita Springs?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bonita Springs, with 30 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Bonita Springs?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bonita Springs was an EF0 on October 9, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Bonita Springs?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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