Bradenton, FL Tornado History — 222 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bradenton, FL had?
Bradenton has had 222 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bradenton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bradenton was an EF0 on August 4, 2024.
When is tornado season in Bradenton?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bradenton, with 40 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 Bradenton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 34 total, averaging 1.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Bradenton since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Bradenton. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Bradenton
5 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bradenton since 1950, across 2 events. 140 injuries have been reported across all events. 1992 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F3 on October 3, 1992, which caused 3 fatalities along a 2.6-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bradenton
About Tornadoes in Bradenton
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.
Bradenton sits in Manatee County on Florida's Gulf Coast, where the Manatee River opens toward lower Tampa Bay, and its tornado history reflects that setting: brief tornadoes spun up by summer sea-breeze thunderstorms and passing tropical systems, alongside stronger storms riding cool-season fronts in off the Gulf.
An F4 tornado struck the area on April 15, 1958, injuring seven people along a short but intense path some 300 yards wide. Later that same year, on October 31, 1958, an F3 injured four people along a 3.6-mile track. On April 4, 1966, an F2 tracked an extraordinary 123.3 miles across the region. The cool-season threat turned deadly on October 3, 1992, when an F3 carved a 2.6-mile path up to 500 yards wide, killing three people, injuring 75, and causing $27.5 million in property damage. Winter struck hard again on January 17, 2016, when two EF2 tornadoes moved through the area on the same day: one killed two people and injured four along a 9.2-mile path, while the other injured two and did $12 million in damage.
Recent years have brought mostly weaker but still recurring activity, including EF1 tornadoes on April 10, 2021, March 16, 2022, and December 15, 2022, and EF0s as recently as August 4, 2024 — a reminder that in this corner of Florida, tornado season never fully closes.