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Cape Coral, FL Tornado History — 145 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Cape Coral, FL had?

Cape Coral has had 145 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Cape Coral?

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

When is tornado season in Cape Coral?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cape Coral, with 28 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
145
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
June
28 on record
Per Year Avg
1.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Cape Coral

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

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Cape Coral since December 29, 2025

These are 4 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 June 28, 2026
1 WSW North Fort Myers, Lee County, FL
Preliminary May 17, 2026
2 N Cape Coral, Lee County, FL

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 4
1960s 9
1970s 17
1980s 18
1990s 43
2000s 29
2010s 13
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 102
EF1 27
EF2 14
Unrated 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 11
Feb 3
Mar 8
Apr 7
May 10
Jun 28
Jul 12
Aug 22
Sep 25
Oct 15
Nov 1
Dec 3

Casualties on Record Near Cape Coral

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Cape Coral since 1950, across 1 event. 36 injuries have been reported across all events. 1960 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F2 on October 31, 1960, which caused 1 fatality along a 0.1-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Cape Coral

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on October 31, 1960 — 1 fatality, 0.1 mi path, 10 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
F0 on September 14, 2001 — 19.2 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on October 9, 2024.

About Tornadoes in Cape Coral

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.

Cape Coral sits on a broad, canal-laced peninsula between the Caloosahatchee River and Matlacha Pass in Lee County, on southwest Florida's Gulf coast. Tornadoes here have historically clustered in the warm season, from June through September, and many have been brief, narrow touchdowns. Some have hit hard, though: an F2 tornado on October 31, 1960 killed one person along a short, narrow path, F2 tornadoes touched down on June 18, 1972, and on August 9, 1986 an F2 injured 12 people and caused $2.75 million in damage along a track a mile and a half long and 200 yards wide.

The cooler months have brought damaging tornadoes as well. An EF2 on January 9, 2016 injured three people along a 3.35-mile track, and on January 16, 2022 an EF2 carved a 7.01-mile path up to 125 yards wide through the area, causing $10 million in damage. More recently, on October 9, 2024, an EF2 tracked 16.29 miles with a width reaching 500 yards and caused $500,000 in damage, while EF0 and EF1 tornadoes touched down around the city the same day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Cape Coral, FL had?
Since 1950, 145 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Cape Coral. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Cape Coral?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Cape Coral was a F2 on October 31, 1960, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Cape Coral?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cape Coral, with 28 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 Cape Coral?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cape Coral was an EF0 on October 9, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Cape Coral?
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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