Cocoa, FL Tornado History — 131 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Cocoa, FL had?
Cocoa has had 131 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Cocoa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cocoa was an Unrated on August 4, 2025.
When is tornado season in Cocoa?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cocoa, with 25 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 Cocoa
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 29 total, averaging 1.4 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 Cocoa
36 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cocoa since 1950, across 2 events. 766 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 Cocoa
About Tornadoes in Cocoa
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Cocoa sits on Florida's Space Coast, along the Indian River lagoon just inland from the Atlantic in the flat, subtropical lowlands of the state's east-central coast. Florida experiences tornadoes at a high frequency for its size, though the great majority are weak and short-lived.
The area's tornadoes arise in two ways. Through summer, sea breezes converging across the peninsula spark frequent thunderstorms that can briefly spin up tornadoes. In the cool season, stronger frontal systems and the wind shear they bring can produce more organized, faster-moving tornadoes, and tropical systems approaching the Atlantic coast can spawn them in their outer bands. The result is a threat that spans much of the year rather than a single spring peak.
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale rates tornado strength from EF0 to EF5 based on a damage survey rather than a measured wind speed. Most Florida tornadoes are weak, though the cool season and tropical systems can bring stronger ones. The tornado history for the Cocoa area — counts, the decade and rating breakdowns, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — is drawn from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center and shown in the figures elsewhere on this page.