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Delray Beach, FL Tornado History — 188 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Delray Beach, FL had?

Delray Beach has had 188 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Delray Beach?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Delray Beach was an EF0 on May 12, 2025.

When is tornado season in Delray Beach?

August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Delray Beach, with 31 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
188
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
1.6% of total
Peak Month
August
31 on record
Per Year Avg
2.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Delray Beach

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 3
2023 2
2022 4
2021 0
2020 2
2019 1
2018 2
2017 3
2016 5
2015 5
2014 1
2013 7
2012 2
2011 2
2010 2
2009 1
2008 3
2007 3

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 17
1970s 22
1980s 32
1990s 37
2000s 27
2010s 30
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 124
EF1 49
EF2 11
EF3 3
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 9
Feb 22
Mar 17
Apr 16
May 16
Jun 23
Jul 15
Aug 31
Sep 18
Oct 11
Nov 8
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Delray Beach

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Delray Beach since 1950, across 1 event. 147 injuries have been reported across all events. 1980 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F3 on March 1, 1980, which caused 1 fatality along a 7.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Delray Beach

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on March 1, 1980 — 1 fatality, 7.8 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on October 9, 2024 — $81.5M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
F3 on March 1, 1980 — 500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on March 17, 1983 — 52.5 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 12, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Delray Beach

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.

Delray Beach sits on Palm Beach County's Atlantic shoreline, and its tornado history follows South Florida's twin seasons: late-winter fronts that sweep down the peninsula, and the long warm months when sea-breeze storms and tropical weather churn the coast.

The winter pattern has turned violent more than once. An F3 tornado struck on February 23, 1965, injuring six people along a 5.7-mile path, and another F3 hit on March 2, 1980, killing one person and injuring 33 as it carved a track nearly eight miles long and up to 500 yards wide. A long-track F2 on March 17, 1983 stayed on the ground for more than fifty miles as it crossed the region.

Hurricane season writes the other half of the story. On October 14, 1964, an F2 injured 22 people, one of a cluster of tornadoes that spun up that day. An F1 on August 7, 2003 injured 28 along a four-mile path, and an EF2 touched down on August 19, 2008. On September 28, 2022, an EF2 ran nearly seven miles and injured two people, with more tornadoes touching down across the area the same day. Then on October 9, 2024, an EF3 tore a 32.89-mile path up to 457 yards wide through the region, injuring seven people and causing $81.45 million in property damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Delray Beach, FL had?
Since 1950, 188 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Delray Beach. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Delray Beach?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Delray Beach was a F3 on March 1, 1980, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Delray Beach?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Delray Beach, with 31 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 Delray Beach?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Delray Beach was an EF0 on May 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Delray Beach?
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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