Eloise, FL Tornado History — 185 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Eloise, FL had?
Eloise has had 185 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 2 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Eloise?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Eloise was an EF0 on September 26, 2024.
When is tornado season in Eloise?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Eloise, with 39 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 Eloise
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 23 total, averaging 1.1 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 Eloise
37 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Eloise since 1950, across 3 events. 787 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 Eloise
About Tornadoes in Eloise
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.
Eloise lies in Polk County, in the heart of the Florida peninsula between Tampa and Orlando, and its tornado history follows two distinct rhythms: brief, weak touchdowns spun up by summer sea-breeze storms, and far more dangerous tornadoes delivered by cool-season fronts and passing tropical systems.
On April 4, 1966, a violent F4 tornado tracked 135.8 miles across central Florida, killing 11 people and injuring 530; an F2 that same day ran 123.3 miles. On May 8, 1979, an F2 killed one person and injured 40 along a 4-mile path. The cool season brought disaster on February 23, 1998, when an F3 carved a 28-mile path up to 250 yards wide, killing 25 people and injuring 150 — two months after an F2 on December 27, 1997 injured 18 along a 5.8-mile track.
More recent significant tornadoes have arrived in the tropical months: an EF2 struck on September 10, 2017, and an EF2 on October 19, 2019 tore an 11.45-mile path up to 525 yards wide, causing $10 million in property damage. The summertime pattern of short-lived, weaker tornadoes continues as well, with EF0 touchdowns on July 23, August 4, and September 26, 2024.