Fort Lauderdale, FL Tornado History — 235 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fort Lauderdale, FL had?
Fort Lauderdale has had 235 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Fort Lauderdale?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fort Lauderdale was an Unrated on October 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in Fort Lauderdale?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fort Lauderdale, with 35 on record. April through June account for 80 of the 235 tornadoes on record near Fort Lauderdale.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Fort Lauderdale
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fort Lauderdale since December 29, 2025
These are 3 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
[Landspout] Broadcast media relayed video of a short duration landspout that lofted palm fronds and other small debris for a brief period before it dissipated. TPBI ra (MFL)
[Landspout] Corrects previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 NNE Plantation to landspout at 2:56PM. Reports of tree damage in the Plantation Gardens areas. Picture and vid (MFL)
A brief EF0 tornado move through the Palm Springs North community. (MFL)
Within 25 miles of Fort Lauderdale. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. 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 Fort Lauderdale
2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Fort Lauderdale since 1950, across 2 events. 239 injuries have been reported across all events. 2003 was the deadliest year on record near Fort Lauderdale.
The deadliest single event was an F3 on March 1, 1980, which caused 1 fatality along a 7.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fort Lauderdale
What the record shows near Fort Lauderdale
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Fort Lauderdale, with 52 of the 235 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Fort Lauderdale record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Fort Lauderdale, 213 reached EF0 or EF1 and 20 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Fort Lauderdale is rated EF3, of which 4 are logged. A further 2 near Fort Lauderdale are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Fort Lauderdale has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 57 in total. 2016 was the busiest of them with 7, and 4 of those years passed with none at all.