Fort Walton Beach, FL Tornado History — 118 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Fort Walton Beach, FL had?
Fort Walton Beach has had 118 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 strong to violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Fort Walton Beach?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach was an EF1 on May 10, 2025.
When is tornado season in Fort Walton Beach?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Fort Walton Beach, with 16 on record. April through June account for 31 of the 118 tornadoes on record near Fort Walton Beach.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Fort Walton Beach
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Fort Walton Beach since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Damage in Villa Tasso is consistent with a tornado. Rating will likely be determined on Wednesday. Brief TDS on radar as well. (TAE)
Within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Fort Walton Beach
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 10, 2025 and the most recent on May 10, 2025. It is already counted in the Fort Walton Beach totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
Multiple videos and photos of damage from EMA and fire/rescue in Destin that coincides with a TDS on KEVX radar. Several businesses and vehicles damaged along with tree (MOB)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Walton Beach
4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Fort Walton Beach since 1950, across 4 events. 120 injuries have been reported across all events. 1995 was the deadliest year on record near Fort Walton Beach.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on October 4, 1995, which caused 1 fatality along a 1.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Fort Walton Beach
What the record shows near Fort Walton Beach
The 1970s were the busiest decade near Fort Walton Beach, with 26 of the 118 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 11 so far. The Fort Walton Beach record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Fort Walton Beach, 101 reached EF0 or EF1 and 16 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Fort Walton Beach is rated EF3, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Fort Walton Beach is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Fort Walton Beach has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 4, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.