Key West, FL Tornado History — 30 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Key West, FL had?
Key West has had 30 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.
When was the most recent tornado near Key West?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Key West was an EF1 on October 8, 2024.
When is tornado season in Key West?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Key West, with 11 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 Key West
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 10 total, averaging 0.5 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
Have any tornadoes near Key West been fatal?
No fatalities are on record within 25 miles of Key West from any of the 30 tornadoes since 1950, though 51 injuries have been reported. NOAA Storm Prediction Center records.
Notable Tornadoes Near Key West
About Tornadoes in Key West
This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Key West, Florida has experienced 30 documented tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. Despite its tropical island location at the southernmost tip of the continental United States, the city and its surrounding waters have seen tornado activity across every decade of the modern record-keeping era, with the highest concentration occurring during the 1980s and 2000s when six tornadoes were recorded in each decade.
The vast majority of these tornadoes have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with 19 rated EF0 and seven rated EF1. Only four tornadoes have reached EF2 intensity in the area. Remarkably, none of the tornadoes on record resulted in any fatalities, though property damage has occurred. The costliest event was an F1 tornado on June 21, 1983, which caused $2,750,000 in property damage along a three-mile path with a maximum width of 50 yards. The widest tornado, reaching 150 yards across, was an F2 that struck on April 27, 1980, causing $275,000 in damage over a half-mile path.
June stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Key West area, accounting for 11 of the 30 recorded events. This seasonal pattern aligns with the region's warm-season thunderstorm activity and the influence of tropical weather systems. The most recent tornado occurred on October 9, 2024, when an EF1 touched down with a 60-yard width along a 0.3-mile path, causing no damage or injuries. Just months earlier, on February 18, 2024, an EF0 tornado traced the longest path on record for the area at 4.6 miles with a maximum width of 120 yards and $75,000 in damage.
While tornadoes in the Florida Keys are typically associated with waterspouts moving onshore or forming in conjunction with tropical systems and severe thunderstorms, the historical record demonstrates that tornado risk exists year-round in this subtropical environment, though events remain infrequent compared to inland areas of the state.