Merritt Island, FL Tornado History — 131 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Merritt Island, FL had?
Merritt Island has had 131 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Merritt Island?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Merritt Island was an EF1 on October 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in Merritt Island?
August is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Merritt Island, with 23 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 Merritt Island
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 28 total, averaging 1.4 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 Merritt Island
36 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Merritt Island since 1950, across 2 events. 769 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 Merritt Island
About Tornadoes in Merritt Island
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.
Merritt Island lies on Florida's Space Coast in Brevard County, a slender stretch of land between the Indian and Banana rivers, and its tornado history runs on two clocks: quick touchdowns during the summer thunderstorm and hurricane months, and dangerous tornadoes carried across the peninsula by late-winter and spring storm systems.
The spring and winter dates stand out. On April 4, 1966, a violent F4 crossed central Florida on a 135.8-mile track, killing 11 people, injuring 530, and causing $27,500,000 in damage; an F2 the same day carved a 123.3-mile path of its own. An F3 on March 5, 1970 injured 7 along a 1.9-mile path that spread 333 yards wide, and on March 24, 1983 an F2 ran 18 miles through the area, with property damage of $27,500,000. On February 23, 1998, a deadly F3 tore along a 28-mile path, killing 25 and injuring 150, on a night when F1 tornadoes also touched down nearby.
Warm-season tornadoes here have generally been briefer affairs. On September 10, 2017, in the heart of hurricane season, an EF2 tracked 1.55 miles through the area while EF1 tornadoes touched down the same day and the next. More recently, an EF1 struck on June 7, 2023, and another EF1 followed on October 9, 2024.