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Miami Beach, FL Tornado History — 201 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Miami Beach, FL had?

Miami Beach has had 201 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Miami Beach?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Miami Beach was an Unrated on February 18, 2024.

When is tornado season in Miami Beach?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Miami Beach, with 36 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

Tornadoes Since 1950
201
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
1.5% of total
Peak Month
June
36 on record
Per Year Avg
2.6
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Miami Beach

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 41 total, averaging 2.0 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 4
2023 4
2022 4
2021 0
2020 2
2019 1
2018 3
2017 6
2016 4
2015 2
2014 1
2013 1
2012 1
2011 1
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4
2007 3

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Miami Beach since December 29, 2025

These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF0° April 7, 2026
3 NNW Miami Lakes, Miami-Dade County, FL

Within 25 miles of Miami Beach. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 12
1960s 22
1970s 13
1980s 39
1990s 49
2000s 32
2010s 20
2020s 14

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.

EF0 142
EF1 45
EF2 10
EF3 3
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 10
Feb 16
Mar 14
Apr 12
May 28
Jun 36
Jul 14
Aug 26
Sep 24
Oct 12
Nov 7
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Miami Beach

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Miami Beach since 1950, across 1 event. 191 injuries have been reported across all events. 2003 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F2 on March 27, 2003, which caused 1 fatality along a 6.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Miami Beach

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on March 27, 2003 — 1 fatality, 6.0 mi path, 600 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F1 on January 15, 1991 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on March 27, 2003 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
F0 on September 12, 1968 — 42.8 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on February 18, 2024.

About Tornadoes in Miami Beach

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.

Miami Beach sits on a narrow barrier island between Biscayne Bay and the open Atlantic in Miami-Dade County, and its tornado history follows South Florida's own calendar: sea-breeze thunderstorms in June and the deep summer, tropical systems in late summer and fall, and vigorous fronts in winter and early spring.

Some of those storms have been serious. On April 10, 1956, an F3 tornado carved a 7.8-mile path, injured 20 people, and caused $2,750,000 in property damage. Another F3 struck on June 18, 1959, staying on the ground for 12.7 miles and injuring 77 people. On February 3, 1998, an F2 tracked 21 miles across the area, and on March 27, 2003, an F2 up to 600 yards wide moved along a six-mile path, killing one person and injuring 14.

More recent seasons have leaned toward briefer touchdowns, often several in a single day. An EF1 was among the tornadoes that struck on February 16, 2016; two EF1 tornadoes touched down on September 10, 2017; and September 27, 2022 brought multiple tornadoes, one of them rated EF1. Tornadoes were confirmed in the area again on February 18, 2024 — a reminder that this stretch of coastal Miami-Dade County can see tornadoes in any season, whether spun up by a summer sea breeze, a passing tropical system, or a winter front.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Miami Beach, FL had?
Since 1950, 201 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Miami Beach. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Miami Beach?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Miami Beach was a F2 on March 27, 2003, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Miami Beach?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Miami Beach, with 36 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Miami Beach?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Miami Beach was an Unrated on February 18, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Miami Beach?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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