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Miami Lakes, FL Tornado History — 237 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Miami Lakes, FL had?

Miami Lakes has had 237 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Miami Lakes?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Miami Lakes was an Unrated on October 9, 2024.

When is tornado season in Miami Lakes?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Miami Lakes, with 40 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
237
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
1.7% of total
Peak Month
June
40 on record
Per Year Avg
3.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Miami Lakes

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 55 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 0
2024 6
2023 4
2022 5
2021 0
2020 2
2019 1
2018 4
2017 8
2016 5
2015 2
2014 1
2013 2
2012 1
2011 3
2010 1
2009 0
2008 4
2007 6

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Miami Lakes 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Lakes. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 12
1960s 25
1970s 14
1980s 47
1990s 54
2000s 40
2010s 28
2020s 17

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 167
EF1 51
EF2 12
EF3 4
Unrated 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 11
Feb 19
Mar 21
Apr 13
May 33
Jun 40
Jul 19
Aug 30
Sep 27
Oct 16
Nov 7
Dec 1

Casualties on Record Near Miami Lakes

2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Miami Lakes since 1950, across 2 events. 231 injuries have been reported across all events. 2003 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F3 on March 1, 1980, which caused 1 fatality along a 7.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Miami Lakes

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on March 1, 1980 — 1 fatality, 7.8 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on March 1, 1980 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F2 on March 27, 2003 — 600 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on March 17, 1983 — 52.5 mile track.
Most Recent
Unrated on October 9, 2024.

About Tornadoes in Miami Lakes

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 Lakes occupies flat, lake-dotted terrain in northwestern Miami-Dade County, and the tornadoes that have crossed this corner of South Florida tend to arrive with the region's own weather — summer sea-breeze storms, tropical systems, and the squall lines of the cooler months — rather than Plains-style supercells.

Cool-season storms have produced destructive tornadoes here. On March 2, 1980, an F3 tornado carved a 7.8-mile path up to 500 yards wide, killing one person, injuring 33 and causing $27.5 million in property damage. An F2 on March 27, 2003 grew to 600 yards wide along a 6-mile track, killing one person and injuring 14, and another F2 on February 3, 1998 stayed on the ground for 21 miles.

Spring and summer carry their own history: an F3 on June 18, 1959 tracked 12.7 miles and injured 77 people, and an F3 on April 10, 1956 injured 20 along a 7.8-mile path. In the EF era, an EF2 on October 19, 2011 caused $4 million in property damage on a path just over a mile long.

Touchdowns have continued in recent years, with an EF1 among the tornadoes of September 27, 2022, EF0 touchdowns in April 2023, and an EF0 on January 6, 2024 — a reminder that even brief, weak tornadoes remain a recurring part of this community's weather.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Miami Lakes, FL had?
Since 1950, 237 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Miami Lakes. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Miami Lakes?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Miami Lakes was a F3 on March 1, 1980, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Miami Lakes?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Miami Lakes, with 40 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 Lakes?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Miami Lakes was an Unrated on October 9, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Miami Lakes?
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.

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