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Palm Harbor, FL Tornado History — 264 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Palm Harbor, FL had?

Palm Harbor has had 264 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Palm Harbor?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Palm Harbor was an EF0 on September 25, 2025.

When is tornado season in Palm Harbor?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Palm Harbor, with 42 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
264
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
1.1% of total
Peak Month
June
42 on record
Per Year Avg
3.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Palm Harbor

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 56 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Palm Harbor since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 May 24, 2026
2 SW Town 'n' Country, Hillsborough County, FL
Preliminary May 12, 2026
1 SSW Hudson, Pasco County, FL

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 9
1960s 31
1970s 49
1980s 35
1990s 66
2000s 24
2010s 30
2020s 20

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 156
EF1 84
EF2 16
EF3 2
EF4 1
Unrated 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 14
Feb 12
Mar 21
Apr 17
May 32
Jun 42
Jul 40
Aug 27
Sep 19
Oct 18
Nov 11
Dec 11

Casualties on Record Near Palm Harbor

19 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Palm Harbor since 1950, across 5 events. 856 injuries have been reported across all events. 1966 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 4, 1966, which caused 11 fatalities along a 135.8-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Palm Harbor

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 4, 1966 — 11 fatalities, 135.8 mi path, 300 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on October 3, 1992 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
F3 on October 3, 1992 — 500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F4 on April 4, 1966 — 135.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on September 25, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Palm Harbor

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.

Palm Harbor sits near the northern end of Florida's Pinellas County peninsula, between the Gulf of Mexico and Tampa Bay, and its tornado history reflects that coastal setting. Tornadoes around the community cluster heavily in the warm season, when brief F0 and EF0 touchdowns pepper June, July, and August, but the storms that caused serious harm here have often arrived in other seasons.

On April 4, 1966, an F4 tornado tore along a 135.8-mile track, killing 11 people, injuring 530, and causing $27.5 million in property damage. On May 4, 1978, an F3 tornado killed 3 people and injured 94 along a short but violent 1.5-mile path. Autumn has produced dangerous storms as well: on October 3, 1992, an F3 tornado 500 yards wide killed 3 people and injured 75, while an F2 that same day killed 1 person along a 3-mile track.

Damaging tornadoes have continued into recent years. On December 16, 2020, an EF2 tornado tracked 13.11 miles and caused $16 million in damage, and on October 12, 2023, an EF2 carved a 4.97-mile path through the area. Activity has persisted since, with an EF1 touching down on June 25, 2025, and an EF0 following on September 25, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Palm Harbor, FL had?
Since 1950, 264 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Palm Harbor. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Palm Harbor?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Palm Harbor was a F4 on April 4, 1966, which caused 11 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Palm Harbor?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Palm Harbor, with 42 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.
Has Palm Harbor been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Palm Harbor, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Palm Harbor?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Palm Harbor was an EF0 on September 25, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Palm Harbor?
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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