Ruskin, FL Tornado History — 305 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Ruskin, FL had?
Ruskin has had 305 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Ruskin?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Ruskin was an EF0 on September 25, 2025.
When is tornado season in Ruskin?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Ruskin, with 59 on record. April through June account for 95 of the 305 tornadoes on record near Ruskin.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Ruskin
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 50 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Ruskin 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
A resident of the area reported seeing the tornado lifting debris over an open field in a construction site. The circulation dissipated shortly after. (TBW)
[Delayed Report] Broadcast media shared several photos and a couple videos of a waterspout that appears to move onshore in the Villages of Bayport Community. Damage to (TBW)
Within 25 miles of Ruskin. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Ruskin
3 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Ruskin and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on June 25, 2025 and the most recent on September 25, 2025. They are already counted in the Ruskin totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
[Landspout] Both broadcast media and Emergency Management shared images and reports of a landspout over the Pinellas County landfill. This landspout was observed under (TBW)
[Landspout] Video received depicting brief spin up of a likely landspout near Apache Lane just south of Old Hillsborough Avenue in Seffner. Some debris appearing to be (TBW)
Multiple reports with video and pictures of debris and tornado damage near Ulmerton Rd. in Largo... FL. (TBW)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Ruskin
22 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Ruskin since 1950, across 7 events. 846 injuries have been reported across all events. 1966 was the deadliest year on record near Ruskin.
The deadliest single event was an F4 on April 4, 1966, which caused 11 fatalities along a 135.8-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Ruskin
What the record shows near Ruskin
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Ruskin, with 77 of the 305 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 15 so far. The Ruskin record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Ruskin, 271 reached EF0 or EF1 and 32 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Ruskin is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged. A further 2 near Ruskin are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Ruskin has averaged 2.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 50 in total. 2013 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.