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Safety Harbor, FL Tornado History — 287 Tornadoes Since 1950

Florida · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Safety Harbor, FL had?

Safety Harbor has had 287 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 4 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Safety Harbor?

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

When is tornado season in Safety Harbor?

July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Safety Harbor, with 47 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
287
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
4
1.4% of total
Peak Month
July
47 on record
Per Year Avg
3.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Safety Harbor

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 58 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 2
2024 4
2023 5
2022 3
2021 2
2020 4
2019 2
2018 7
2017 0
2016 3
2015 0
2014 2
2013 6
2012 5
2011 6
2010 0
2009 6
2008 0
2007 1

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

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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 13
1960s 36
1970s 55
1980s 35
1990s 70
2000s 27
2010s 31
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 163
EF1 93
EF2 22
EF3 2
EF4 2
Unrated 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 17
Feb 12
Mar 20
Apr 22
May 33
Jun 45
Jul 47
Aug 28
Sep 17
Oct 21
Nov 12
Dec 13

Casualties on Record Near Safety Harbor

19 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Safety Harbor since 1950, across 5 events. 876 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 Safety 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 Safety Harbor

This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Safety Harbor, Florida has experienced 287 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to NOAA Storm Prediction Center records. This substantial count reflects the broader vulnerability of the Tampa Bay region to tornado activity, particularly during the warm season when atmospheric conditions favor convective storm development. Unlike the Great Plains where tornadoes typically peak in spring, the Safety Harbor area sees its highest tornado frequency in July, with 47 events recorded during that month alone.

The distribution of tornado intensity in the Safety Harbor vicinity shows that most events have been relatively weak, with 163 tornadoes rated EF0 and 93 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures damage potential from EF0 (weakest) to EF5 (strongest). However, the area has not been immune to violent tornadoes. Two EF4 tornadoes and two EF3 tornadoes have occurred within the 25-mile search radius since record-keeping began, demonstrating that significant tornado events, while rare, are possible in this coastal Florida location.

The deadliest tornado on record was an F4 event on April 4, 1966, which claimed 11 lives and caused $27.5 million in property damage while carving a 135.8-mile path with a maximum width of 300 yards. This tornado also holds the record as the longest-tracked tornado in the area's history. The costliest and widest tornado occurred on October 3, 1992, when an F3 tornado reached 500 yards in width, traveled 2.6 miles, resulted in three fatalities, and caused $27.5 million in damage.

Tornado activity in the Safety Harbor area has fluctuated considerably by decade, with the 1990s recording the highest count at 70 tornadoes, while the 1950s saw only 13 events. The 2020s have recorded 20 tornadoes thus far, with the most recent being an EF0 tornado on September 25, 2025, which caused no injuries or property damage. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in 2007, providing more refined damage assessments based on specific damage indicators and degrees of damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Safety Harbor, FL had?
Since 1950, 287 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Safety Harbor. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Safety Harbor?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Safety Harbor was a F4 on April 4, 1966, which caused 11 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Safety Harbor?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Safety Harbor, with 47 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 Safety Harbor been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Safety Harbor, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes 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 Safety Harbor?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Safety Harbor was an EF0 on September 25, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Safety 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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