South Bradenton, FL Tornado History — 205 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South Bradenton, FL had?
South Bradenton has had 205 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near South Bradenton?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Bradenton was an EF0 on January 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in South Bradenton?
July is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Bradenton, with 35 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near South Bradenton
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 29 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near South Bradenton 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of South Bradenton. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 South Bradenton
2 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of South Bradenton since 1950, across 1 event. 59 injuries have been reported across all events. 2016 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF2 on January 17, 2016, which caused 2 fatalities along a 9.2-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near South Bradenton
About Tornadoes in South Bradenton
This overview was written August 10, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
April 15, 1958, brought the Bradenton area an F4 tornado that injured 7 people despite staying on the ground for barely a tenth of a mile. South Bradenton sits on flat, low ground along Florida's central Gulf Coast, near where the Manatee River opens toward Tampa Bay, and the warm water on nearly every side keeps deep tropical moisture within reach of any passing disturbance.
The record the NOAA Storm Prediction Center maintains for this area holds other memorable entries. On Halloween of that same year, October 31, 1958, an F3 injured 4 people along a track of several miles. An F2 on April 4, 1966, traveled 123.3 miles across the peninsula. On January 17, 2016, an EF2 killed 2 people and injured 4 along a 9.2-mile track, while a second EF2 that same day injured 2 and caused about 12 million dollars in damage.
Those January and April dates hint at the local rhythm: summer sea-breeze collisions spin up brief, weak tornadoes and waterspouts, while the cool season brings the stronger setups, when a sharpened subtropical jet drags squall lines across the peninsula ahead of Gulf fronts. Landfalling tropical systems add another pathway in late summer and fall. The live event list elsewhere on this page draws on that same record and updates as new storm surveys are completed.