South Miami Heights, FL Tornado History — 138 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has South Miami Heights, FL had?
South Miami Heights has had 138 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near South Miami Heights?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of South Miami Heights was an EF1 on October 9, 2024.
When is tornado season in South Miami Heights?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near South Miami Heights, with 28 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 Miami Heights
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 21 total, averaging 1.1 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near South Miami Heights 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 Miami Heights. 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 Miami Heights
1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of South Miami Heights since 1950, across 1 event. 154 injuries have been reported across all events. 2003 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was a F2 on March 27, 2003, which caused 1 fatality along a 6.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near South Miami Heights
About Tornadoes in South Miami Heights
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.
South Miami Heights, Florida has experienced 138 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. This relatively high count reflects the unique meteorological conditions of South Florida, where tornadoes frequently develop from tropical systems, sea-breeze convergence zones, and waterspouts that move onshore. The vast majority of these events have been weak, with 104 rated EF0 and 27 rated EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which measures tornado intensity based on damage indicators.
Tornado activity in the area has varied considerably by decade. The 1990s saw the highest concentration with 39 recorded events, followed by the 2000s with 27 tornadoes and the 1980s with 24. More recent decades have seen fewer occurrences, with only 8 tornadoes in the 2010s and 6 thus far in the 2020s. June stands out as the peak month for tornado activity, accounting for 28 events, which aligns with the height of Florida's wet season when atmospheric instability and storm formation are most frequent.
While most tornadoes near South Miami Heights have caused minimal damage, a few notable events stand out in the historical record. The deadliest tornado occurred on March 27, 2003, when an F2-rated storm produced one fatality along a 6.0-mile path with a maximum width of 600 yards and caused $8 in recorded property damage. The costliest event took place on May 27, 1982, when an F1 tornado caused $2,750,000 in damage despite traveling only 0.3 miles. The longest-tracked tornado on record was an F0 that traveled 42.8 miles on September 12, 1968, while the widest reached 833 yards across on October 4, 1968.
Only one tornado in the area's history has reached EF3 intensity, underscoring that violent tornadoes are exceptionally rare in this region. The most recent tornado occurred on October 9, 2024, when an EF1 event traveled 2.9 miles with a maximum width of 75 yards, causing no fatalities or recorded property damage. One tornado in the historical record remains unrated due to insufficient damage survey information.