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Tornado in Columbia County, Florida
25 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 25 tornado events in Columbia County, Florida, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
August is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 6 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.7% of the 3,820 tornado events recorded in Florida; its 3.1 per 100 square miles compares with 7.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 12 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Florida
| Measure | Columbia County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 3,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.1 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 3.6 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 207 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | August | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
3Mar
3Apr
2May
3Jun
1Jul
3Aug
4Sep
1Oct
1Nov
1Dec
2
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 25 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jun 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $4.0M | — | 2 | 5 | County |
| 25 Dec 2006 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 10 Dec 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Oct 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Sep 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 23 Jan 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Aug 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 Feb 1975 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1974 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 29 May 1962 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Feb 1960 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 1951 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Columbia County had?
25 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Columbia County?
16 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Columbia County?
The tornado of 7 Mar 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $4.0M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Columbia County compare with Florida for tornado?
3.1 events per 100 square miles against 7.1 statewide; the county holds 25 of the state's 3,820 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.