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Tornado in DeSoto County, Florida
35 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 35 tornado events in DeSoto County, Florida, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 25 years.
May is the busiest month, with 6 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 2 events against 15 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,820 tornado events recorded in Florida; its 5.5 per 100 square miles compares with 7.1 statewide.
By rating: 23 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 3 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 4 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Florida
| Measure | DeSoto County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 35 | 3,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.5 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 10.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 207 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
4Mar
1Apr
3May
6Jun
6Jul
4Aug
2Sep
3Oct
2Nov
1Dec
1
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 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Sep 2001 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1997 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Feb 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 May 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 May 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1985 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Dec 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 2 Feb 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 May 1979 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1979 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 21 Jul 1977 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 4 Aug 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1973 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 3 Feb 1970 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Feb 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Oct 1969 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 May 1967 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jan 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has DeSoto County had?
35 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 DeSoto County?
21 Jul 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in DeSoto County?
The tornado of 3 Feb 1970, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $250K.
How does DeSoto County compare with Florida for tornado?
5.5 events per 100 square miles against 7.1 statewide; the county holds 35 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.