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Tornado in Hardee County, Florida
24 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.
Hardee County, Florida, has 24 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 19 different years.
June is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 11 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 3,820 tornado events recorded in Florida; its 3.8 per 100 square miles compares with 7.1 statewide.
By rating: 17 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 0 at (E)F2, 0 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 | Hardee County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 24 | 3,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.8 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.4 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 207 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
0Mar
2Apr
3May
2Jun
4Jul
3Aug
2Sep
2Oct
3Nov
0Dec
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 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jan 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $310K | $15K | — | — | County |
| 19 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1968 | Tornado | — | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Hardee County had?
24 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 Hardee County?
9 Oct 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Hardee County?
The tornado of 4 Jun 2004, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $310K and crop damage at $15K.
How does Hardee County compare with Florida for tornado?
3.8 events per 100 square miles against 7.1 statewide; the county holds 24 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.