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Tornado in Okeechobee County, Florida
27 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 27 tornado events in Okeechobee County, Florida, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
June is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 7 events against 7 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 3.5 per 100 square miles compares with 7.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 8 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 6 at (E)F1, 7 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 | Okeechobee County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 3,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.5 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 6.7 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 8 | 207 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
3Apr
4May
2Jun
7Jul
3Aug
1Sep
1Oct
4Nov
1Dec
0
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 27 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 |
| 9 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | $900K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | $3.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 9 Oct 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.2M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Aug 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $5.4M | — | — | 10 | County |
| 12 May 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1988 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1983 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 26 Sep 1982 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 7 | County |
| 24 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 1979 | Tornado | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | 6 | 44 | County |
| 12 Jun 1970 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Nov 1969 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 22 Jun 1961 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jul 1959 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Okeechobee County had?
27 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 Okeechobee 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 Okeechobee County?
The tornado of 9 Mar 1998, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $5.4M.
How does Okeechobee County compare with Florida for tornado?
3.5 events per 100 square miles against 7.1 statewide; the county holds 27 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.