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Tornado in Polk County, Florida
165 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 165 tornado events in Polk County, Florida, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 57 years.
June is the busiest month, with 39 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 22 events against 76 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 4.3% of the 3,820 tornado events recorded in Florida; its 9.2 per 100 square miles compares with 7.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 9 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 104 at (E)F0, 41 at (E)F1, 15 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 3 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Florida
| Measure | Polk County | Florida | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 165 | 3,820 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 9.2 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 9 | 207 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | June | June | May |
By year
Seasonality
8Feb
9Mar
17Apr
14May
18Jun
39Jul
19Aug
10Sep
10Oct
6Nov
5Dec
10
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 165 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 16 Dec 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Oct 2019 | Tornado | EF2 | $10M | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Dec 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $45K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 20 Dec 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Sep 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF2 | $390K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Aug 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Feb 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $2K | $2K | — | — | County |
| 15 Sep 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Oct 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jun 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Aug 2002 | Tornado | F0 | — | $3K | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 2000 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jun 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 May 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 19 May 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $40K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F2 | $2.0M | — | — | 4 | County |
| 1 Mar 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $175K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Feb 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $150K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Dec 1997 | Tornado | F2 | $6.0M | — | — | 18 | County |
| 27 Dec 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Nov 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $75K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Oct 1997 | Tornado | F1 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 May 1997 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $1.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jun 1995 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Sep 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | $5K | — | 1 | County |
| 3 Jan 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | $5K | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jan 1993 | Tornado | — | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1992 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jun 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jun 1991 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Apr 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 19 Jan 1991 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Aug 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jul 1990 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1990 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jun 1988 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Aug 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Jun 1987 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jul 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jun 1986 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1986 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Feb 1986 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 8 Feb 1986 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Jul 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 1983 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 31 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jul 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Jun 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1981 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Sep 1979 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $25M | — | 1 | 40 | County |
| 5 Jun 1977 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jun 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1976 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 1975 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 1975 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 May 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 17 Mar 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Mar 1973 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 29 Nov 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 1971 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 1969 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Nov 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jan 1968 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Dec 1967 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 1966 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 8 | 450 | County |
| 6 Jun 1964 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 May 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 19 Feb 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Feb 1960 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jul 1958 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | 7 | County |
| 21 Jan 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 1957 | Tornado | F0 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 1956 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1954 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 1951 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 1951 | Tornado | F2 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Dec 1951 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Polk County had?
165 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 Polk County?
4 Aug 2024 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Polk County?
The tornado of 4 Apr 1966, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 8 deaths recorded.
How does Polk County compare with Florida for tornado?
9.2 events per 100 square miles against 7.1 statewide; the county holds 165 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.