F040 to 72 mph
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F173 to 112 mph
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2113 to 157 mph
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3158 to 206 mph
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4207 to 260 mph
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5261 to 318 mph
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
Every tornado in Florida in 1981
February 1 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 1 | 11:00 PM CST | F1 | Bay | 0.3 | 10 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
February 2 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 2 | 5:30 AM EST | F1 | Hillsborough | 0.5 | 10 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| February 2 | 12:10 PM EST | F1 | Martin | 0.3 | 10 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
February 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 10 | 12:30 PM CST | F1 | Okaloosa | 1.5 | 50 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
February 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| February 11 | 10:15 AM EST | F1 | Lake | 0.5 | 10 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
March 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 18 | 12:55 AM EST | F2 | Seminole | 0.5 | 33 | | 1 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
March 19 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 19 | 1:45 AM EST | F3 | Orange | 8.0 | 100 | | 1 | $500,000 to $5 million |
| March 19 | 2:00 AM EST | F2 | Osceola | 5.4 | 50 | | 11 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
March 22 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| March 22 | 10:45 AM EST | F0 | Alachua | 0.3 | 10 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
April 1 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 1 | 5:15 PM EST | F1 | Clay | 3.0 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
April 15 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| April 15 | 4:00 PM EST | F1 | Marion | 6.9 | 50 | | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
May 1 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 1 | 6:45 PM EDT | F1 | Brevard | 2.0 | 100 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
May 7 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 7 | 2:35 PM EDT | F0 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
| May 7 | 5:15 PM CDT | F1 | | 1.0 | 50 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
May 11 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 11 | 5:15 PM EDT | F0 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
May 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 17 | 7:45 PM EDT | F1 | Polk | 1.0 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
May 20 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 20 | 4:15 PM EDT | F1 | Broward | 1.0 | 50 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| May 20 | 4:40 PM EDT | F1 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
| May 20 | 4:55 PM EDT | F1 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
May 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 26 | 10:15 AM CDT | F0 | Bay | 1.0 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
May 28 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| May 28 | 4:58 PM EDT | F0 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
June 2 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 2 | 4:45 PM EDT | F0 | DeSoto | 0.1 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 4 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 4 | 4:40 PM EDT | F0 | Manatee | 0.2 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 10 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 10 | 7:20 PM EDT | F0 | Orange | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
June 13 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 13 | 6:15 PM EDT | F1 | Hillsborough | 0.5 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| June 13 | 8:30 PM EDT | F1 | Polk | 0.5 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 17 | 8:15 PM EDT | F1 | Pasco | 0.5 | 50 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
June 18 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 18 | 6:42 PM EDT | F1 | Citrus | 5.1 | 50 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 19 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 19 | 8:30 PM EDT | F0 | Pinellas | 0.1 | 30 | | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 20 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 20 | 5:10 PM EDT | F0 | Orange | 0.1 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
June 21 4 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 21 | 1:15 PM EDT | F0 | Broward | 0.1 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| June 21 | 5:10 PM EDT | F1 | Orange | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| June 21 | 6:00 PM EDT | F0 | Orange | 0.1 | 20 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
| June 21 | 6:00 PM EDT | F0 | Orange | 0.1 | 20 | | | $50 to $500 |
June 24 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 24 | 3:45 PM EDT | F0 | Okeechobee | 0.1 | 10 | | | |
| June 24 | 3:45 PM EDT | F0 | Okeechobee | 0.1 | 10 | | | |
June 25 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| June 25 | 7:00 PM EDT | F0 | Manatee | 0.5 | 50 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| June 25 | 7:30 PM EDT | F0 | Hillsborough | 0.1 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
July 2 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 2 | 9:49 AM EDT | F0 | Broward | 0.5 | 17 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
July 8 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 8 | 4:00 PM EDT | F1 | Lake | 1.0 | 50 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| July 8 | 5:21 PM EDT | F1 | Suwannee | 2.0 | 50 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
July 9 3 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 9 | 2:00 PM CDT | F0 | | 0.1 | 20 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
| July 9 | 3:00 PM CDT | F0 | Okaloosa | 0.5 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
| July 9 | 7:30 PM CDT | F0 | Santa Rosa | 0.1 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
July 15 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 15 | 5:15 AM EDT | F0 | Pinellas | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
| July 15 | 2:20 PM EDT | F1 | Marion | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
July 29 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 29 | 7:08 PM EDT | F0 | Manatee | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
July 30 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| July 30 | 1:20 PM EDT | F1 | Hillsborough | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
August 16 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 16 | 4:40 PM CDT | F0 | | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50 to $500 |
| August 16 | 12:02 AM EDT | F0 | Monroe | 0.5 | 30 | | | $50 to $500 |
August 20 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 20 | 2:30 PM EDT | F0 | Indian River | 0.1 | 30 | | | |
| August 20 | 2:35 PM EDT | F1 | Brevard | 0.1 | 30 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
August 24 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 24 | 6:30 PM EDT | F1 | Manatee | 0.3 | 50 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
August 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 26 | 3:20 PM EDT | F1 | Sarasota | 0.1 | 50 | | | $50,000 to $500,000 |
August 27 2 tornadoes
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| August 27 | 5:50 PM EDT | F0 | Orange | 0.1 | 20 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
| August 27 | 6:08 PM EDT | F0 | Collier | 0.1 | 20 | | | $500 to $5,000 |
September 16 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 16 | 2:45 PM EDT | F0 | Polk | 1.0 | 20 | | | $5,000 to $50,000 |
September 17 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 17 | 5:17 PM EDT | F0 | Palm Beach | 0.1 | 20 | | | |
September 26 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| September 26 | 4:45 PM CDT | F0 | | 0.2 | 17 | | | |
October 25 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| October 25 | 4:30 PM CST | F2 | Calhoun | 6.9 | 50 | | 12 | $500,000 to $5 million |
December 15 1 tornado
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|
| December 15 | 9:25 AM EST | F2 | Pinellas | 4.7 | 150 | | 5 | $50,000 to $500,000 |
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.