Tornadoes · United States · Florida

1982 tornadoes in Florida

69 tornadoes touched down in Florida in 1982, 39 percent above the average of the record for the state. They killed 2 people and injured 39.

1981 1983 The whole country in 1982

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The Fujita scale rates the damage rather than measuring the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

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 1982

January 14 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
January 14	9:00 AM EST	F1	Lee	1.0	100			$50,000 to $500,000
January 14	10:30 AM EST	F0	Hendry	0.3	27			$5,000 to $50,000

February 17 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
February 17	6:30 AM EST	F1	Manatee	1.0	50			$50,000 to $500,000

March 6 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
March 6	1:00 AM EST	F0	Pinellas	3.0	50		$5,000 to $50,000
March 6	1:45 AM CST	F1		10.0	100	4	$500,000 to $5 million
March 6	5:00 AM EST	F1	Highlands	1.0	100		$50,000 to $500,000

March 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 7	3:10 AM EST	F1	Volusia	0.5	50			$5,000 to $50,000

March 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 29	1:30 AM EST	F1	Palm Beach	0.5	50		1	$5,000 to $50,000

April 5 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 5	7:00 PM EST	F1	Columbia	2.0	10		1	$5,000 to $50,000

April 8 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
April 8	3:00 PM EST	F2	Seminole	3.0	50	10	$50,000 to $500,000
April 8	6:30 PM EST	F1	Dixie	1.0	10		$5,000 to $50,000
April 8	7:00 PM EST	F1	Levy	1.0	20		$5,000 to $50,000

April 9 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 9	8:00 AM EST	F2	Lake	3.0	20		1	$5,000 to $50,000

April 11 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 11	3:30 AM EST	F0	Saint Lucie	5.0	50		1	$50,000 to $500,000

April 15 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 15	6:45 PM EST	F0	Polk	0.5	20			$500 to $5,000

April 22 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 22	9:30 PM EST	F0	Brevard	0.5	20			$5,000 to $50,000

April 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 25	9:00 AM CDT	F1	Santa Rosa	0.5	20			$5,000 to $50,000

April 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 29	4:00 PM EDT	F1	Orange	0.5	20			$5,000 to $50,000

May 23 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 23	5:22 PM EDT	F0	Palm Beach	0.3	20			$500 to $5,000

May 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 25	8:30 PM EDT	F1	Lake	0.5	20			$5,000 to $50,000

May 27 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 27	12:30 PM CDT	F1		0.3	20			$500,000 to $5 million

June 2 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 2	5:00 PM EDT	F0	Monroe	0.4	10			$5,000 to $50,000

June 3 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 3	5:30 PM EDT	F1	Monroe	0.3	17			$50,000 to $500,000
June 3	7:25 PM EDT	F0	Monroe	0.1	17			$50 to $500

June 9 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 9	3:00 PM EDT	F0	Monroe	0.4	10			$5,000 to $50,000

June 11 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 11	5:30 PM EDT	F2	Levy	13.0	60			$50,000 to $500,000

June 12 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 12	6:00 PM EDT	F0	Citrus	1.0	10			$500 to $5,000

June 15 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 15	5:00 PM EDT	F0	Polk	1.0	10			$500 to $5,000

June 16 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 16	4:00 PM EDT	F0	Putnam	2.0	10			$5,000 to $50,000

June 17 9 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 17	10:35 AM EDT	F0	Brevard	0.2	10			$500 to $5,000
June 17	10:45 AM EDT	F0	Broward	3.0	10			$50,000 to $500,000
June 17	8:00 PM EDT	F1	Polk	0.3	10			$50,000 to $500,000
June 17	9:00 PM EDT	F1	Volusia	0.2	10			$50,000 to $500,000
June 17	10:15 PM EDT	F2	Hendry	8.0	17	1	4	$50,000 to $500,000
June 17	11:30 PM EDT	F0	Highlands	1.0	10			$5,000 to $50,000
June 17	12:15 AM EDT	F2	Highlands	1.0	200		9	$50 to $500
June 17	12:30 AM EDT	F1	Highlands	0.5	10			$50,000 to $500,000
June 17	1:20 AM EDT	F0	Volusia	0.4	10			$500 to $5,000

June 18 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
June 18	2:00 AM EDT	F1	Volusia	5.0	50	under $50
June 18	4:00 AM EDT	F0	Polk	0.4	10	$5,000 to $50,000
June 18	4:09 AM EDT	F1	Polk	0.5	10	$50,000 to $500,000

June 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 25	5:00 PM EDT	F0	Martin	0.2	10			$5,000 to $50,000

June 26 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 26	1:00 PM EDT	F0	Saint Johns	0.5	10			$500 to $5,000

June 27 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 27	12:45 PM CDT	F0	Escambia	0.2	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 4 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 4	4:30 PM CDT	F0	Okaloosa	0.5	10			$500 to $5,000
July 4	7:25 PM CDT	F0	Escambia	0.3	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 8 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 8	4:00 PM EDT	F1	Hillsborough	0.3	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 9 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 9	3:30 PM EDT	F0	Citrus	0.1	10			$500 to $5,000

July 12 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 12	5:45 PM EDT	F0	Bradford	0.5	10			$500 to $5,000

July 13 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 13	7:15 PM EDT	F1	Citrus	0.5	17			$5,000 to $50,000

July 16 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 16	4:45 PM EDT	F1	Manatee	0.8	20			$5,000 to $50,000

July 19 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 19	5:00 PM EDT	F1	Polk	1.0	10			$500 to $5,000

July 20 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 20	3:50 PM EDT	F0	Polk	0.2	10			$500 to $5,000

July 26 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 26	6:00 PM EDT	F1	Polk	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 28 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 28	3:00 AM CDT	F0	Bay	0.2	10			$500 to $5,000

July 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 29	4:00 AM CDT	F1	Bay	0.2	10			$5,000 to $50,000

July 31 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 31	9:30 PM EDT	F1	Polk	0.3	10			$5,000 to $50,000

August 10 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 10	5:15 PM EDT	F1	Hernando	0.5	10		1	$5,000 to $50,000

August 12 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 12	12:55 PM CDT	F0		0.3	10			$50 to $500

September 10 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 10	5:50 PM EDT	F0	Orange	0.3	10			under $50

September 21 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 21	11:05 AM EDT	F1	Pinellas	0.3	10			$50,000 to $500,000

September 23 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 23	3:20 PM EDT	F0	Broward	0.5	10			under $50
September 23	2:35 PM CDT	F0		0.8	10			$500 to $5,000

September 26 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 26	2:30 AM EDT	F0	Lee	0.5	17			$5,000 to $50,000
September 26	3:10 AM EDT	F1	Collier	0.8	17			$50,000 to $500,000
September 26	5:00 AM EDT	F2	Okeechobee	4.0	60	1	7	$50,000 to $500,000

October 6 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
October 6	5:50 PM EDT	F1	Lee	0.4	17			$500,000 to $5 million

November 3 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
November 3	3:00 PM CST	F1	Bay	0.4	20			$500 to $5,000

December 5 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 5	6:30 AM CST	F1	Calhoun	0.1	10			$5,000 to $50,000

Nearby

Every tornado in Florida since 1950 Warnings in force in Florida The live radar over Florida

What this means

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.

Sources

NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.