Tornadoes · United States · Florida

1983 tornadoes in Florida

85 tornadoes touched down in Florida in 1983, 72 percent above the average of the record for the state. They killed 4 people and injured 51.

1982 1984 The whole country in 1983

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 1983

January 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
January 29	10:15 PM CST	F1	Bay	0.7	30			$500,000 to $5 million

February 1 4 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
February 1	7:45 AM CST	F1	Escambia	5.0	40		$50,000 to $500,000
February 1	8:10 AM CST	F0	Santa Rosa	0.5	20		$50 to $500
February 1	8:30 AM CST	F1	Okaloosa	0.4	20		$5,000 to $50,000
February 1	9:30 AM CST	F2	Walton	0.3	30	1	$5,000 to $50,000

February 2 14 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
February 2	4:30 AM EST	F1	Hernando	1.0	20			$5,000 to $50,000
February 2	4:45 AM EST	F1	Citrus	2.0	30		1	$5,000 to $50,000
February 2	5:40 AM EST	F2	Alachua	0.3	20		4	$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	6:00 AM EST	F1	Pinellas	0.6	40		1	$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	6:30 AM EST	F1	Volusia	0.2	10			$500 to $5,000
February 2	6:50 AM EST	F2	Hillsborough	4.0	40		2	$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	8:20 AM EST	F1	DeSoto	0.5	30			$500 to $5,000
February 2	8:40 AM EST	F1	Volusia	2.0	50			$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	8:45 AM EST	F2	Orange	1.0	20			$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	9:00 AM EST	F0	Orange	0.2	20		1	$50 to $500
February 2	9:05 AM EST	F2	Orange	5.0	50		9	$500,000 to $5 million
February 2	9:20 AM EST	F2	Highlands	1.0	40	1	6	$50,000 to $500,000
February 2	10:48 AM EST	F1	Brevard	0.4	30			$5,000 to $50,000
February 2	1:20 PM EST	F2	Martin	2.0	50		1	$50,000 to $500,000

February 10 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
February 10	3:45 PM CST	F0		0.5	20	under $50
February 10	5:00 PM EST	F0	Broward	0.5	20	$5,000 to $50,000
February 10	5:42 PM EST	F1	Palm Beach	2.0	40	$500 to $5,000

March 5 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 5	5:50 PM CST	F0	Santa Rosa	0.5	30			under $50
March 5	7:15 PM CST	F0	Okaloosa	0.5	30			$50 to $500

March 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 7	3:45 PM EST	F2	Brevard	5.0	60			$50,000 to $500,000

March 17 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 17	7:15 AM EST	F1	Collier	7.0	40			$50,000 to $500,000
March 17	7:49 AM EST	F2	Collier	52.5	60		2	$500,000 to $5 million

March 21 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
March 21	5:30 AM EST	F2	Okeechobee	5.0	50		4	$500,000 to $5 million

March 24 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
March 24	5:15 AM EST	F1	Polk	0.8	80	2	$50,000 to $500,000
March 24	6:10 AM EST	F2	Osceola	18.0	90		$5 million to $50 million
March 24	6:50 AM EST	F1	Osceola	21.0	80		$50,000 to $500,000

April 9 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 9	12:55 PM EST	F3	Citrus	10.0	80	3	2	$500,000 to $5 million
April 9	2:00 PM EST	F2	Marion	10.0	60			$50,000 to $500,000
April 9	3:00 PM EST	F1	Putnam	4.0	40			$5,000 to $50,000

April 15 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
April 15	3:00 PM EST	F1	Lake	1.0	30			$500 to $5,000
April 15	4:10 PM EST	F1	Volusia	16.0	50			$500 to $5,000

April 23 8 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Injuries	Damage
April 23	3:30 AM EST	F1	Franklin	22.0	40		$5,000 to $50,000
April 23	8:10 AM EST	F2	Gilchrist	15.0	80	6	$500,000 to $5 million
April 23	8:55 AM EST	F1	Union	10.0	50		$500,000 to $5 million
April 23	9:47 AM EST	F1	Clay	6.0	40		$500,000 to $5 million
April 23	12:10 PM EST	F1	Marion	8.0	50	1	$500,000 to $5 million
April 23	1:30 PM EST	F1	Lake	3.0	30		$50,000 to $500,000
April 23	1:50 PM EST	F1	Volusia	8.0	40		$5,000 to $50,000
April 23	2:30 PM EST	F1	Orange	6.0	40		$500 to $5,000

May 16 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 16	10:30 AM EDT	F1	Leon	2.0	50			$500,000 to $5 million
May 16	3:30 PM EDT	F1	Baker	0.5	40			$5,000 to $50,000

May 31 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
May 31	6:15 PM EDT	F0	Palm Beach	0.4	20			$5,000 to $50,000
May 31	5:45 PM CDT	F0		0.3	10			$500 to $5,000

June 7 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 7	9:20 AM CDT	F1	Jackson	2.0	40			$50,000 to $500,000
June 7	3:15 PM EDT	F1	Bradford	0.4	20			$5,000 to $50,000

June 8 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 8	8:45 AM EDT	F0	Collier	0.5	20			$500 to $5,000
June 8	1:00 PM EDT	F1	Hillsborough	1.0	30		2	$50,000 to $500,000

June 20 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 20	9:14 PM EDT	F1	Monroe	3.0	50			$500,000 to $5 million

June 21 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 21	12:00 PM EDT	F1	Alachua	4.0	40			$5,000 to $50,000

June 22 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 22	3:00 PM EDT	F0	Flagler	0.4	20			$50 to $500

June 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
June 25	8:00 PM EDT	F1	Highlands	0.4	30			$50,000 to $500,000

July 5 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 5	5:15 PM EDT	F1	Seminole	0.5	30			$5,000 to $50,000

July 6 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 6	6:00 PM EDT	F0	Collier	1.0	20			under $50

July 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 7	5:57 PM EDT	F1	Sarasota	3.0	50			$50,000 to $500,000

July 18 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 18	6:30 PM EDT	F0	Citrus	0.4	20			$50 to $500

July 19 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 19	3:40 PM EDT	F0	Broward	0.3	20			under $50

July 20 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 20	12:15 AM EDT	F1	Palm Beach	0.5	30			$5,000 to $50,000

July 25 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
July 25	4:40 PM EDT	F1	Pasco	0.5	30			$5,000 to $50,000

August 3 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 3	5:00 PM CDT	F1	Bay	0.3	40			$5,000 to $50,000

August 5 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 5	8:55 AM CDT	F0		0.2	40			$50 to $500

August 7 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 7	3:00 PM EDT	F0	Brevard	0.2	30			under $50

August 8 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 8	4:15 PM EDT	F0	Palm Beach	1.0	100			$500 to $5,000
August 8	4:30 PM EDT	F2	Palm Beach	0.3	70		2	$500,000 to $5 million

August 12 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
August 12	2:30 PM EDT	F1	Flagler	0.5	40			$50,000 to $500,000

September 3 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 3	6:00 PM EDT	F0	Marion	0.2	30			$500 to $5,000

September 6 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 6	9:00 PM EDT	F0	Polk	1.0	100			$5,000 to $50,000

September 8 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 8	3:00 PM EDT	F0	Hillsborough	0.5	30			$50,000 to $500,000

September 10 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
September 10	5:30 PM EDT	F1	Lee	3.0	30			$50,000 to $500,000

November 20 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
November 20	2:15 AM CST	F1	Escambia	3.0	50	$5,000 to $50,000
November 20	1:26 PM EST	F2	Volusia	3.0	50	$500,000 to $5 million
November 20	1:30 PM EST	F2	Flagler	3.0	50	$50,000 to $500,000

December 11 2 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 11	6:30 AM CST	F1	Okaloosa	0.5	30			$500 to $5,000
December 11	11:00 PM EST	F2	Pinellas	8.0	100			$50,000 to $500,000

December 12 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 12	2:30 AM EST	F2	DeSoto	1.0	50		4	$50,000 to $500,000

December 13 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 13	10:30 PM CST	F2	Santa Rosa	1.5	300			$50,000 to $500,000

December 14 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 14	1:40 AM CST	F1	Bay	1.5	50			$50,000 to $500,000

December 28 3 tornadoes

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Damage
December 28	9:00 AM EST	F1	Wakulla	1.0	30	$5,000 to $50,000
December 28	10:30 AM EST	F1	Suwannee	3.0	30	$5,000 to $50,000
December 28	10:50 AM EST	F1	Hamilton	3.0	30	$5,000 to $50,000

December 29 1 tornado

Date	Time	Rating	Where	Path (mi)	Width (yd)	Deaths	Injuries	Damage
December 29	1:45 AM EST	F1	Madison	3.0	30			$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.