Tornadoes · United States · Florida

Tornadoes in Pinellas County, Florida

151 tornadoes have crossed Pinellas County since 1950, 4th of the 67 counties in Florida with a tornado on record, an average of 2.0 a year. They have killed 19 people and injured 827. 1 was rated F4 or EF4 and above.

The rating scale

Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.

  1. F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale

    Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.

  2. F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale

    Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.

  3. F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale

    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.

  4. F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale

    Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.

  5. F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale

    Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.

  6. F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale

    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.

  7. 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.

Now

Tornadoes
151
Deaths
19
Injuries
827
F4 and above
1
Worst on record
F4, April 4, 1966

The deadliest in Pinellas County

  1. F4, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Osceola counties, FloridaApril 4, 196611 killed, 530 injured
  2. F3, Pinellas County, FloridaMay 4, 19783 killed, 94 injured
  3. F3, Pinellas County, FloridaOctober 3, 19923 killed, 75 injured
  4. F1, Pinellas County, FloridaAugust 12, 19761 killed, 21 injured
  5. F2, Pinellas County, FloridaOctober 3, 19921 killed

The strongest

  1. F4, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Osceola counties, FloridaApril 4, 1966F4, 135.8 mi (219 km)
  2. F3, Pinellas County, FloridaOctober 3, 1992F3, 2.6 mi (4 km)
  3. F3, Pinellas County, FloridaMay 4, 1978F3, 1.5 mi (2 km)
  4. F2, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk and Osceola counties, FloridaApril 4, 1966F2, 123.3 mi (198 km)
  5. F2, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, FloridaOctober 31, 1973F2, 27.9 mi (45 km)
  6. EF2, Pinellas County, FloridaDecember 16, 2020EF2, 13.1 mi (21 km)
  7. F2, Pinellas County, FloridaDecember 11, 1983F2, 8.0 mi (13 km)
  8. F2, Pinellas County, FloridaAugust 13, 1963F2, 5.1 mi (8 km)
  9. EF2, Pinellas County, FloridaOctober 11, 2023EF2, 5.0 mi (8 km)
  10. F2, Pinellas County, FloridaDecember 15, 1981F2, 4.7 mi (8 km)

Every year with a tornado

The 55 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Pinellas County. Each year links to every tornado in Florida that year.

YearTornadoesDeathsInjuriesStrongest
20252EF1
20242EF0
202342EF2
202212EF1
20211EF0
202041EF2
20192EF0
201821EF1
20162EF0
20141EF0
20134EF0
20122EF1
20112EF1
20092EF1
20053F0
20041F0
20024F0
20011F0
20001F0
19992F0
19981F0
199734F1
19962F0
199511F1
19941F0
19937F1
199213481F3
19917F1
19902F0
19891F0
19887F0
19872F0
19863F0
198512F1
198321F2
19822F1
198136F2
19796F1
19783396F3
19764123F1
19753F1
1974255F1
1973317F2
19721F0
196911F2
19686F1
19671F2
1966611531F4
196423F1
19634F2
19611F2
19541F1
19532F1
19523F2
19511F1

Every tornado that crossed Pinellas County

151 tornadoes, newest first.

DateTimeRatingWherePath (mi)Width (yd)DeathsInjuriesDamage
September 25, 202512:36 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.010
June 25, 20257:02 PM EDTEF1Pinellas2.1100$250,000
August 4, 20246:50 PM EDTEF0Pinellas2.250$25,000
January 9, 20244:23 PM ESTEF0Pinellas0.010$10,000
October 12, 202311:34 AM EDTEF0Pinellas0.415$5,000
October 11, 20231:47 AM EDTEF2Pinellas5.0300$500,000
October 11, 202312:13 AM EDTEF0Pinellas0.350$50,000
June 16, 20234:10 PM EDTUnratedPinellas0.1252
December 15, 20225:01 PM ESTEF1Pinellas1.91002$500,000
February 14, 20211:07 AM ESTEF0Pinellas1.330$20,000
December 16, 20203:49 PM ESTEF2Pinellas13.1300$16 million
November 30, 20206:00 AM ESTUnratedPinellas12.450$1,000
June 6, 20205:59 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.975$30,000
February 6, 202010:38 PM ESTEF0Pinellas9.2501$200,000
October 18, 20199:29 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.330$100,000
May 5, 201912:40 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.450$50,000
November 2, 20183:13 PM EDTEF1Pinellas1.7751$300,000
April 15, 20183:12 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.220$20,000
April 7, 20166:55 AM EDTEF0Pinellas0.850$100,000
April 7, 20166:37 AM EDTEF0Pinellas0.150$5,000
March 6, 201412:00 PM ESTEF0Pinellas0.110
July 1, 20135:50 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.120$10,000
June 25, 20139:00 PM EDTEF0Pinellas0.15$2,000
June 24, 20138:24 PM EDTEF0Pinellas1.910
June 6, 201310:03 AM EDTEF0Pinellas1.950$20,000
June 24, 20128:21 PM EDTEF1Pinellas3.050$150,000
June 24, 20123:40 PM EDTEF1Pinellas0.775$130,000
March 31, 201111:19 AM EDTEF1Pinellas1.060$5,000
March 31, 201111:04 AM EDTEF1Pinellas0.130$750,000
May 22, 200912:45 PM EDTEF0Pinellas1.310
April 14, 20098:28 AM EDTEF1Pasco2.475$275,000
July 20, 20056:05 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.775$440,000
July 9, 20056:55 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.140
June 23, 20054:28 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.540
August 24, 20046:00 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.820$10,000
July 12, 20028:30 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.540$1,000
July 11, 20022:30 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.540$20,000
June 8, 20023:40 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.040$500,000
June 5, 20026:45 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.120
July 14, 20019:39 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.15
August 12, 20001:50 PM EDTF0Pinellas2.310$500,000
July 15, 19996:15 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.90$100,000
June 20, 19995:33 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.10$2,000
July 10, 199811:29 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.130
October 27, 19978:48 AM ESTF0Pinellas0.110$2,000
October 27, 19978:42 AM ESTF1Pinellas9.5504$4.5 million
April 23, 199711:38 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
November 8, 199612:55 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.110$10,000
September 20, 19966:15 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.010$30,000
July 12, 19952:15 PM EDTF1Pinellas6.0201$50,000 to $500,000
July 11, 19947:30 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
August 9, 19936:35 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.450$500 to $5,000
August 9, 19936:08 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
July 14, 19934:20 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.440$50,000 to $500,000
June 15, 19936:15 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.5100$50 to $500
June 14, 19936:45 PM EDTF1Pinellas2.0300$50,000 to $500,000
March 12, 199312:00 AM ESTF0Pinellas0.110$5,000 to $50,000
January 16, 19934:20 AM ESTF0Pinellas0.110$5,000 to $50,000
October 3, 199210:30 AM EDTF3Pinellas2.6500375$5 million to $50 million
October 3, 199210:28 AM EDTF1Pinellas1.5300$5,000 to $50,000
October 3, 19929:40 AM EDTF2Pinellas3.02001$500,000 to $5 million
September 1, 19926:52 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
July 22, 19925:30 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
July 20, 19925:55 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110$50 to $500
July 20, 19925:05 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110$50 to $500
July 19, 199211:42 AM EDTF1Pinellas0.330$5,000 to $50,000
July 12, 199211:15 AM EDTF2Pinellas4.5606$500,000 to $5 million
June 17, 19925:37 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.640$500 to $5,000
February 5, 19923:48 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.210$50 to $500
February 5, 19923:40 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.210$50 to $500
February 5, 19923:10 AM ESTF0Pinellas0.210
July 20, 19913:45 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110
May 17, 19915:40 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.223
May 16, 19915:55 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.123$500 to $5,000
May 16, 19912:40 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.210$50 to $500
April 25, 19913:35 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.850$50,000 to $500,000
April 25, 19913:17 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110$50 to $500
January 19, 199110:08 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.530
August 19, 19903:10 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.210$50 to $500
June 7, 19905:55 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.210$500 to $5,000
August 10, 19893:35 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.210$50,000 to $500,000
December 11, 19883:59 PM ESTF0Pinellas1.030$50,000 to $500,000
November 22, 198812:50 AM ESTF0Pinellas1.030$500 to $5,000
November 22, 198812:32 AM ESTF0Pinellas1.030$500 to $5,000
September 8, 19889:50 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$5,000 to $50,000
August 14, 19884:50 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.530$5,000 to $50,000
July 25, 19881:00 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$5,000 to $50,000
July 15, 198812:30 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$500 to $5,000
July 6, 19874:26 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$50,000 to $500,000
June 18, 19879:00 PM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$5,000 to $50,000
June 12, 19868:20 AM EDTF0Pinellas2.040$5,000 to $50,000
June 3, 19865:15 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.520$50 to $500
May 20, 19862:20 AM EDTF0Pinellas1.030$500 to $5,000
March 15, 198511:08 AM ESTF1Pinellas0.3102$500 to $5,000
December 11, 198311:00 PM ESTF2Pinellas8.0100$50,000 to $500,000
February 2, 19836:00 AM ESTF1Pinellas0.6401$50,000 to $500,000
September 21, 198211:05 AM EDTF1Pinellas0.310$50,000 to $500,000
March 6, 19821:00 AM ESTF0Pinellas3.050$5,000 to $50,000
December 15, 19819:25 AM ESTF2Pinellas4.71505$50,000 to $500,000
July 15, 19815:15 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.530$50,000 to $500,000
June 19, 19818:30 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.1301$5,000 to $50,000
October 5, 19798:20 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.230$5,000 to $50,000
September 25, 19795:40 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.130$5,000 to $50,000
September 1, 19795:00 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.130$50,000 to $500,000
May 24, 19792:00 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.110$5,000 to $50,000
May 8, 197911:45 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.220$50,000 to $500,000
May 8, 19798:00 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.120$50,000 to $500,000
June 29, 197812:43 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.1132$5,000 to $50,000
June 8, 19789:00 AM EDTF0Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
May 4, 197811:47 AM EDTF3Pinellas1.5200394$500,000 to $5 million
August 12, 19766:50 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.330121$500,000 to $5 million
July 7, 19767:35 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.120$500 to $5,000
April 8, 19761:15 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.1102$5,000 to $50,000
January 8, 197611:00 AM ESTF0Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
September 11, 19758:00 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.130$500 to $5,000
August 17, 19751:20 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.120$500 to $5,000
May 26, 197510:00 PM EDTF1Pinellas0.550$5,000 to $50,000
July 25, 19741:15 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.110$5,000 to $50,000
February 19, 19745:30 PM EDTF1Pinellas45.916755$500,000 to $5 million
October 31, 197310:30 PM ESTF2Pinellas27.910017$500,000 to $5 million
June 2, 19738:00 PM EDTF0Pinellas0.210$5,000 to $50,000
March 17, 19733:00 AM ESTF1Pinellas1.050$5,000 to $50,000
January 2, 19722:00 PM ESTF0Pinellas0.550$500 to $5,000
December 10, 19696:40 AM GMT-5F2Pinellas1.01501$50,000 to $500,000
November 11, 196811:15 AM GMT-5F1Pinellas57.210$50,000 to $500,000
November 9, 19681:50 PM GMT-5F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
July 14, 19681:30 AM GMT-4F1Pinellas2.027$5,000 to $50,000
July 14, 19684:10 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
May 19, 19683:10 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.1100$500 to $5,000
January 23, 196810:10 PM GMT-5F1Pinellas0.150$5,000 to $50,000
December 28, 196710:10 AM GMT-5F2Pinellas0.133$5,000 to $50,000
September 5, 196610:30 AM GMT-4F0Pinellas0.110
August 28, 19666:00 PM GMT-4F0Pinellas0.110
June 6, 19664:30 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.3301$50,000 to $500,000
April 28, 19666:00 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$50 to $500
April 4, 19668:15 AM GMT-5F2Pinellas123.3150$50,000 to $500,000
April 4, 19668:00 AM GMT-5F4Pinellas135.830011530$5 million to $50 million
August 21, 196412:15 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.1102$500 to $5,000
March 20, 19646:00 AM GMT-5F1Pinellas4.1101$50,000 to $500,000
August 22, 19633:00 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
August 21, 19632:45 PM GMT-4F2Pinellas0.327$500 to $5,000
August 13, 19639:00 PM GMT-4F2Pinellas5.1100$5,000 to $50,000
May 30, 19637:23 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
May 5, 19616:15 PM GMT-4F2Pinellas0.550$5,000 to $50,000
August 20, 19547:45 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.427$5,000 to $50,000
June 18, 19535:00 AM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
June 5, 195310:45 AM GMT-4F0Pinellas0.110under $50
June 29, 19521:00 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
June 13, 19522:00 PM GMT-4F1Pinellas2.510$500 to $5,000
May 30, 19521:00 PM GMT-4F2Pinellas0.110$500 to $5,000
December 18, 19517:00 PM GMT-5F1Pinellas2.8100$500 to $5,000

Nearby

Warnings in force in Pinellas CountyThe forecast for Pinellas CountyThe live radar over Pinellas CountyEvery county in 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.