Lakeland, Florida tornadoes

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56confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lakeland since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 16, 2020, EF1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Fromto

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025

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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near Lakeland

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The record

At a glance

Total56within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025

Per year0.7average since 1950

Peak monthJune13 of 56

StrongestF4Apr 4, 1966

Deaths11whole paths, see note

Injuries534whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Lakeland.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

June is the peak month, with 13 of 56 tornadoes.

By time of day

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0

EF1

EF2

EF4

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

All 56 tornadoes, newest first

Tornadoes, newest first
Date	Rating	Path length	Width	Deaths	Injuries
Dec 16, 2020	EF1	12.93 mi	250 yd	0	0
Oct 18, 2019	EF2	11.45 mi	525 yd	0	0
Sep 10, 2017	EF2	0.59 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 31, 2011	EF1	0.83 mi	30 yd	0	0
May 12, 2009	EF0	0.04 mi	15 yd	0	0
Jun 24, 2006	F0	0.3 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jun 30, 2005	F0	0.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Apr 23, 2005	F1	7 mi	150 yd	0	0
Sep 4, 2004	F0	3.6 mi	50 yd	0	0
Feb 24, 2004	F0	0.3 mi	30 yd	0	0
Aug 14, 2002	F0	0.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jul 25, 2002	F0	1 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jul 30, 2000	F0	0.2 mi	n/a	0	0
May 21, 1999	F1	1.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
May 19, 1999	F0	1.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Sep 25, 1998	F0	0.5 mi	30 yd	0	0
Oct 31, 1997	F1	4 mi	23 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 1997	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 7, 1996	F0	6 mi	10 yd	0	0
Oct 7, 1996	F0	11 mi	10 yd	0	0
Mar 30, 1996	F0	2.5 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 18, 1994	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jan 4, 1993	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 28, 1992	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 21, 1992	F1	0.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jun 24, 1991	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 1, 1991	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 25, 1991	F0	0.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Mar 18, 1991	F1	2 mi	100 yd	0	2
Jan 19, 1991	F0	0.8 mi	40 yd	0	0
Jul 7, 1990	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 22, 1990	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 10, 1989	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 13, 1989	F0	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 22, 1988	F1	1 mi	30 yd	0	0
Jul 1, 1984	F0	0.5 mi	30 yd	0	0
Jun 8, 1983	F1	1 mi	30 yd	0	2
Jul 31, 1982	F1	0.3 mi	10 yd	0	0
Jun 5, 1977	F0	0.1 mi	13 yd	0	0
Jun 18, 1974	F1	0.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 15, 1974	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 6, 1974	F1	2 mi	20 yd	0	0
Jan 22, 1973	F1	1.5 mi	20 yd	0	0
Nov 29, 1971	F2	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jul 2, 1971	F0	1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Mar 3, 1971	F1	0.5 mi	50 yd	0	0
Nov 11, 1968	F1	57.2 mi	10 yd	0	0
Apr 4, 1966	F2	123.3 mi	150 yd	0	0
Apr 4, 1966	F4	135.8 mi	300 yd	11	530
Jan 12, 1964	F1	4.7 mi	20 yd	0	0
Mar 15, 1960	F1	1 mi	100 yd	0	0
Jul 21, 1958	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
May 16, 1957	F0	0.1 mi	150 yd	0	0
Mar 4, 1957	F0	0.5 mi	20 yd	0	0
Jul 2, 1956	F0	0.1 mi	10 yd	0	0
Dec 4, 1951	F1	0.1 mi	27 yd	0	0

Nearby

Lakeland and its county

Lakeland is in Polk County, where NOAA has recorded 171 tornadoes since 1950. A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.