45
Recorded events
1
Direct deaths
19
Direct injuries
$11.7M
Property damage
Tornado in Alachua County, Florida: 45 recorded events between 1957 and 2021. The strongest on record measured F2. That places the county #479 nationally and #32 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Tornado in Alachua County, Florida: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for tornado in Alachua County is the 1970s, when 10 of the county's 45 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Alachua County archive, tornado makes up 5.3% of all recorded severe weather across 10 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #479 for this hazard and #32 within Florida, putting it in the 83.2 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for tornado in Alachua County with 6 recorded events, while Nov is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Tornado tracks
Paths crossing this county
| Date | Scale | Path length | Max width | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986-03-14 | EF2 | 2.0 mi | 10 yd | Touched down here |
| 1983-02-02 | EF2 | 0.3 mi | 20 yd | Touched down here |
| 1978-05-04 | EF2 | 12.8 mi | 300 yd | Touched down here |
| 1978-04-19 | EF2 | 1.0 mi | 50 yd | Touched down here |
| 1973-04-04 | EF2 | 39.0 mi | 67 yd | Touched down here |
| 1970-02-03 | EF2 | 0.1 mi | 10 yd | Touched down here |
| 1966-09-28 | EF2 | 0.5 mi | 10 yd | Touched down here |
| 1957-06-08 | EF2 | 0.1 mi | 33 yd | Touched down here |
| 1993-03-12 | EF1 | 0.8 mi | 60 yd | Touched down here |
| 2007-12-16 | EF1 | 0.8 mi | 200 yd | Touched down here |
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 1993 | LaCrosse | F1 | 1 | 4 | $5.0M |
| Apr 19, 1978 | F2 | 0 | 6 | $250K | |
| Feb 2, 1983 | F2 | 0 | 4 | $250K | |
| May 4, 1978 | F2 | 0 | 4 | $2.5M | |
| Jun 13, 1992 | F0 | 0 | 1 | $250K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2021 | ISLAND GROVE | EF0 | $0 |
| Dec 14, 2019 | KIRKWOOD | EF0 | $0 |
| May 20, 2016 | GAINESVILLE WEST | EF0 | $0 |
| Mar 24, 2012 | CADILLAC | EF0 | $8K |
| Feb 26, 2008 | WALDO | EF0 | $0 |
| Dec 16, 2007 | HAGUE | EF1 | $0 |
| Aug 3, 2005 | MICANOPY | F0 | $0 |
| Sep 5, 2004 | HIGH SPGS | F0 | $0 |
| Apr 25, 2003 | (GNV)GAINESVILLE ARP | F0 | $0 |
| Apr 25, 2003 | HIGH SPGS | F0 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Alachua County
- Thunderstorm Wind 458
- Hail 141
- Heavy Rain 93
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A tornado destroyed a mobile home killing one person and injuring four others. A few houses were destroyed by the tornado and a resulting propane explosion at one of the residences. Trees and power lines were blown down. (F05M)
Based on photos, the NWS determined that an EF0 tornado caused wind damage (max winds around 75 mph) across the west side of Gainesville. A carport was damaged and numerous trees were blown down along 196th Terrace Ave. Two homes were also damaged along the path. At least 3 dozen trees were snapped off along a portion of the path as well. The cost of damage was estimated.
The EF1 path length was estimated at 3/4 mile and averaged about 200 yards wide. Maximum winds were estimated around 90-95 mph based on the damage survey. Numerous pine trees were snapped and a few were uprooted. A portion of a masonry brick wall on a small farm outbuilding was knocked over and the metal roof was ripped off and strewn across a field. A farm truck as flipped on its side near the outbuilding. Another house had a damaged carport, minor wall damage, a toppled TV antenna mast and many of the roof shingles were stripped. This location was along Northwest 93rd Avenue, northwest of Gainesville. The cost of damage was estimated.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many tornado events are on record in Alachua County, Florida?
45 tornado events are recorded in Alachua County between 1957 and 2021, causing 1 direct deaths.
What is the strongest tornado recorded in Alachua County?
The strongest tornado on record in Alachua County measured F2.
Where does the tornado data for Alachua County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Tornado in Alachua County, Florida.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/florida/alachua-county/tornado/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.