267
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
1
Direct injuries
$11.0M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Bay County, Florida: 267 recorded events between 1955 and 2026. The strongest on record measured 71. That places the county #593 nationally and #24 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Bay County, Florida: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Bay County is the 2020s, when 114 of the county's 267 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 Bay County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 39.9% of all recorded severe weather across 12 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #593 for this hazard and #24 within Florida, putting it in the 81.1 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Bay County with 44 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.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 1983 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2026 | LYNN HAVEN | 55 | $0 |
| Mar 12, 2026 | SEMINOLE HILLS | 56 | $0 |
| Jan 25, 2026 | NIXON | 50 | $5K |
| Oct 27, 2025 | MEXICO BEACH | 65 | $100K |
| Oct 27, 2025 | MEXICO BEACH | 50 | $0 |
| Jul 22, 2025 | SPRINGFIELD | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 25, 2025 | (PAM)TYNDALL AFB | 53 | $0 |
| Mar 31, 2025 | WEST PANAMA CITY | 65 | $15K |
| Feb 16, 2025 | LYNN HAVEN | 50 | $0 |
| Dec 29, 2024 | WESTBAY | 50 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Bay County
- Flash Flood 149
- Tornado 92
- Hail 67
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
Numerous trees and minor structural damage was observed in the neighborhoods surround the emergency operations center. In Panama City, a couple of stores had some plate glass windows blown out. Also, a billboard and auto parts store were heavily damaged. At the marina, metal awnings covering the docks were damaged. About 10 slips had their coverings peeled off and removed. Along U.S. Highway Business 98 between Springfield and Parker, a gas station canopy was blown over. In Parker, numerous trees were toppled in neighborhoods, with some falling on houses causing major structural damage to roofs. Damage survey conducted by an NWS employee with assistance from the Bay County EMA and Panama City-Bay County Fire Department.
A peak wind gust of 70 mph was recorded at the Panama City-Bay County Airport. Several small planes suffered major damage. Some of these planes were torn from their tie downs and tossed into hangars and each other. One plane was flipped over. One hangar door was removed and lofted into the air and traveled about 100 yards. A Canadair regional jet was moved 15 feet back from a jetway at the terminal. Damage survey reported by an NWS employee.
A BP service station was destroyed at the intersection of FL Highways 20 and 77 just south of the Bay-Washington County line. 45 homes and one business were damaged, and several mobile homes and vehicles overturned in the Sand Hills subdivision. Numerous downed trees and power lines blocked roads. 600 homes were without power. Debris was blown northeast into Washington County. Reported by Panama City WJHG-TV meteorologist.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Bay County, Florida?
267 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Bay County between 1955 and 2026, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Bay County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Bay County measured 71.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Bay 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
“Thunderstorm Wind in Bay County, Florida.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/florida/bay-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.