An EF1 tornado touched down in the Hobe Sound and Jupiter Island area on June 12, downing Ficus trees along Bridge Road with winds between 80 and 90 mph.
This is the second tornado to touch down on the Treasure Coast this year, according to TCPalm’s tornado database, which uses data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. An EF0 tornado, the weakest tornado rating, ripped through about eight miles in Martin County on January 15.
Tornadoes and other natural weather events are tracked by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with a database from January 1950 to February 2024.
Database: See every tornado on the Treasure Coast since 1950
How many tornadoes have hit the Treasure Coast?
Over 74 years, 110 tornadoes have been reported on the Treasure Coast, ranging from EF0 to EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, or EF Scale. Here’s what each ranking means:
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F0: storm; 65 to 85 km/h
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F1: weak; 86 to 110 km/h
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F2: Strong; 111 to 215 km/h
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F3: Severe; 136 to 165 km/h
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F4: Devastating; 166 to 200 km/h
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F5: Incredible; more than 200 km/h
The county with the most tornadoes is St. Lucie County with 47; Martin County with 36, excluding June 12; and 27 in Indian River County.
Has there ever been a deadly tornado on the Treasure Coast?
There has been one deadly tornado on the Treasure Coast in more than seventy years.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration database, two people died during an EF3 tornado on September 18, 1954. The tornado was 110 feet (33 meters) wide.
What was the costliest tornado on the Treasure Coast?
An EF1 tornado caused $3.2 million in property damage in St. Lucie County on March 9, 1998.
It landed at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds and destroyed 20 amusement park rides, grandstands and outbuildings, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration records. It then moved toward the St. Lucie County Airport, where eight planes were overturned and a hangar was destroyed.
No one was injured and no fatalities were reported.
Since 1950, here is the cumulative property damage since 1950:
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Indian River: $2.4 million
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Martin: $2.07 million, excluding damages as of June 12
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St. Lucie: $4.6 million
When is tornado season in Florida?
Tornadoes can form differently in any season, but according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Florida is most affected in the spring and summer.
Tornado Safety Tips
If you find yourself trapped in a tornado, here are some things you can do to stay safe, according to the National Weather Service:
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Stay ready for the weather: Keep listening to local news or a NOAA weather radio to stay informed about tornado watches and warnings.
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At home: If a tornado warning sounds, go to your basement, safe room or an interior room, away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time permits.
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At your workplace or school: Follow your tornado drill and head to your tornado shelter, avoiding windows and large open spaces such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.
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Outside: Immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building if a tornado approaches. Sheds, mobile homes, tents and sheds are unsafe. If you have time, go to a safe building.
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In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is unsafe, but if you are driving, it is best to go to the nearest shelter. If shelter is not available, get into your car and cover your head, or leave your car and seek shelter in a low area such as a ditch or ravine.
Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @gonthescene.
This article originally appeared in Treasure Coast Newspapers: More than 100 tornadoes have hit the Treasure Coast in 74 years
