Miami, FL Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Miami is about the same as Florida average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Miami is lower than Florida average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #614
| Miami, FL | 0.00 |
| Florida | 0.01 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Miami, FL | 0.0000 |
| Florida | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #538
| Miami, FL | 172.43 |
| Florida | 185.89 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 723 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Miami, FL were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 0 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 0 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 79 | Hail: | 134 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 0 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 0 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 2 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 276 | Tropical Storm: | 0 | Wildfire: | 5 | Winter Storm: | 0 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
| Other: | 227 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Miami, FL.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Miami, FL.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Miami, FL.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 22 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Miami, FL.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 0.8 | 2003-03-27 | 2 | 25°46'N / 80°12'W | 25°46'N / 80°12'W | 6.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 1 | 14 | 8.0M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| Brief Description: The tornado initially touched down in East Hialeah, near NE 2nd Street and E 4th Avenue causing F0 damage to foliage. The tornado strengthened to F1 intensity as it moved east across E 9th Avenue. It achieved a maximum intensity of F2 with a maximum width of one third mile in an area from NW 37th to 27th Avenues in the Brownsville area. The intensity decreased to F1 as it moved east through Liberty City. The intensity further decreased to F0 as the tornado turned northeast and lifted just before entering Biscayne Bay near NE 70th Street. F1 to F2 damage began in an industrial area where several warehouse roofs were damaged. One large free-span roof was nearly completely torn off. Several semi-tractor trailers, apparently empty, were toppled, one of which fell onto two cars, crushing them. The tornado moved through a residential area known as Brownsville, heavily damaging 60 houses. At one of the homes, a 65-year old male who was sitting in this house was killed when debris penetrated the structure. His wife who took shelter in the bathroom was uninjured. A total of 343 other structures sustained damage, mostly to roofs and windows. Several vehicles were rolled over. Numerous utility poles were broken, large trees were uprooted and signs were downed. M65PH | |||||||||||
| 2.5 | 1959-06-17 | 3 | 25°44'N / 80°17'W | 25°53'N / 80°10'W | 12.70 Miles | 333 Yards | 0 | 77 | 2.5M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| 3.1 | 1971-06-22 | 2 | 25°48'N / 80°15'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Miami-dade | |
| 7.5 | 1998-02-02 | 2 | 25°48'N / 80°17'W | 25°56'N / 80°16'W | 14.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 6 | 175.0M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| Brief Description: At 2022 est f1-f2 tornado touched down nw 36th st/curtis parkway damaging about 12 planes at mia international airport. The mia asos recorded a gust of 90 knots. The f2 tornado crossed through virginia gardens and south miami springs in a 100-200 yard path damaging many buildings and hurling a 2 by 4 board through an apartment door. Showing f1 intensity the tornado continued through miami springs uprooting trees and damaging roof tops. At 2027 est the tornado intensified to f2 into south hialeah severly damaging structures. the tornado weakened to f1 near hialeah race track and the path widened to one to three miles...with indications of three or four individual tornadoes of f1 intensity moving in tandem to the north.. at 2031 est the main tornado reintensified to f2 status as it approached opa locka airport severly damaging the roof of the ups facility then damaging or destroying 140 aircraft and a hangar at the airport blowing some debris nearly a half mile. The tornadoes weakened to f1 status as they moved through carol city damaging homes and utility poles. ...a developing low pressure over the north gulf of mexico resulted in a tightening pressure gradient over south florida and adjacent waters. Southeast winds sustained at gale force with higher gusts occurred through most of 02/02/98. A pre-frontal trough of low pressure developed over the southeastern gulf of mexico early 02/02/98. This resulted in a highly unstable airmass which was lifted by strong mid and upper level jets by late afternoon. Tornado and severe thunderstorm producing storms moved through the florida keys between 1530 And 1930 est. The thunderstorms moved over south florida between 1930 and 2130 est. The culmination of gail force winds...several severe thunderstorms and two tornadoes resulted in widespread damage in the florida keys. Trees...power lines and light poles were down most locations south of key largo. Some minor coastal flooding occurred. Boats were capsized and docks were damaged. A support buoy for an underwater lab was dislodged and drifted ashore. Fema reported one house completely destroyed and 23 homes damaged. Several businesses were damaged. Extensive damage occurred to the fishing industry primarilly loss of lobster traps. | |||||||||||
| 11.4 | 1968-02-19 | 2 | 25°55'N / 80°12'W | 25°57'N / 80°07'W | 5.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 21 | 2.5M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| 17.1 | 1954-09-22 | 2 | 26°01'N / 80°09'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Broward | |||
| 17.9 | 1956-04-10 | 3 | 26°00'N / 80°14'W | 26°04'N / 80°08'W | 7.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 20 | 2.5M | 0 | Broward |
| 20.1 | 1964-10-14 | 2 | 26°04'N / 80°12'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Broward | |||
| 21.6 | 1961-05-26 | 2 | 26°05'N / 80°09'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Broward | |
| 22.9 | 1979-05-24 | 2 | 26°06'N / 80°08'W | 3.00 Miles | 30 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Broward | |
| 23.7 | 1972-03-04 | 2 | 26°07'N / 80°10'W | 2.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Broward | |
| 24.2 | 1973-12-20 | 2 | 25°25'N / 80°25'W | 25°31'N / 80°22'W | 7.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 9 | 2.5M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| 25.1 | 1965-02-23 | 3 | 26°06'N / 80°10'W | 26°10'N / 80°07'W | 5.70 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 6 | 250K | 0 | Broward |
| 27.2 | 1983-03-17 | 2 | 25°58'N / 80°44'W | 26°17'N / 80°05'W | 40.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Broward |
| 30.4 | 1980-03-01 | 3 | 26°10'N / 80°10'W | 26°15'N / 80°05'W | 7.80 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 33 | 25.0M | 0 | Broward |
| 30.4 | 1971-06-13 | 2 | 26°12'N / 80°09'W | 26°13'N / 80°05'W | 4.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Broward |
| 39.0 | 1983-03-17 | 2 | 25°55'N / 80°53'W | 25°58'N / 80°44'W | 10.00 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Miami-dade |
| 44.4 | 1983-03-17 | 2 | 25°54'N / 80°56'W | 25°55'N / 80°53'W | 2.50 Miles | 60 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Collier |
| 46.4 | 1998-11-04 | 2 | 25°05'N / 80°27'W | 25°10'N / 80°21'W | 12.00 Miles | 75 Yards | 0 | 20 | 25.0M | 0 | Monroe |
| Brief Description: A multivortex tornado touched down just west of U.S. 1 near mile marker 100. The tornado moved north northeast at 30 mph passing across ten housing subdivision, mostly mobile home parks. It damaged about 600 structures, tore down utility lines, damaged vessels and destroyed a great deal of foliage. The tornado crossed to the east of U.S. 1 near the intersection of Highway 905, overturning a semi tractor trailer, and continue north northeast for about six miles damaging house roofs and foliage. Tropical storm Mitch, after devastating portions of central America as a hurricane then dissipating over land, reformed over the Bay of Campeche and moved northeast across the Yucatan Peninsula, the southeast Gulf of Mexico and into south Florida. Casualties in south Florida included two drownings in a fishing boat that capsized near the Dry Tortugas and about 65 injuries, most of them minor, in the upper keys involving hurricane spawned tornadoes. Losses are estimated at $50 million, including $20 million in crop damage. Much of the property damage was caused by five tornadoes, one of which reached a maximum intensity of F2, in the upper Keys. A total of 646 dwellings were damaged in an area from Islamorada to north Key Largo. Other tornadoes were observed in Broward, Palm Beach, and Collier counties. Widespread rainfall totals across south Florida averaged 6 to 8 inches with local amounts of 13 inches. The storm surge of 2 to 4 feet along the Keys and southwest Florida coast, and 1 to 2 feet along the southeast coast, produced minor flooding, beach erosion and damage to marine structures and vessels. The maximum officially measured wind in south Florida was 52 knots (60 mph) with a peak wind of 57 knots (65 mph) at Fowey Rocks Light. The maximum wind on land was 35 knots (40 mph) with a peak wind of 48 knots (55 mph) at Key West International Airport. About 50,000 customers lost their electricity. | |||||||||||
| 47.8 | 1958-03-18 | 2 | 26°28'N / 80°10'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Palm Beach | |||
| 48.5 | 1964-10-14 | 2 | 26°28'N / 80°04'W | 0 | 22 | 250K | 0 | Palm Beach | |||
| 48.5 | 1970-07-22 | 2 | 26°28'N / 80°04'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Palm Beach | |||
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.