Bay County, Florida
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1952 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
92
Tornado reports
68
Hail reports
180
Floods since 1996
716
All events
39
Deaths
$137.8M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Bay County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 91 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
A tornado moved onshore Panama City Beach in the Lower Grand Lagoon area along Spyglass Drive. Significant damage occurred to several homes, including the complete destruction of one beachfront home. The damage at this location was determined to support an EF-3 rating with max wi…
One indirect fatality occurred due to hydroplaning from heavy rainfall in association with Tropical Storm Fred.
WJHG-TV reported that two people were struck by lightning on Shell Island near Panama City. A 42 year old father was carrying his 14 year old stepson when the strike occurred. The father was killed on the spot, and the teen later died at a Pensacola hospital.
A man drowned while swimming in rough surf at Panama City Beach.
A man drowned while swimming in rough surf at Panama City Beach.
A man was pulled from the gulf near 17403 Front Beach Road. The man was later pronounced dead at Bay Medical Center.
A man was discovered unconscious on the beach behind the Broadwater Beach Resort after being pulled from the water one quarter mile west of the resort. CPR efforts by EMT personnel on scene were unsuccessful.
A large wave capsized a 21-foot open construction boat off Panama City Beach in Shell Island Pass. One man drowned and another was injured.
Rainfall from Fay varied between two and three inches. There were several reports of downed trees and power lines throughout the county.
An Alabama man and histwo children becmae distressed in the surf, and the children's grandfather went into the water to assist them. The grandfather got caught up in the strong current. Beach Surf and Rescue personnel and nearby beach vendors were able to rescue all four victims.…
A Texas man and his wife were rescued from the surf by the Panama City Beach police. Both victims were taken to a local hospital. The man was pronounced dead. The woman recovered.
A Georgia man and his two daughters were rescued from the surf by the Panama City Beach police. The girls survived, however the man later died at a local hospital.
A rip current claimed the life of a man swimming at Panama City Beach.
Two men drowned from rip currents off Panama City Beach. One of the victims died while trying to assist a distressed swimmer.
A woman was struck and killed by lightning as she stood outside her home.
A three-year-old girl swimming at St Andrews State Park near Panama City Beach drowned in a rip current. The girl was floating on a raft with an 18-year-old girl when the rough current flipped the raft and both girls were pulled into the channel. The older girl was rescued by a G…
A 13-year-old female was dragged 600 yards into the Gulf of Mexico and drowned. Reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
An 18-year-old male drowned in heavy surf. Reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
A wood-frame house was lifted 60 feet off its foundation and thrown into a field. Of the seven family members inside, one was killed and another injured. Several other homes were damaged. Reported by a HAM radio operator.
A strong F1 tornado touched down near the St Andrews recreation area. It damaged dozens of restaurants, stores and shops as it moved north along Thomas Drive. Seven persons were injured at a seafood restaurant near Grand Lagoon. An elderly man was killed when the tornado destroye…
Rip currents claimed the life of a teenage tourist just east of Panama City Beach. Two swimmers were rescued. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Rip currents claimed the life of a 26-year-old man at Panama City Beach. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
Two swimmers drowned in rough surf. A dozen swimmers were rescued. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A man drowned from a severe rip current caused by Tropical Storm Hanna. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A man drowned while attempting to escape a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A man drowned while attempting to escape a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A man drowned after he was caught in a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A man drowned after he was caught in a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A Georgia man and his teenage daughter were struck by lightning while walking along the beach behind the Sugar Sands Motel on Front Beach Rd. The man died from the strike. The girl was treated by EMS personnel and released.
A tornadic waterspout moved onshore into Mexico Beach at approximately 6:30 am CDT, causing roof and siding damage to a couple of homes along the beach. The roof of the El Governor hotel was lifted and tossed across U.S. 98 into an RV park, where several RV's were damaged or roll…
A tornado initially struck at Panama City Beach damaging several homes and a few hotels within a four-block area surrounded by Sunset Ave-Thomas and Holiday Dr. The tornado again touched down two miles to the north at the Hathaway Bridge (U.S. Highway 98) where a six-car pileup i…
The same supercell that spawned the Grand Lagoon tornado dropped another in Lynn Haven where some trees were snapped and one home had some minor roof damage. The tornado then traveled northeast across the eastern portion of North Bay before causing damage in the Resota Beach area…
Heavy rain from the previous week breached the levee in the Intracoastal Waterway at the Bay-Walton county line, shutting down barge traffic. This resulted in a local gas shortage for Panama City as none of the barges could deliver gasoline to the local market. The Army Corps of …
Major flooding occurred across Bay county at the end of the month due to a combination of very heavy rainfall and already saturated conditions. Many roads in the county sustained damage with damage estimated at $1,591,122. In addition, some businesses suffered flood damage with e…
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 lofte…
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 awni…
A five to seven foot storm surge caused moderate to severe beach erosion. 163 homes and five businesses were damaged. Many docks, seawalls, power lines, trees and fences suffered the worst damage. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
A tornado touched down just southeast of Calloway and lifted just north of Panama City. It destroyed several homes in Calloway, Parker and Cedar Grove, and downed numerous trees and power lines. Reported by a HAM radio operator and the Bay County EMA.
Storm surge heights of five feet combined with large battering waves caused severe beach erosion. An estimated 500,000 cubic yards of sand was lost. Water was above the boardwalk at many locations. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024 | 44 | 5 |
| 2023 | 45 | 2 |
| 2022 | 34 | 2 |
| 2021 | 88 | 6 |
| 2020 | 45 | 2 |
| 2019 | 15 | 1 |
| 2018 | 22 | 2 |
| 2017 | 10 | 0 |
| 2016 | 28 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 22 | 1 |
| 2013 | 38 | 0 |
| 2012 | 19 | 1 |
| 2011 | 17 | 1 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2008 | 24 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 |
| 2006 | 13 | 2 |
| 2005 | 13 | 1 |
| 2004 | 13 | 6 |
| 2003 | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 | 16 | 0 |
| 2001 | 7 | 0 |
| 2000 | 19 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 1 |
| 1998 | 12 | 2 |
| 1997 | 6 | 4 |
| 1996 | 5 | 1 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 1 |
| 1991 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 2 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 3 |
| 1985 | 2 | 2 |
| 1984 | 4 | 1 |
| 1983 | 7 | 3 |
| 1982 | 4 | 3 |
| 1981 | 2 | 2 |
| 1980 | 4 | 3 |
| 1978 | 2 | 2 |
| 1976 | 1 | 1 |
| 1975 | 6 | 5 |
| 1974 | 5 | 2 |
| 1973 | 5 | 1 |
| 1972 | 3 | 2 |
| 1971 | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1960 | 4 | 4 |
| 1958 | 2 | 1 |
| 1957 | 1 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 0 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 4 | 4 |
| 1952 | 2 | 2 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Bay County, measured to its path.
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