Indian River storm history
Storm events recorded in Indian River, Florida between 1950 and 2025.
259
Total events
34
Tornadoes
67
Hail
19
Floods
10
Deaths
$1.1B
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
Following a 9-1-1, police discovered bystanders giving CPR to a man on Vero Beach. After being transported to a local hospital, the man later died due to drowning. The 25 year old man was from South Korea, but had been living in Vero Beach. A high threat of rip currents existed i…
A 32-year-old man entered the surf with a friend. He was later observed to be in distress alone about 100 yards offshore and then disappeared from view. After a two-day search, his body was located during the afternoon of September 15 near where he was last seen. The fatality was…
A 58-year old man from New York was standing in the ocean facing the shoreline when a large wave crashed into him from behind. Rescuers found the man face down in the water and performed CPR on him until medical crews arrived and transported him to a local hospital, where he died…
A pontoon boat capsized west of Sebastian Inlet near the Indian River Lagoon. North winds and an outgoing tide combined to create rough seas. When the boat capsized, a 70-year old man apparently become entangled in boat material and drowned. Three other occupants of the boat were…
A 17-year old male from the local area was swimming outside the guarded beach at Jaycee Beach Park in Vero Beach. Rip currents, rough surf and a south-to-north longshore current were present throughout the day. The swimmer was likely caught within a rip current around 1600 EST an…
A sudden wind increase following passage of a cold front led to steepening waves over open waters. A fishing boat within the Stick Marsh in Indian River County was swamped by the waves, estimated at two to three feet. There were three occupants onboard the boat. One person succum…
A 22 year old male visiting from Hawaii was caught in a strong rip current and drowned just offshore the South Beach Park in Vero Beach during the early evening.
A 14 year old boy went into rough surf to help a friend keep her footing and drowned in a rip current.
A 42 year old man drowned while assisting in the rescue of two young boys caught in a rip current.
A 49 year old woman was struck and killed by lightning while standing on a soccer field. About 20 other people were knocked to the ground by the strike. Four other people were transported to a local hospital. This was the first lightning ground stroke of the day in the area as sh…
This tornado, the first of two to impact downtown Vero Beach, likely touched down in Vero Beach South along US-1 near 12th St. where generally vegetative damage was noted in the form of downed trees. Damage to residences and businesses was noted further to the north, particularly…
This tornado, the second of two to impact downtown Vero Beach, started on the west side of the tracks in Vero Beach South where a few instances of vegetative damage were noted. The circulation strengthened as it continued north along the tracks where more significant damage was n…
This tornado is a continuation of the unusually strong tornado that impacted St. Lucie County. The tornado moved out of the Spanish Lakes Subdivision in St. Lucie County where it then entered the Vero Beach Highlands neighborhood in Indian River County, where multiple properties …
Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples during the late afternoon of September 10. Irma then moved northward across west-central Florida during the evening while weakening to a Category 2 hurricane approximately 95 miles west of Vero Beach. A long duration of damaging…
Major Hurricane Matthew passed nearly 35 miles offshore Indian River County during the early morning hours of October 7, producing a long duration of sustained tropical storm winds and a short period of frequent gusts to hurricane force along the coast from around Vero Beach nort…
As Hurricane Matthew passed offshore, the beaches experienced moderate to major erosion and wave run-up to dunes and berms due to an estimated 3-4 foot storm surge. Crosswalks within county-owned beach parks experienced significant damage, with an estimated economic loss of $13 m…
Moderate to major beach erosion. Several beach crossovers and a lifeguard tower were damaged. Sea water and sand washed onto one coastal road.
Hail Hail
Estimated quarter to golf ball size hail based on photos shared by local media in Vero Lake Estates. Hail occurred at 103rd Ct & S 85th St.
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reported nickel to quarter size hail in the Countryside at Vero Beach Community.
Tornado EFU Tornado
The tornado has been confirmed using a combination of dual polarimetric data from the KMLB WSR-88D as well as photographic evidence from a local storm spotter. Based on a tornado debris signature (TDS), the circulation touched down in rural Indian River County just west of Blue C…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Based on KMLB dual-polarimetric radar, the tornado started in a rural area south of Fellsmere Rd. near the Indian River and Osceola County border. A damage survey indicated minor damage to a barn at a residence off of Fellsmere Road consistent with EF-0 type damage. The tornado q…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
This event is a continuation of a tornado that produced EF-1 type damage in St. Lucie County where it initially touched down very near Indrio Rd. The tornado crossed the county line near the Spanish Lakes subdivision near MM140 along Interstate 95. The circulation continued into …
Tornado EF0 Tornado
The tornado that initially touched down in Okeechobee County and impacted two solar farms crossed briefly into Indian River County where it was tracked via a tornado debris signature (TDS) on KMLB radar. There is no known damage to infrastructure.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
The rainbands of Hurricane Milton produced very heavy rainfall rates over a 3-hour period, between 1400EST and 1700EST that resulted in substantial flooding in portions of Indian River County. Event rainfall totals varied from 2 to 4 inches in the western part of the county, to a…
Flood Flood
Emergency management confirmed a total of ten buildings with water intrusion in Fellsmere and Vero Lake Estates. Also reports that all lanes of 101st Ave were closed at 85th St in Vero Lake Estates. There was a petroleum spill due to eight stalled vehicles. In addition, all lanes…
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Weather Underground site KFLVEROB526 measured 9.08 inches of rainfall.
Heavy Rain Heavy Rain
Weather underground site KFLFELLS9 measured 8.09 inches of rainfall. Emergency management reports most streets in Fellsmere have water covering them, up to a foot of standing water reported in some locations.
A 11 year old girl visiting from Minnesota was struck and severely injured by a lightning strike at Sebastian Inlet State Park. As of a September 1st news report, the girl was still unconscious and is expected to be permanently disabled. Her mom was also injured but was later rel…
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Trained spotter at the I-95 and Indrio Drive interchange reported a funnel cloud to the north of their location. Additional reports, including pictures and video, were received via social media. Location estimated to be northeast of the I-95 and Highway 60 interchange.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Vero Beach Municipal Airport KVRB ASOS measured a 57 knot wind gust from the south.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Received pictures via social media of one or two large tree branches down in the front yard of a home near the intersection of 14th St SW and 23rd Ave SW in Vero Beach Highlands.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Emergency manager reported that State Road A1A was closed in the Pelican Island National Wildlife Preserve due to powerlines blocking the roadway.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Vero Beach Regional Airport KVRB ASOS reported a 58 knot wind gust from the southwest.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Vero Beach Regional Airport (KVRB) ASOS measured a 56 knot wind gust from the north-northeast.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Storm survey confirmed minor straight-line wind damage from a severe thunderstorm in a residential community adjacent to the Indian River Golf Club, centered near the intersection of 19th PL SW and 8th Ave SW in Vero Beach. The survey noted two uprooted trees, as well as damage t…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A National Weather Service Melbourne damage survey confirms that a brief EF-0 tornado touched down in the Midway Estates mobile home community in Vero Beach. The tornado continued to the east-southeast for approximately 4 minutes along a 0.5 mile long track until it dissipated as…
Flood Flood
Heavy rain embedded within the outer bands ahead of Hurricane Ian produced widespread rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches across Indian River County, resulting in sporadic reports of street, urban, and poor drainage flooding. Several roadways were impacted by significant levels of s…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A mesonet station at Sebastian Inlet Pier measured a peak wind gust of 61 mph from the northeast.
Hail Hail
The public reported quarter sized hail on Thornhill Lane in Sebastian.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Indian River County Emergency Management reported wind damage in Vero Beach associated with a line of severe storms. Damage included several trees downed near 12th Street at 40th Avenue, a tree down on a vehicle near 17th Street and 6th Avenue, and screen and soffit damage to a h…
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
Coastal flooding occurred along the Indian River County coast after strong northeast winds and large breaking surf persisted for seven consecutive high tide cycles from November 6-9. The strong winds occurred in conjunction with the highest astronomical tides of the year, with th…
Hail Hail
A strengthening thunderstorm within Indian River County briefly became severe by producing hail up to quarter size in Vero Beach near the intersection of U.S. 1 and 17th Street. The report was relayed via social media, with a photo.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Based on radar, video, and eyewitness reports received from the public, a brief EF-0 tornado (landspout) occurred in Vero Lakes Estates. Peak estimated wind speeds were between 65 and 70 mph. The landspout tornado formed at approximately 1612 LST at 100th Avenue, just north of 77…
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
In Indian River County, sustained tropical storm force winds affected the barrier islands, with gusts to tropical storm force in squalls through much of the remainder of the county from mid evening on November 8 through early morning on November 9. The highest sustained wind was …
Coastal Flood Coastal Flood
Minor to locally moderate beach erosion impacted the Indian River County beaches. The most significant erosion occurred at Jaycee/Conn Beach near Vero Beach, where several feet of berm lowering was observed, with one foot of dune retreat. Moderate erosion was also observed at Wab…
Lightning Lightning
Indian River County Emergency Management relayed a report of a home near the 1500th block of Crowberry Lane in Sebastian caught fire and was destroyed after being struck by lightning. There were no injuries or fatalities.
Tropical Storm Tropical Storm
In Indian River County, sustained tropical storm force winds affected the barrier islands, with gusts to tropical storm force in squalls through much of the remainder of the county from mid morning through early evening August 2. The highest sustained wind was measured at Indian …
Hail Hail
Fellsmere Police Department reported nickel to quarter size hail.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 8 | 7 |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 10 | 1 |
| 2016 | 11 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 1 |
| 2011 | 9 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 | 1 |
| 2008 | 6 | 0 |
| 2007 | 8 | 0 |
| 2006 | 5 | 0 |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 | 11 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 |
| 2002 | 7 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 | 15 | 0 |
| 1998 | 5 | 1 |
| 1997 | 5 | 0 |
| 1996 | 13 | 1 |
| 1995 | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 |
| 1988 | 1 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1 |
| 1985 | 2 | 1 |
| 1984 | 3 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 |
| 1978 | 5 | 1 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 3 | 1 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 1 |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | 2 | 1 |
| 1963 | 4 | 1 |
| 1962 | 1 | 0 |
| 1961 | 1 | 0 |
| 1960 | 5 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 1 |