Santa Rosa County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Florida Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Santa Rosa County is about the same as Florida average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Santa Rosa County is higher than Florida average and is much higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #30
| Santa Rosa County | 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
| Santa Rosa County | 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, #11
| Santa Rosa County | 208.70 |
| 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 5,131 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Santa Rosa County 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: | 12 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 29 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 533 | Hail: | 1,265 | Heat: | 6 | Heavy Snow: | 6 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 2 | Ice Storm: | 4 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 13 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,671 | Tropical Storm: | 10 | Wildfire: | 15 | Winter Storm: | 10 | Winter Weather: | 12 |
| Other: | 542 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Santa Rosa County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Santa Rosa County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Santa Rosa County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 59 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Santa Rosa County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 1.2 | 1972-01-12 | 2 | 30°42'N / 87°02'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 3.3 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 30°36'N / 87°18'W | 30°44'N / 86°48'W | 31.10 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Escambia |
| 4.8 | 1962-03-31 | 3 | 30°37'N / 87°06'W | 30°40'N / 87°00'W | 6.90 Miles | 440 Yards | 17 | 100 | 2.5M | 0 | Santa Rosa |
| 4.8 | 1972-03-02 | 2 | 30°40'N / 87°05'W | 2.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Santa Rosa | |
| 4.9 | 1962-07-04 | 2 | 30°37'N / 87°03'W | 30°39'N / 86°58'W | 5.60 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Santa Rosa |
| 5.0 | 1983-12-13 | 2 | 30°38'N / 87°02'W | 1.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Santa Rosa | |
| 13.5 | 1968-12-01 | 2 | 30°21'N / 87°15'W | 30°41'N / 86°55'W | 30.40 Miles | 17 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Escambia |
| 15.3 | 1960-11-28 | 2 | 30°37'N / 87°18'W | 30°39'N / 87°13'W | 5.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Escambia |
| 18.0 | 1958-03-06 | 2 | 30°42'N / 86°45'W | 30°48'N / 86°41'W | 8.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Okaloosa |
| 19.0 | 1964-04-27 | 2 | 30°43'N / 87°20'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Escambia | |||
| 19.3 | 1996-11-30 | 2 | 30°26'N / 87°06'W | 30°26'N / 87°06'W | 0.40 Mile | 90 Yards | 0 | 7 | 75K | 0 | Santa Rosa |
| Brief Description: A waterspout moved out of Blackwater Bay and lifted back into the cloud as it moved north northeast across State Highway 87. The storm damaged some trees just before crossing County Road 184. Here a weak F2 tornado dropped down and totally destroyed a mobile home and damaged a house next to it. The person that was injured in this trailer was hospitalized for several days. The tornado continued on the ground and destroyed another trailer home on South Trace Road. Six people were injured in this mobile home, one was hospitalized. The tornado then lifted back into the cloud near Permenter Road. As the storm that spawned the tornado moved north northeast, other structures suffered some wind damage for another mile. Of the six mobile homes damaged, three were unsalvageable, two suffered major damage and one suffered minor damage. Of the six houses damaged, four suffered major damage and two suffered minor damage. | |||||||||||
| 19.4 | 1971-05-12 | 2 | 30°28'N / 87°18'W | 30°30'N / 87°08'W | 10.20 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Escambia |
| 19.8 | 1955-04-10 | 2 | 30°30'N / 87°15'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Escambia | |||
| 22.8 | 1956-05-05 | 3 | 30°26'N / 87°14'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 22.9 | 1972-12-15 | 2 | 31°02'N / 87°03'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 3K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 23.1 | 1969-12-21 | 2 | 30°24'N / 86°51'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Santa Rosa | |||
| 23.9 | 1967-10-30 | 3 | 30°26'N / 87°16'W | 0 | 44 | 250K | 0 | Escambia | |||
| 24.7 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 30°44'N / 86°48'W | 30°50'N / 86°25'W | 23.80 Miles | 10 Yards | 1 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Okaloosa |
| 24.8 | 1995-10-04 | 2 | 30°45'N / 86°36'W | 1.80 Miles | 170 Yards | 1 | 3 | 300K | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near Interstate 10 east of Crestview. The tornado then moved northwest across Okaloosa Lane and then across U.S. Highway 90 before dissipating near Highway 85. The tornado destroyed two homes and a church and severely damaged the late Bob Sikes Homestead and the Crestview High School's gymnasium. The two homes that were destroyed were along Okaloosa Lane. One home was on blocks on a concrete foundation, the home was completely destroyed and an elderly female who lived there was killed. The other home had the roof taken off and most of the insides of the home were destroyed. Three people were injured in this home and were saved when the wind blew them to the floor. The tornado was on the ground for almost two miles. F76PH | |||||||||||
| 25.0 | 1962-01-05 | 2 | 30°46'N / 86°36'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 1 | 30 | 2.5M | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 25.0 | 1962-01-05 | 2 | 30°46'N / 86°36'W | 2.50 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 25.8 | 1971-05-08 | 2 | 30°45'N / 86°35'W | 2.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 26.0 | 1971-02-07 | 3 | 30°21'N / 87°10'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 112 | 2.5M | 0 | Escambia | |
| 26.2 | 1972-10-27 | 2 | 30°50'N / 86°36'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 27.4 | 1963-07-24 | 2 | 30°25'N / 87°20'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Escambia | |||
| 27.6 | 1959-05-19 | 2 | 30°24'N / 87°19'W | 1.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 4 | 0K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 28.6 | 1961-12-10 | 3 | 31°07'N / 87°03'W | 0.20 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 29.2 | 1974-12-07 | 2 | 30°22'N / 86°39'W | 30°25'N / 86°43'W | 5.20 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Okaloosa |
| 29.4 | 1965-06-10 | 2 | 30°24'N / 86°40'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Okaloosa | |||
| 31.2 | 1968-11-03 | 3 | 31°00'N / 87°37'W | 31°07'N / 87°04'W | 33.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Escambia |
| 32.4 | 1971-05-12 | 2 | 30°25'N / 86°35'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 32.9 | 1989-05-01 | 2 | 30°28'N / 86°32'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Okaloosa | |
| 33.2 | 1967-12-10 | 2 | 30°24'N / 86°37'W | 30°26'N / 86°31'W | 6.80 Miles | 1000 Yards | 1 | 50 | 2.5M | 0 | Okaloosa |
| 33.7 | 1972-03-02 | 2 | 31°00'N / 87°29'W | 31°02'N / 87°25'W | 4.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Escambia |
| 34.1 | 2008-02-17 | 2 | 31°06'N / 86°48'W | 31°11'N / 86°42'W | 9.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 700K | 0K | Escambia |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A strong EF-2 tornado first touched down over a heavily forested area about 5 miles southwest of Dixie and then moved northeast across the forest crossing highway 29 just to the west of Dixie. The tornado then continued northeast across heavily forested areas moving into western Covington county 3.1 miles northeast of Dixie. Significant tree damage occurred along the track of the tornado with structural damage confined to the populated area of Dixie. Three homes were destroyed in Dixie and two large towers were damaged. Two occupants of one of the homes that was destroyed in Dixie got into an interior bathroom on the lowest floor of the two story house and covered themselves with cushions. The tornado tore off the top story of the home and damaged the lower floor but the two residents were unharmed. Some century old headstones were blown over in a cemetery just north of Dixie. No injuries were reported. EPISODE NARRATIVE: The long lived supercell that moved through northwest Florida, passed into Alabama producing a tornado along with hail and wind damage. | |||||||||||
| 34.9 | 1964-12-25 | 3 | 30°24'N / 86°35'W | 30°31'N / 86°25'W | 12.80 Miles | 67 Yards | 0 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Okaloosa |
| 35.2 | 1972-06-08 | 2 | 31°01'N / 87°29'W | 0.10 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Escambia | |
| 38.4 | 1962-01-05 | 2 | 30°22'N / 86°30'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Okaloosa | |||
| 41.2 | 1972-11-13 | 2 | 30°37'N / 87°42'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Baldwin | |
| 41.4 | 1996-12-01 | 2 | 30°28'N / 86°23'W | 30°28'N / 86°22'W | 0.40 Mile | 75 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Okaloosa |
| Brief Description: A waterspout developed near Mid Bay Bridge along the north bank of Choctawhatchee Bay and moved ashore near exclusive Pippin Estates. The resulting tornado moved along Lake Drive for about 1/3 of a mile. Ten homes suffered roof damage, four of which had major structural damage. Numerous fifty to one-hundred year old Live Oak and other trees were blown down. Some of the trees fell across vehicles and homes. Several boats were also blown ashore and damaged. The tornado cut a path of about seventy-five yards wide and was estimated to be a weak F2. There were no injuries. | |||||||||||
| 43.1 | 2001-10-13 | 2 | 30°33'N / 87°43'W | 30°33'N / 87°43'W | 0.70 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 200K | 0 | Baldwin |
| Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down southeast of Robertsdale. The tornado first touched down just south of County Road 83 and Hubard road intersection where it tracked north and damaged seventeen manufactured homes and completely destroyed three others. Several large Pecan trees were also blown down. No injuries were reported. | |||||||||||
| 43.5 | 2004-11-27 | 2 | 30°29'N / 87°42'W | 30°29'N / 87°42'W | 4.50 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 4 | 400K | 0 | Baldwin |
| Brief Description: An F2 touched down just west of Summerdale along County Road 32. The tornado then tracked east northeast and moved through downtown Summerdale. The tornado continued moving east and went back into the clouds east of Summerdale. Most of the damage from the tornado occurred in downtown Summerdale. Bleachers from a new ball field were found about a quarter mile away next to a house. A school bus was pushed sideways 15 to 20 feet by the winds. Five homes were destroyed with 35 to 40 homes suffering damage. Four minor injuries were reported. People heard the warning and took cover before the tornado hit. This same area was hit hard by Hurricane Ivan in September. | |||||||||||
| 43.6 | 1962-03-31 | 2 | 30°18'N / 87°42'W | 30°22'N / 87°31'W | 11.90 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baldwin |
| 43.9 | 1968-11-03 | 3 | 30°53'N / 87°47'W | 31°00'N / 87°37'W | 12.80 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baldwin |
| 43.9 | 1984-10-15 | 2 | 31°18'N / 87°14'W | 31°20'N / 87°11'W | 3.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Conecuh |
| 44.4 | 1974-11-05 | 2 | 31°13'N / 87°28'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Escambia | |||
| 44.4 | 2001-10-13 | 3 | 30°25'N / 87°41'W | 30°25'N / 87°41'W | 1.00 Mile | 440 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baldwin |
| Brief Description: An F3 tornado initially touched down just south of the Grove Home Park on County Road 16. The tornado then tracked north just east of County Road 65 to County Road 12, just southwest of Foley. The tornado blew down numerous trees, destroyed a manufactured home and damaged several others in the Grove Home Park. The tornado destroyed two large cement block buildings and damaged another three near County Road 12. A large panel truck filled with heavy tools was picked up and carried about 60 feet, and several other cars were thrown 15 to 25 feet. No injuries were reported. | |||||||||||
| 44.5 | 1983-02-01 | 2 | 30°51'N / 86°17'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Walton | |
| 45.3 | 1985-09-23 | 2 | 31°18'N / 87°06'W | 31°25'N / 87°00'W | 7.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Conecuh |
| 45.5 | 1960-03-30 | 2 | 30°51'N / 86°16'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Walton | |||
| 46.0 | 1975-02-16 | 2 | 30°52'N / 87°46'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baldwin | |
| 46.2 | 1973-05-26 | 2 | 30°50'N / 86°25'W | 30°54'N / 86°06'W | 19.40 Miles | 10 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Walton |
| 46.3 | 1967-12-10 | 2 | 30°18'N / 87°46'W | 30°20'N / 87°32'W | 14.20 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baldwin |
| 47.3 | 1980-04-13 | 2 | 30°53'N / 87°47'W | 0.10 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Baldwin | |
| 47.3 | 1981-02-10 | 2 | 30°53'N / 87°47'W | 1.50 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 62 | 2.5M | 0 | Baldwin | |
| 48.5 | 1966-11-10 | 2 | 31°00'N / 87°48'W | 31°03'N / 87°41'W | 7.70 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Baldwin |
| 48.8 | 1964-12-24 | 2 | 30°30'N / 87°48'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Baldwin | |
| 48.9 | 1967-12-10 | 3 | 30°36'N / 86°12'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Walton | |||
| 49.3 | 1967-10-30 | 2 | 30°15'N / 87°39'W | 30°24'N / 87°47'W | 13.10 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Baldwin |
* 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.