Bay County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
The chance of earthquake damage in Bay County is about the same as Florida average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Bay County is lower than Florida average and is higher than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #59
Bay 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
Bay 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, #32
Bay County | 149.81 |
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 3,684 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Bay 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: | 0 | Dense Fog: | 0 | Drought: | 7 |
Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 289 | Hail: | 784 | Heat: | 0 | Heavy Snow: | 1 |
High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 2 | Ice Storm: | 0 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 9 |
Thunderstorm Winds: | 2,143 | Tropical Storm: | 14 | Wildfire: | 33 | Winter Storm: | 0 | Winter Weather: | 0 |
Other: | 402 |
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Bay County.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Bay County.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Bay County.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 32 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Bay County.
Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
6.3 | 1960-04-03 | 2 | 30°11'N / 85°43'W | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bay | |||
6.3 | 1960-09-15 | 2 | 30°09'N / 85°36'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bay | |
6.4 | 1952-02-20 | 2 | 30°10'N / 85°42'W | 1.50 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 4 | 25K | 0 | Bay | |
6.4 | 1953-04-06 | 2 | 30°10'N / 85°42'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Bay | |||
6.5 | 1975-01-12 | 2 | 30°10'N / 85°42'W | 30°25'N / 85°23'W | 25.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 1 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Bay |
6.9 | 1954-04-16 | 2 | 30°20'N / 85°40'W | 2.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 3 | 25K | 0 | Bay | |
7.8 | 1999-01-02 | 2 | 30°11'N / 85°48'W | 30°12'N / 85°42'W | 3.80 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 7 | 4.0M | 0 | Bay |
Brief Description: 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 injured seven. Finally, the tornado lifted over St. Andrews Bay and descended about a mile further north into a residential area surrounded by Big Daddy-Marina Dr. and Bay Circle where numerous homes and businesses were damaged. Scattered power outages affected several thousand customers in West Panama City and Panama City Beach. | |||||||||||
9.4 | 1967-12-10 | 3 | 30°04'N / 85°34'W | 30°10'N / 85°33'W | 7.10 Miles | 250 Yards | 1 | 50 | 2.5M | 0 | Bay |
10.3 | 1960-02-18 | 2 | 30°10'N / 85°51'W | 30°12'N / 85°44'W | 7.60 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Bay |
10.4 | 1953-12-21 | 2 | 30°12'N / 85°48'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Bay | |||
14.0 | 1953-04-12 | 2 | 30°22'N / 85°27'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Bay | |||
18.0 | 1953-11-22 | 2 | 30°24'N / 85°52'W | 0 | 22 | 25K | 0 | Bay | |||
23.6 | 1958-04-09 | 2 | 29°57'N / 85°25'W | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Bay | |||
24.3 | 2001-03-15 | 2 | 30°16'N / 85°15'W | 30°16'N / 85°12'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 50K | 0 | Calhoun |
Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down just south of Kinard on the west side of SW J.A. Daniels Road. It damaged two sheds and two barns. It tracked northeast and crossed State Road 73, two-tenths of a mile south of Mark Barbee Lane, and uprooted numerous trees. From Mark Barbee Lane, the tornado continued its northeast track and severely damaged two vacant structures on SW Clayton Shiver Road, and then dissipated. Damage surveyed by the NWS Tallahassee WCM and reported by the Calhoun County EMA. | |||||||||||
26.5 | 1956-09-24 | 2 | 30°06'N / 85°13'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Gulf | |||
26.6 | 1963-04-30 | 2 | 30°43'N / 86°03'W | 30°31'N / 85°03'W | 61.00 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Walton |
27.1 | 2001-03-15 | 2 | 30°36'N / 85°33'W | 30°38'N / 85°29'W | 7.00 Miles | 350 Yards | 1 | 21 | 1.5M | 0 | Washington |
Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down in the Sunny Hills subdivision near Gin Lake in southeast Washington County, and raced northeast into southwest Jackson County. The tornado struck the Country Oaks, Buckhorn Creek, and Highview Acres communities. The hardest hit area was Highview Acres where 20 homes were damaged or destroyed. One man was killed when his mobile home was destroyed. 21 people were injured. Hundreds of trees were uprooted and debris scattered over several miles along the tornado's path. Numerous downed power lines affected 4,500 customers. Reported by the Washington County EMA. | |||||||||||
27.3 | 1997-01-15 | 2 | 30°33'N / 85°21'W | 30°33'N / 85°21'W | 0.50 Mile | 150 Yards | 0 | 1 | 50K | 1K | Calhoun |
Brief Description: A tornado completely destroyed a frame home badly injuring a man. Other nearby homes received minor damage. Scores of trees were snapped or uprooted. | |||||||||||
29.8 | 1975-01-12 | 2 | 30°25'N / 85°23'W | 30°38'N / 85°08'W | 21.10 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Calhoun |
30.5 | 1967-12-10 | 2 | 30°00'N / 85°12'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Gulf | |||
32.4 | 2001-03-15 | 2 | 30°38'N / 85°25'W | 30°41'N / 85°22'W | 3.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 500K | 0 | Jackson |
Brief Description: The F2 tornado that touched down near Wausau in southeast Washington County, raced northeast across the Washington-Jackson County line and hit the Round Lake community just south of Alford before it dissipated. Fifteen homes were severely damaged and two homes were destroyed. A gift shop on U.S. Highway 231 was destroyed. There were numerous downed trees and power lines. Reported by the Jackson County EMA. | |||||||||||
36.5 | 1967-12-10 | 2 | 30°30'N / 85°06'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Calhoun | |||
37.7 | 2000-12-16 | 2 | 30°46'N / 85°40'W | 30°48'N / 85°38'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 750K | 0 | Holmes |
Brief Description: An F2 tornado touched down once just south of Bonifay, lifted, then touched down again before dissipating just east of the city. According to the Holmes County EMA, 39 homes and eight businesses were damaged, and four mobile homes were destroyed. Most of the damage occurred in the vicinity of Son-In-Law Road, just north of Interstate 10. Trees were uprooted and roofs were ripped off homes and businesses in the affected area. Numerous power lines were toppled, knocking out power to several thousand customers. A local state of emergency was declared in Holmes County. | |||||||||||
38.5 | 2004-09-15 | 2 | 30°30'N / 85°03'W | 30°34'N / 85°07'W | 7.00 Miles | 600 Yards | 4 | 5 | 2.5M | 0 | Calhoun |
Brief Description: The supercell thunderstorm which spawned tornadoes in Franklin and Liberty counties, produced a strong F2 tornado, which touched down just southeast of Van Lierop Road, a few miles east of Highway 69. It crossed Highway 69 near the Stafford Creek Bridge, and peeled roofs from dozens of homes, uprooted trees, and scattered debris. The tornado then struck the Macedonia Community at Highway 69-A and Parrish Lake Road. It demolished three trailers and damaged 30 homes. The tornado picked up two neighboring mobile homes. One was thrown across a road and killed its two occupants. Another was slammed into a neighbor's house, which killed its two occupants and injured five others. Reported by the Calhoun County EMA. M55PH, F35PH, M41PH, F37PH | |||||||||||
39.1 | 1981-10-25 | 2 | 30°27'N / 85°03'W | 30°33'N / 85°03'W | 6.90 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 12 | 2.5M | 0 | Calhoun |
39.6 | 1967-12-10 | 2 | 30°46'N / 85°46'W | 30°51'N / 85°38'W | 9.90 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Holmes |
42.1 | 1967-12-10 | 3 | 30°36'N / 86°12'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Walton | |||
43.9 | 1972-05-08 | 2 | 30°34'N / 85°00'W | 0.30 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Calhoun | |
46.1 | 2004-09-15 | 2 | 30°43'N / 85°10'W | 30°52'N / 85°14'W | 8.00 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 3 | 3.0M | 0 | Jackson |
Brief Description: A strong F2 tornado touched down about four miles west of Cypress. It damaged 10 mobile homes and destroyed 25 others in the Gold Drive Trailer Park. Three occupants were injured. The tornado moved northwest and damaged 10 mobile homes in the Brogdon Lane Trailer Park on U.S. Highway 90 just east of Marianna. It caused significant damage to the Federal Correctional Institution and destroyed eight vehicles. Before lifting, the tornado destroyed the Sykes Enterprise facility and some vehicles near the Marianna Municipal Airport. Reported by the Jackson County EMA. | |||||||||||
47.0 | 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. | |||||||||||
47.6 | 1972-10-27 | 2 | 29°47'N / 85°02'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Gulf | |
48.6 | 1975-01-12 | 2 | 30°38'N / 85°08'W | 30°47'N / 84°55'W | 16.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 15 | 250K | 0 | Jackson |
* 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.