Hurricane Agnes tornado outbreak
# Hurricane Agnes tornado outbreak

On June 18–19, 1972, Hurricane Agnes generated the third-deadliest tropical cyclone-related tornado outbreak in the United States since 1900, as well as the deadliest such tornado outbreak on record in Florida. The outbreak lasted about 38 hours and produced at least 19 confirmed tornadoes, though some studies suggested nearly a dozen more. Two of the tornadoes killed a total of seven people and were not classified as tornadoes by the National Weather Service until 2018. In Florida alone, the outbreak inflicted at least 135 injuries and destroyed 15 homes, while 119 homes received damage. Statewide, 217 trailers were destroyed and 196 trailers incurred damage. Additionally, six businesses were destroyed, while six others were damaged.

## Background

The interaction of baroclinic features with Agnes resulted in a tropical cyclone with "hybrid" characteristics, which increased the threat of strong tornadoes with longer path lengths. The outbreak became the most significant tornado outbreak associated with a tropical cyclone prior to landfall. The presence of strong wind shear surrounding the tropical cyclone facilitated the development of strong tornadoes, including the greatest number of tornadoes of at least F2 intensity within one 24-hour period in Florida. Studies have suggested strong wind shear in the lower levels of the atmosphere is a common feature during tornado outbreaks involving the outer rain bands of tropical cyclones near Florida. Additionally, in Florida cases, the favored region for tornado outbreaks is the northeastern quadrant of northward-moving tropical cyclones. Agnes represented one of these cases.

## Daily statistics

Impacts by region :

| Region | Locale | County | Deaths | Injuries | Damages |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| United States | Florida | Brevard | 0 | 34 | $3,580,000 |
| United States | Florida | Glades | 0 | 6 | $190,000 |
| United States | Florida | Hendry | 1 | 1 | $10,000 |
| United States | Florida | Highlands | 0 | 0 | $30 |
| United States | Florida | Lee | 0 | 0 | $125,000 |
| United States | Florida | Monroe | 0 | 40 | $752,000 |
| United States | Florida | Okeechobee | 6 | 46 | $525,000 |
| United States | Florida | Palm Beach | 0 | 0 | $10,000 |
| United States | Florida | Pasco | 0 | 4 | $20,000 |
| United States | Florida | Polk | 0 | 3 | $43,000 |
| United States | Florida | Volusia | 0 | 0 | $40,000 |
| United States | Georgia | Coffee | 0 | 0 | $250,000 |
| United States | Georgia | Pierce | 0 | 1 | $25,000 |
| Total | Total | Total | 7 | 135 | $5,570,030 |

## Confirmed tornadoes

Confirmed tornadoes by Fujita rating :

| FU | F0 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | F5 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 0 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | ≥ 19 |
| "FU" denotes unclassified but confirmed tornadoes. ||||||||

* A number of undocumented tornadoes were located in 2002, but were overlooked at the time of the outbreak. Most of these remain unlisted in official records. For example, a brief tornado struck Everglades City. Trees were prostrated and portions of a home were transported for 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km). Additionally, a brief tornado damaged a roof and two airplanes in the town of Immokalee. Power lines were downed in the area.

### June 18 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Sunday, June 18, 1972 :

| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| F2 | Big Coppitt Key | Monroe | Florida | 24°37′N 81°41′W﻿ / ﻿24.62°N 81.68°W﻿ / 24.62; -81.68﻿ (Big Coppitt Key (June 18, F2)) | 06:15–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | Tornado developed over Geiger Key, striking a trailer park. In all, 47–60 trailers and five homes incurred damage. One frame residence lost its roof. Losses totalled $342,000, and 40 people were injured. |
| F2 | Northern Key West | Monroe | Florida | 24°34′N 81°48′W﻿ / ﻿24.57°N 81.80°W﻿ / 24.57; -81.80﻿ (Key West (June 18, F2)) | 07:00–? | 1.5 miles (2.4 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | Buildings were destroyed and unroofed on the northern side of Key West. Losses amounted to $400,000. |
| F1 | Conch Key | Monroe | Florida | 24°50′N 80°53′W﻿ / ﻿24.83°N 80.88°W﻿ / 24.83; -80.88﻿ (Conch Key (June 18, F1)) | 10:00–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 20 yards (18 m) | The majority of the damage occurred on Conch Key, where the tornado damaged six trailers. Losses amounted to less than $10,000. |
| F1 | NNE of Basinger | Okeechobee | Florida | 27°26′N 81°00′W﻿ / ﻿27.43°N 81.00°W﻿ / 27.43; -81.00﻿ (Basinger (June 18, F1)) | 17:55–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This tornado first impacted U.S. Route 98 and damaged or destroyed six mobile homes. Two individuals received injuries, and damages totalled $20,000. |
| F2 | WSW of Sanibel | Lee | Florida | 26°26′N 82°07′W﻿ / ﻿26.43°N 82.12°W﻿ / 26.43; -82.12﻿ (Sanibel (June 18, F2)) | 18:38–? | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) | 30 yards (27 m) | Five stores and the roof of a church were destroyed. Losses reached $15,000. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | Pine Island | Lee | Florida | 26°37′N 82°10′W﻿ / ﻿26.62°N 82.17°W﻿ / 26.62; -82.17﻿ (Pine Island (June 18, F2)) | 19:00–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This tornado passed through three trailer parks and destroyed four mobile homes. Several stores received damage as well. Losses were near $50,000. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F1 | NNE of Lake Alfred | Polk | Florida | 28°08′N 81°42′W﻿ / ﻿28.13°N 81.70°W﻿ / 28.13; -81.70﻿ (Lake Alfred (June 18, F1)) | 19:10–? | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This tornado struck the Haines City Mobile Home Park and severely damaged six mobile homes. Three minor injuries occurred, and damages reached $43,000. |
| F2 | Lehigh Acres | Lee | Florida | 26°37′N 81°38′W﻿ / ﻿26.62°N 81.63°W﻿ / 26.62; -81.63﻿ (Lehigh Acres (June 18, F2)) | 20:00–? | 0.5 miles (0.80 km) | 20 yards (18 m) | A brief tornado struck and destroyed a television transmission tower. Damages were estimated at $60,000. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | S of Fort Denaud to WNW of LaBelle | Hendry, Glades | Florida | 26°44′N 81°28′W﻿ / ﻿26.73°N 81.47°W﻿ / 26.73; -81.47﻿ (Fort Denaud (June 18, F2)) | 21:13–? | 3.5 miles (5.6 km) | 150 yards (140 m) | 1 death – This strong tornado killed a woman as it wrecked her mobile home in Fort Denaud. It then damaged Citrus crops and destroyed 10 other mobile homes near LaBelle before dissipating. Losses totalled $200,000, and seven people were injured. |
| F1 | NNW of Crystal Springs | Pasco | Florida | 28°12′N 82°10′W﻿ / ﻿28.20°N 82.17°W﻿ / 28.20; -82.17﻿ (Crystal Springs (June 18, F1)) | 21:40–? | 0.2 miles (0.32 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This brief tornado damaged a number of homes. Four people were injured, one seriously, and damages reached $20,000. |
| F1 | E of Juno Ridge | Palm Beach | Florida | 26°48′N 80°06′W﻿ / ﻿26.80°N 80.10°W﻿ / 26.80; -80.10﻿ (Lake Park (June 18, F1)) | 22:40–? | 0.3 miles (0.48 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A short-lived tornado struck the Lost Tree Village Club in North Palm Beach, tossing a sailboat from a lake onto a roof. A home and tennis courts sustained damage as well. Losses reached $10,000. NCEI lists a touchdown west of Lake Park. |
| F0 | E of Brighton | Highlands | Florida | 27°13′N 80°58′W﻿ / ﻿27.22°N 80.97°W﻿ / 27.22; -80.97﻿ (Brighton (June 18, F0)) | 22:45–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 20 yards (18 m) | A brief tornado produced minimal damage near the intersection of the Kissimmee River and State Road 70. |
| F2 | Malabar | Brevard | Florida | 28°00′N 80°34′W﻿ / ﻿28.00°N 80.57°W﻿ / 28.00; -80.57﻿ (Malabar (June 18, F2)) | 23:46–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | A strong tornado affected the Century Oaks Trailer Park. In all, six mobile homes were destroyed, while nine others sustained damage. Homes were also damaged in Port Malabar. 11 people were injured, and estimated losses reached $100,000, primarily at the trailer park. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
| F2 | Taylor Creek to NE of Cypress Quarters | Okeechobee | Florida | 27°13′N 80°48′W﻿ / ﻿27.21°N 80.8°W﻿ / 27.21; -80.8﻿ (Taylor Creek (June 19, F2)) | 04:55–? | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) | 440 yards (400 m) | 6 deaths – This strong tornado destroyed or extensively damaged 50 mobile homes. Losses totalled $500,000, and 44 people were injured. |

### June 19 event

Confirmed tornadoes – Monday, June 19, 1972 :

| F# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max. width | Summary |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| F3 | Merritt Island | Brevard | Florida | 28°22′N 80°40′W﻿ / ﻿28.37°N 80.67°W﻿ / 28.37; -80.67﻿ (Merritt Island (June 19, F3)) | 06:35–? | 4.9 miles (7.9 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | One apartment building was destroyed as the tornado struck a subdivision. Two hangars and 44 airplanes were destroyed at the Merritt Island Airport; one of the planes was carried more than 1⁄4 mi (0.40 km) from the airport and crashed into a home. Damages totalled $3 million. Grazulis classified this tornado as an F2. |
| F3 | Cape Canaveral | Brevard | Florida | 28°28′N 80°32′W﻿ / ﻿28.47°N 80.53°W﻿ / 28.47; -80.53﻿ (Cape Canaveral (June 19, F3)) | 07:00–? | 3.8 miles (6.1 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | This intense tornado struck the town of Cape Canaveral. The tornado damaged or destroyed 22 homes and 30 mobile homes. The Coast Guard station at Port Canaveral reported a loss of $50,000. 100 residents were rendered homeless, and 23 people were injured. Overall losses exceeded $500,000. |
| F1 | ENE of Geneva | Volusia | Florida | 28°45′N 81°05′W﻿ / ﻿28.75°N 81.08°W﻿ / 28.75; -81.08﻿ (Geneva (June 19, F1)) | 08:50–? | 0.1 miles (0.16 km) | 100 yards (91 m) | A brief tornado destroyed five mobile homes. Losses reached $40,000. |
| F1 | SE of Homestead | Pierce | GA | 31°15′N 82°15′W﻿ / ﻿31.25°N 82.25°W﻿ / 31.25; -82.25﻿ (Homestead (June 19, F1)) | 18:55–? | 1 mile (1.6 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | A brief tornado tore a porch from a mobile home, damaged nearby structures, and felled trees. One person was injured south of Blackshear. |
| F2 | NE of Bethel | Coffee | GA | 31°29′N 82°52′W﻿ / ﻿31.48°N 82.87°W﻿ / 31.48; -82.87﻿ (Bethel (June 19, F2)) | 20:00–? | 2 miles (3.2 km) | 50 yards (46 m) | This tornado damaged a marble plant, roofing, and residences. Many trees were splintered or downed as well. Grazulis did not list this tornado as an F2 or stronger. |
