 There are more tornadoes per square mile in Florida than any other state . However , these tornadoes tend to be much weaker and short @-@ lived than in other states like the Midwest or Great Plains . Strong tornadoes do occasionally form in Florida , usually in conjunctions with a cold frontal passage in the winter or spring . A total of 42 people died in February 1998 from the deadliest such tornado outbreak in Central Florida , which occurred during the nighttime hours . 
