List of Florida hurricanes

Hurricane Milton, the most recent landfalling Florida major hurricane on October 9, 2024

Approximately 500 tropical and subtropical cyclones have affected the state of Florida. More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state,[1] and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a known storm impacting the state. Collectively, cyclones that hit the region have resulted in over 10,000 deaths, most of which occurred prior to the start of hurricane hunter flights in 1943. Additionally, the cumulative impact from the storms has totalled over US$300 billion in damage (2018 dollars), primarily from Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian in the 1992, 2017, and 2022 seasons respectively. The most recent hurricane to make landfall in Florida was Hurricane Milton in 2024.

Climatology

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Tropical cyclones have affected Florida in every month of the year with the exceptions of January and March. Nearly one-third of the cyclones affected the state in September, and nearly three-fourths of the storms affected the state between August and October, which coincides with the peak of the hurricane season. Portions of the coastline have return periods, or expected time between hurricane strikes of a certain intensity or category within 86 miles (138 km) of a given location, that are the lowest in the country. Monroe County was struck by 26 hurricanes since 1926, which is the greatest total for any county in the United States.[2]

In a Monthly Weather Review paper published in 1934, the U.S. Weather Bureau recognized Key West and Pensacola as the most hurricane-prone cities in the state; Key West experiences both storms developing from the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean, while Pensacola has received hurricanes crossing the state as well as storms recurving in the northern Gulf of Mexico.[3] Officially, the earliest hurricane to affect the state was Hurricane Alma on June 9; the latest, Hurricane Kate on November 21. However, preliminary reanalysis suggests that a hurricane may have struck the state on May 28, 1863.[4]

The strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall on the state was the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, which crossed the Florida Keys with a pressure of 892 millibars (26.3 inHg); it is also the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States. Out of the ten most intense landfalling United States hurricanes, four struck Florida at peak strength.[5]

Pre-1900

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Tracks of hurricanes over Florida from 1851 to 1899
Main article: List of Florida hurricanes (pre-1900)

The first recorded tropical cyclone to affect the area that is now the state of Florida occurred in 1523, when two ships and their crews were lost along the western coastline.[6] A total 159 hurricanes are known to have affected the state prior to 1900, which collectively resulted in at least 6,504 fatalities and monetary damage of over $102 million (2017 dollars). Additionally, at least 109 boats or ships were either driven ashore, wrecked, or damaged due to the storms. A strong hurricane struck northwest Florida on May 28, 1863, and is the earliest landfall during the year known in the US, pending reanalysis.[4]

Information is sparse for earlier years due to limitations in tropical cyclone observation, though as coastlines became more populated, more data became available. The National Hurricane Center recognizes the uncertainty in both the death tolls and the dates of the events.[7]

1900–1949

[edit]
Surf from 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane
Main article: List of Florida hurricanes (1900–1949)

In the period between 1900 and 1949, 108 tropical cyclones affected the state, which collectively resulted in about $4.5 billion (2017 dollars) in damage. Additionally, tropical cyclones in Florida were directly responsible for about 3,500 fatalities during the period, most of which were from the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, the state's deadliest. The 1947 season was the year with the most tropical cyclones affecting the state, with a total of six systems. The 1905, 1908, 1913, 1927, 1931, 1942, and 1943 seasons were the only years during the period in which a storm did not affect the state.

The strongest and most intense hurricane to hit the state during the period was the 1935 Labor Day hurricane—the most potent on record to strike the United States. Collectively this storm, the 1926 Miami hurricane, and the 1928 hurricane claimed over 3,280 lives in Florida—three of the state's 10 most impactful weather events in the 20th century; the 1926 storm would be the costliest of any U.S. hurricane in present monetary values. Hurricane-wise the 1940s were among the state's busiest decades: 11 hurricanes struck from 1944–50, six of them major, including five Category 4 hurricanes in South Florida. Storms catalyzed development: impacts radiated societally, broaching complex political and socioeconomic topics, and lead to epochal changes such as flood control and building codes.[8][9]

1950–1974

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Radar image of Hurricane Donna making landfall
Main article: List of Florida hurricanes (1950–1974)

In the period between 1950 and 1974, 85 tropical or subtropical cyclones impacted the state, which collectively resulted in about $7 billion (2017 dollars) in damage, primarily from Hurricanes Donna and Dora. Additionally, the storms were directly responsible for 93 fatalities and indirectly for 23 more deaths. Several tropical cyclones produced over 20 inches (500 mm) of rainfall in the state, including Hurricane Easy, which is the highest total during the period. The 1969 season was the year with the most tropical cyclones affecting the state, with a total of eight systems. The 1954 and 1967 seasons were the only years during the period in which a storm did not affect the state.

The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Hurricane Donna, which was the tenth strongest hurricane on record to strike the contiguous United States.[10][5] Additionally, Hurricanes Easy, King, Betsy, and Alma hit or otherwise impacted the state as major hurricanes.

1975–1999

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Hurricane Andrew approaching South Florida in August 1992.
Main article: List of Florida hurricanes (1975–1999)

In the period between 1975 and 1999, 83 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected the state, which collectively resulted in $51.1 billion (2017 dollars) in damage, primarily from Hurricane Andrew, and 54 direct casualties. The 1985 season was the year with the most tropical cyclones affecting the state, with a total of eight systems. Every year included at least one tropical cyclone affecting the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Hurricane Andrew, which was one of only four Category 5 hurricanes to strike the United States. Andrew, at the time, was the costliest tropical cyclone in United States history and remains the seventh-costliest. Additionally, Hurricanes Eloise, Elena, and Opal hit or otherwise impacted the state as major hurricanes.

2000–present

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A beachfront home in Navarre Beach largely destroyed by Hurricane Dennis
Main article: List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)

The period from 2000 to the present has been marked by several devastating North Atlantic hurricanes; as of 2023, 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, cyclones in Florida over that period resulted in over $236 billion in damage, most of it from Hurricane Ian.[11] Additionally, tropical cyclones in Florida were responsible for 145 direct fatalities and at least 92 indirect ones during the period. Eight cyclones affected the state in both 2004 and 2005, which were the years with the most tropical cyclones impacting the state. Every year included at least one tropical cyclone affecting the state.

The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Michael, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 5 hurricane–the strongest since Andrew in 1992. Additionally, nine other hurricanes made landfall on or otherwise impacted the state as major hurricanes.

Florida major hurricanes

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The following major hurricanes either made landfall on the state as a major hurricane or brought winds of Category 3 status to the state. For storms that made landfall twice or more, the maximum sustained wind speed, and hence the highest Saffir–Simpson category, at the strongest landfall is listed. Only landfalls at major hurricane intensity are listed. Storms are listed since 1851, which is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane database.[5][9] Originally, hurricanes were classified by central pressure in the 20th century;[9][12] however, modern practices quantify storm intensities by maximum sustained winds.[13] United States hurricanes are still classified by central pressure from 1971 to 1979;[9][14] therefore, the maximum sustained winds in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) are utilized for storms from 1971 to 1979,[5] since this period has not been reanalyzed by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project.[15]

Florida major hurricanes
Storm Saffir–Simpson
Category† 		Date of Impact
(UTC) 		Year Landfall Winds
(in Knots) 		Location(s)
Great Middle Florida 3 August 23 1851 100 Panama City
Unnamed 3 August 17 1871 100 Jupiter Island
Unnamed 3 October 7 1873 100 Captiva Island
Unnamed 3 October 3 1877 100 Panama City
Unnamed 3 September 10 1882 110 Navarre
Unnamed 3 August 16 1888 110 Miami Beach
Unnamed 3 October 9 1894 105 Panama City
Unnamed 3 September 29 1896 110 Cedar Key
Unnamed 3 October 18 1906 105 Marathon
East of Flamingo
Unnamed 3 October 11 1909 100 Marathon
Unnamed 3 September 29 1917 100 Fort Walton Beach
Florida Keys 4 September 10 1919 130 Dry Tortugas
Tampa Bay 3 October 25 1921 100 Tarpon Springs
Great Miami 4 September 18–20 1926 125 Perrine
Okeechobee 4 September 17 1928 125 Palm Beach
Unnamed 3 September 4 1933 110 Jupiter
Labor Day 5 September 3 1935 160 Craig Key
Unnamed 3 October 18 1944 105 Dry Tortugas
Unnamed 4 September 15 1945 115 North Key Largo
Homestead
Unnamed 4 September 17 1947 115 Fort Lauderdale
Unnamed 4 September 21–22 1948 115 East of Chokoloskee
Unnamed 4 August 26 1949 115 Lake Worth
Easy 3 September 5 1950 105 East of Cedar Key
King 4 October 18 1950 115 Miami
Donna 4 September 10 1960 125 Conch Key
Betsy 3 September 8 1965 100 Tavernier
Alma 3 June 8 1966 100 Dry Tortugas*
Eloise 3 September 23 1975 110 East of Destin
Elena 3 September 2 1985 100 Gulfport, Mississippi*
Andrew 5 August 24 1992 145 Elliott Key
North of Homestead
Opal 3 October 4 1995 100 Pensacola Beach
Charley 4 August 13 2004 130 Cayo Costa
Punta Gorda
Ivan 3 September 16 2004 105 West of Gulf Shores, Alabama*
Jeanne 3 September 26 2004 105 Hutchinson Island
Dennis 3 July 10 2005 105 Santa Rosa Island
Wilma 3 October 24 2005 105 Cape Romano
Irma 4 September 10 2017 115 Cudjoe Key
Marco Island
Michael 5 October 10 2018 140 West of Mexico Beach
Ian 4 September 28 2022 130 Cayo Costa
Punta Gorda
Idalia 3 August 30 2023 100 Keaton Beach
Helene 4 September 27 2024 120 Perry
Milton 3 October 9 2024 105 Siesta Key
References: HURDAT, HRD[5][9]
† Peak winds in the state.
* Storm hit at a lower category or did not make landfall in Florida, but brought major hurricane winds there.

Strongest and most intense

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Strongest landfalling tropical cyclones
in the U.S. state of Florida† as of 2024
Rank Hurricane Season Wind speed
mph km/h
1 "Labor Day" 1935 185 295
2 Andrew 1992 165 270
3 Michael 2018 160 260
4 "Florida Keys" 1919 150 240
Charley 2004
Ian 2022
7 "Great Miami" 1926 145 230
"Okeechobee" 1928
Donna 1960
10 Helene 2024 140 220
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane
Research Division,[9] NHC[16]
†Strength refers to maximum sustained wind speed
upon striking land.


Most intense landfalling tropical cyclones
in the U.S. state of Florida† as of 2024
Rank System Season Barometric pressure
1 "Labor Day" 1935 892 mbar (hPa)
2 Michael 2018 919 mbar (hPa)
3 Andrew 1992 922 mbar (hPa)
4 "Florida Keys" 1919 927 mbar (hPa)
5 "Okeechobee" 1928 929 mbar (hPa)
6 "Great Miami" 1926 930 mbar (hPa)
Donna 1960
8 Irma 2017 931 mbar (hPa)
9 Helene 2024 938 mbar (hPa)
10 "Florida" 1948 940 mbar (hPa)
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane
Research Division[9]
†Intensity refers to central barometric pressure upon striking land.

"Great", "Major", and "Extreme" hurricanes

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Saffir–Simpson rankings were first given United States storms in 1975,[13] first on the basis of pressure,[12] then on wind alone since the late 1980s;[13] informal metrics gauged intensity prior. A "Great Hurricane" contained winds over 125 mph (200 km/h) and spread hurricane-force winds over 100 miles (160 km) or more, while also generating high tides, low pressures, extensive damage, and casualties.[17] A "Major" hurricane featured winds of 101–135 mph (163–217 km/h) and a barometric pressure of 28.01 to 29.00 inHg (949 to 982 mb); an "Extreme" hurricane, at least 136 mph (219 km/h)—roughly equivalent to Category 4 on the Saffir–Simpson scale—and 28.00 inHg (948 mb) or lower.[18] From 1880–1960 the following Florida storms have been classified as "Great", "Major", and/or "Extreme":

"Great", "Major", and "Extreme" hurricanes in Florida
Storm Year Date Area Affected "Great"? "Major"? "Extreme"? SS Rank
in Florida[9] 		Miscellany Ref.
Unnamed 1559 September 19 Pensacola No Yes No — One of first hurricanes noted in Florida [19]
Unnamed 1736 — Pensacola No Yes No — Pensacola in ruins [19]
Unnamed 1759 September South Florida No Yes No — Spawned high tides between Dry Tortugas and present-day Miami [19]
Unnamed 1766 October 22 St. Marks No Yes No — 12-foot-high (3.7 m) tide reported [19]
Unnamed 1843 September 13 Port St. Joe No Yes No 3–4 Port St. Joe leveled [20]
Unnamed 1846 October 11–12 Key West–Cedar Key No No Yes 4–5 Key West wrecked [21]
Unnamed 1848 September 25 Tampa Bay (Fort Brooke) No Yes No 4–5 Caused 15-foot (4.6 m) tide at Tampa [21]
Unnamed 1873 October 5–7 Punta Rassa No Yes No 3 Produced 14-foot (4.3 m) tide [22]
Unnamed 1880 August 28–29 Vero Beach, Palm Beach–
Lake Okeechobee 		Yes Yes No 2 Badly hit areas near present Palm Beach County [23]
Unnamed 1886 June 21 Apalachicola–Tallahassee Yes Yes No 2 Generated extreme tides [23]
Unnamed 1893 October 11–13 Coastal east peninsula No Yes No † Gusted to 90 mph (140 km/h) and did high tides [24]
Unnamed 1894 September 25 Southwest Florida No Yes No 2 Dropped 12+1⁄2 in (320 mm) of rain in a day [25]
Unnamed 1896 September 28–29 Cedar Key No Yes No 3 Claimed over 100 lives [26]
Unnamed 1906 September 27 Pensacola* No Yes No 2 Worst storm to hit Pensacola in 170 years [26]
Unnamed 1906 October 18 Southeast Florida No Yes No 3 Killed about 200 people [26]
Unnamed 1909 October 11 Florida Keys No Yes No 3 110 mph (180 km/h) clocked before anemometer disabled [27]
Unnamed 1910 October 17–18 Key West
Fort Myers 		Yes Yes No 2 Caused much flooding [28]
Unnamed 1916 July 5 Pensacola* No Yes No † Gusted to 104 mph (167 km/h) [26]
Unnamed 1916 October 18 Pensacola No Yes No 2 Gusted to 114 mph (183 km/h) [26]
Unnamed 1917 September 28–29 Pensacola No Yes No 3 Gusted to 103 mph (166 km/h) [26]
Florida Keys 1919 September 9–10 Key West Yes Yes No 4 Strongest on record at Key West [29]
Tampa Bay 1921 October 25 West central peninsula No Yes No 3 Most severe storm to hit Tampa in 70 years [30]
Great Miami 1926 September 18–20 Miami
Pensacola 		Yes No Yes 4 Highest wind and lowest pressure sampled till then in U.S. [31]
Okeechobee 1928 September 16–17 Palm Beach–Lake Okeechobee,
Florida peninsula 		Yes No Yes 4 Led to Herbert Hoover Dike [32]
Unnamed 1929 September 27–October 1 Key Largo
Northwest Florida 		No No Yes 3 Gusted to 150 mph (240 km/h) [33]
Unnamed 1933 September 3–4 Jupiter, Florida peninsula No Yes No 3 Gusted to 125 mph (201 km/h) [33]
Labor Day 1935 September 2–4 Florida Keys
Taylor County 		Yes No Yes 5 Gusts calculated at over 200 mph (320 km/h) [33]
Unnamed 1944 October 18–19 Key West–Tampa–Jacksonville
(peninsula) 		Yes Yes No 3 Eye passage for five hours at some spots [34]
Unnamed 1945 September 15–16 Homestead, far South Florida No No Yes 4 Resembled 1992's Andrew [35]
Unnamed 1947 September 17–18 Fort Lauderdale/Pompano–
Fort Myers 		Yes No Yes 4 Gusted to 155 mph (249 km/h) [36]
Unnamed 1948 September 22 Southern peninsula No Yes No 4 Gusted to 122 mph (196 km/h) [37]
Unnamed 1949 August 26–27 Delray Beach, South Florida No No Yes 4 Resembled 1928 hurricane [38]
Easy 1950 September 3–7 Cedar Key, peninsula No Yes No 3 Was wettest tropical cyclone on record in Florida [37][39]
King 1950 October 17–18 Miami, peninsula No Yes No 4 Delivered downtown Miami's strongest winds since 1926 [40]
† Indicates winds were below hurricane force in the state.
* Storm made landfall outside Florida.

Monthly statistics

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Number of recorded major hurricanes affecting Florida[5][9]
Month Number of major hurricanes
June
1
July
1
August
6
September
20
October
10

Deadliest storms

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Hurricanes causing 100 or more deaths in Florida[41]
Name Year Number of deaths


"Okeechobee" 1928 2,500+
Unnamed 1781 2,000
Unnamed 1622 1,090
Unnamed 1553 700
Unnamed 1553 <700
Unnamed 1559 500
Unnamed 1559 ~500
Unnamed 1683 496
"Labor Day" 1935 409
"Great Miami" 1926 372
Unnamed 1563 284
"Florida Keys" 1906 211+
Ian 2022 150

See also

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Effects of hurricanes in Florida.

References

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  1. ^ "After Great Hurricane of 1896". World Digital Library. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  2. ^ National Hurricane Center (2006). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Archived from the original on 2007-12-13. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
  3. ^ Gray 1933.
  4. ^ a b Chenoweth & Mock 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2024. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ Rappaport, Edward N.; Fernández-Partagás, José (22 April 1997) [28 May 1995]. "Appendix 2: Cyclones that may have 25+ deaths". The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996 (Technical report). National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center. NWS NHC 47. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  7. ^ Rappaport, Edward N.; Fernández-Partagás, José (22 April 1997) [28 May 1995]. "Notes to the Appendices". The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492–1996 (Technical report). National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center. NWS NHC 47. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  8. ^ Multiple sources:
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i Landsea, Chris; Anderson, Craig; Bredemeyer, William; et al. (January 2022). Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description). Re-Analysis Project (Report). Miami, Florida: Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Blake, Rappaport & Landsea 2007, p. 10.
  11. ^ Weather Underground. "Hurricane and Tropical Cyclones" (web). Archived from the original on 2015-05-27. Retrieved 2015-05-27.
  12. ^ a b Jarrell, Herbert & Mayfield 1992, pp. 2, 4.
  13. ^ a b c Landsea et al. 2007, p. 2139.
  14. ^ Jarrell, Herbert & Mayfield 1992, p. 4.
  15. ^ Atlantic Hurricane Research Division. "Re-Analysis Project". Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
  16. ^ John L. Beven II; Robbie Berg; Andrew Hagen (April 19, 2019). Hurricane Michael (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  17. ^ Doehring, Duedall & Williams 1994, p. 54.
  18. ^ Dunn & Miller 1960, pp. 291, 301.
  19. ^ a b c d Dunn & Miller 1960, p. 297.
  20. ^ Multiple sources:
  21. ^ a b Multiple sources:
  22. ^ Multiple sources:
  23. ^ a b Multiple sources:
  24. ^ Multiple sources:
  25. ^ Multiple sources:
  26. ^ a b c d e f Dunn & Miller 1960, p. 299.
  27. ^ Multiple sources:
  28. ^ Multiple sources:
  29. ^ Multiple sources:
  30. ^ Multiple sources:
  31. ^ Multiple sources:
  32. ^ Multiple sources:
  33. ^ a b c Multiple sources:
  34. ^ Multiple sources:
  35. ^ Multiple sources:
  36. ^ Multiple sources:
  37. ^ a b Dunn & Miller 1960, p. 301.
  38. ^ Multiple sources:
  39. ^ Roth, David M. (May 12, 2022). "Tropical Cyclone Rainfall in Florida". Tropical Cyclone Rainfall. United States Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 6, 2023. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  40. ^ Multiple sources:
  41. ^ Multiple sources:

Further reading

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