List of Florida hurricanes

The List of Florida hurricanes encompasses approximately 500 tropical or subtropical cyclones that 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 occurring prior to the start of hurricane hunter flights in 1943. Additionally, the cumulative impact from the storms totaled over US$216.1 billion in damage (2018 dollars), primarily from Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Michael in the 1992, 2017, and 2018 seasons respectively.

Hurricane Michael making landfall on the Florida Panhandle in October 2018. Michael became the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the state since Hurricane Andrew.

Climatology

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 mi (139 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 Sea, 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 mbar (hPa; 26.35 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

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

Surf from 1947 Fort Lauderdale hurricane

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 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 hurricane to hit the state during the period was the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, which is the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.[8] Several other major hurricanes struck the state during the period, including the 1926 Miami hurricane, the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane, and several Category 4 hurricanes in the period 1945–50.

1950–1974

Radar image of Hurricane Donna making landfall

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.[8][5] Additionally, Hurricanes Easy, King, and Betsy hit the state as major hurricanes.

1975–1999

Hurricane Andrew approaching South Florida in August 1992.

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 and Opal hit the state as major hurricanes.

2000–present

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 2017, 79 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, cyclones in Florida over that period resulted in over $123 billion in damage, most of it from Hurricane Irma.[9] 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, hurricanes Charley, Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma, and Irma made landfall on the state as major hurricanes.

Florida major hurricanes

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. A * indicates that the storm made landfall outside Florida, but brought winds of major hurricane intensity to part of the state. Storms are listed since 1851, which is the official start of the Atlantic hurricane database.[5][10] Originally, hurricanes were classified by central pressure in the 20th century;[10][11] however, modern practices quantify storm intensities by maximum sustained winds.[12] United States hurricanes are still classified by central pressure from 1966–79;[10][11] therefore, the maximum sustained winds in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) are utilized for storms from 1966–79,[5] since this period has not been reanalyzed by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project.[13]

Florida major hurricanes[5][10]

Storm	Saffir-Simpson Category	Date of landfall	Year	Landfall Intensity (in knots)	Landfall Location
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
Unnamed	3	October 11	1909	100	Marathon
Unnamed	3	September 29	1917	100	Fort Walton Beach
Unnamed	4	September 10	1919	130	Dry Tortugas
Great Miami	4	September 18–20	1926	125	Palmetto Bay
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
Unnamed	4	September 17	1947	115	Fort Lauderdale
Unnamed	4	September 21–22	1948	115	Near Chokoloskee
Unnamed	4	August 26	1949	115	Lake Worth
Easy	3	September 5	1950	105	Near Cedar Key
King	4	October 18	1950	115	Coconut Grove, Miami
Donna	4	September 10	1960	125	Conch Key
Betsy	3	September 8	1965	100	Tavernier
Eloise	3	September 23	1975	110	Near Destin
Elena	3	September 2	1985	100	Gulfport, MS*
Andrew	5	August 24	1992	145	Near Homestead
Opal	3	October 4	1995	100	Pensacola Beach
Charley	4	August 13	2004	130	Cayo Costa
Ivan	3	September 16	2004	105	Near Gulf Shores, AL*
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
Michael	5	October 10	2018	140	Panama City, Mexico Beach
Category at landfall

Strongest and most intense

Most intense landfalling tropical cyclones in the U.S. state of Florida Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank	System	Season	Landfall 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	"Florida"	1948	940 mbar (hPa)
10	Charley	2004	941 mbar (hPa)
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane Research Division[10]

Strongest landfalling tropical cyclones in the U.S. state of Florida
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
6	"Miami"	1926	145	230
	"Okeechobee"	1928
	Donna	1960
9	"Homestead"	1945	130	215
	"Fort Lauderdale"	1947
	"Florida"	1948
	"Florida"	1949
	King	1950
	Irma	2017
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane Research Division,[10] NHC[14]
Strength refers to maximum sustained wind speed upon striking land.

Monthly statistics

Number of recorded major hurricanes affecting Florida[5][10]

Month	Number of major hurricanes
July	1
August	6
September	19
October	10

Deadliest storms

The following is a list of hurricanes with 100 or more deaths in the state.

Hurricanes causing 100 or more deaths in Florida[6][7][8]

Name	Year	Number of deaths
"Okeechobee"	1928	2,500+
Unnamed	1781	2,000
Unnamed	1622	1,090
Unnamed	Around 1553	700
Unnamed	1553	<700
Unnamed	1559	500
Unnamed	1559	~500
Unnamed	1683	496
"Labor Day"	1935	409
"Miami"	1926	372
Unnamed	1563	284
"Florida Keys"	1906	240

See also

• Atlantic hurricane
• Climate of Florida
• Atlantic hurricane season
• List of Atlantic hurricanes
• List of wettest known tropical cyclones in Florida
• Tropical cyclone

References

1. "After Great Hurricane of 1896". World Digital Library. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
2. National Hurricane Center (2006). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Retrieved 2007-10-02.
3. Richard Gray (1933). "Florida Hurricanes" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
4. Michael Chenoweth and Cary J. Mock (2013). "Hurricane "Amanda": Rediscovery of a Forgotten U.S. Civil War Florida Hurricane". Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 94 (11): 1735–42. Bibcode:2013BAMS...94.1735C. doi:10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00171.1.
5. "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. May 25, 2020.
6. Edward N. Rappaport; Jose Fernandez-Partagas & Jack Beven (1997). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996: Cyclones that may have caused 25+ deaths". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
7. Edward N. Rappaport & Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1995). "Notes to the Appendices for the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
8. Eric S. Blake; Edward N. Rappaport; Christopher W. Landsea (April 2007). "THE DEADLIEST, COSTLIEST, AND MOST INTENSE UNITED STATES TROPICAL CYCLONES FROM 1851 TO 2006 (AND OTHER FREQUENTLY REQUESTED HURRICANE FACTS)" (PDF). p. 26. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
9. Weather Underground. "Hurricane and Tropical Cyclones" (web).
10. National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (May 2018). "Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description)". AOML. Miami, Florida: United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Oceanic & Atmospheric Research. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
11. Jarrell, Jerry D.; et al. (1992). "Hurricane Experience Levels of Coastal County Populations from Texas to Maine" (PDF). NOAA. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
12. Landsea, Christopher W.; et al. (2007). "A Reanalysis of the 1911–20 Atlantic Hurricane Database" (PDF). Journal of Climate. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
13. Atlantic Hurricane Research Division. "Re-Analysis Project". Retrieved 2008-11-22.
14. John L. Beven II; Robbie Berg; Andrew Hagen (April 19, 2019). Hurricane Michael (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved April 19, 2019.

Further reading

• Barnes, Jay (2007). Florida's Hurricane History. Chapel Hill Press. ISBN 978-0-8078-3068-0.