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List of Florida hurricanes

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.

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

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

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 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

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, Cleo, Isbell, and Betsy hit the state as major 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, David, and Opal hit the state as major 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 1961–79;[10][11] therefore, the maximum sustained winds in the Atlantic hurricane database (HURDAT) are utilized for storms from 1961–79,[5] since this period has not been reanalyzed by the Atlantic hurricane reanalysis project.[13]

StormSaffir-Simpson
Category
Date of landfallYearLandfall Intensity
(in knots)
Landfall Location
Great Middle Florida3August 231851100Panama City
Unnamed3August 171871100Jupiter Island
Unnamed3October 71873100Captiva Island
Unnamed3October 31877100Panama City
Unnamed3September 101882110Navarre
Unnamed3August 161888110Miami Beach
Unnamed3October 91894105Panama City
Unnamed3September 291896110Cedar Key
Unnamed3October 181906105Marathon
Unnamed3October 111909100Marathon
Unnamed3September 291917100Fort Walton Beach
Unnamed4September 101919130Dry Tortugas
Great Miami4September 18–201926125Palmetto Bay
Okeechobee4September 171928125Palm Beach
Unnamed3September 41933110Jupiter
Labor Day5September 31935160Craig Key
Unnamed3October 181944105Dry Tortugas
Unnamed4September 151945115North Key Largo
Unnamed4September 171947115Fort Lauderdale
Unnamed4September 21–221948115Near Chokoloskee
Unnamed4August 261949115Lake Worth
Easy3September 51950105Near Cedar Key
King4October 181950115Coconut Grove, Miami
Donna4September 101960125Conch Key
Dora3September 101964115St. Augustine
Betsy3September 81965110Tavernier
Eloise3September 231975110Near Destin
Elena3September 21985100Gulfport, MS*
Andrew5August 241992145Near Homestead
Opal3October 41995100Pensacola Beach
Charley4August 132004130Cayo Costa
Frances2September 42004105Near Sewall's Point, FL*
Ivan3September 162004105Near Gulf Shores, AL*
Jeanne3September 262004105Hutchinson Island
Dennis3July 102005105Santa Rosa Island
Wilma3October 242005105Cape Romano
Irma4September 102017115Cudjoe Key
Michael5October 102018140Mexico Beach

Strongest and most intense

Most intense landfalling tropical cyclones in the U.S. state of Florida
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
RankSystemSeasonLandfall pressure
1"Labor Day"1935892 mbar (hPa)
2Michael2018919 mbar (hPa)
3Andrew1992922 mbar (hPa)
4"Florida Keys"1919927 mbar (hPa)
5"Okeechobee"1928929 mbar (hPa)
6"Great Miami"1926930 mbar (hPa)
Donna1960
8Irma2017931 mbar (hPa)
9"Florida"1948940 mbar (hPa)
10Charley2004941 mbar (hPa)
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane
Research Division[10]
Strongest landfalling tropical cyclones in the U.S. state of Floridadagger
RankHurricaneSeasonWind speed
mphkm/h
1"Labor Day"1935185295
2Andrew1992165270
3Michael2018160260
4"Florida Keys"1919150240
Charley2004
6"Miami"1926145230
"Okeechobee"1928
Donna1960
9"Homestead"1945130215
"Fort Lauderdale"1947
"Florida"1948
"Florida"1949
King1950
Irma2017
Source: HURDAT,[5] Hurricane
Research Division,[10] NHC[14]
daggerStrength refers to maximum sustained wind speed
upon striking land.

Monthly statistics

Deadliest storms

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

NameYearNumber of deaths
"Okeechobee"19282,500+
Unnamed17812,000
Unnamed16221,090
UnnamedAround 1553700
Unnamed1553<700
Unnamed1559500
Unnamed1559~500
Unnamed1683496
"Labor Day"1935409
"Miami"1926372
Unnamed1563284
"Florida Keys"1906240

See also

  • Atlantic hurricane

  • Climate of Florida

  • List of Atlantic hurricane seasons

  • List of Atlantic hurricanes

  • List of wettest known tropical cyclones in Florida

  • Tropical cyclone

References

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Citation Linkwww.nhc.noaa.govEric 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.
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[13]
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