The List of Florida hurricanes encompasses 470 tropical or subtropical cyclones that affected the state of Florida. More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state, and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a storm impacting the state. Collectively, cyclones caused a death toll of 10,270 people in the region, most of which occurring prior to the start of Hurricane Hunters flights in 1943. Additionally, the cumulative impact from the storms totaled over $110 billion in damage (2007 USD), primarily from Hurricane Andrew and hurricanes in the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Climatology
| Most intense landfalling tropical cyclones in the United States Intensity is measured solely by central pressure | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | System | Season | Landfall pressure |
| 1 | "Labor Day" | 1935 | 892 mbar (hPa) |
| 2 | Camille | 1969 | 900 mbar (hPa) |
| Yutu | 2018 | ||
| 4 | Michael | 2018 | 919 mbar (hPa) |
| 5 | Katrina | 2005 | 920 mbar (hPa) |
| Maria | 2017 | ||
| 7 | Andrew | 1992 | 922 mbar (hPa) |
| 8 | "Indianola" | 1886 | 925 mbar (hPa) |
| 9 | "Guam" | 1900 | 926 mbar (hPa) |
| 10 | "Florida Keys" | 1919 | 927 mbar (hPa) |
| Source: HURDAT,[1] Hurricane Research Division[2] | |||
Tropical cyclones have affected Florida in every month of the year but 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 the lowest return period, or the frequency at which a certain intensity or category of hurricane can be expected within 86 miles (139 km) of a given location, in the country. Monroe County was struck by 26 hurricanes since 1926, which is the greatest total for any county in the United States.[3]
In a Monthly Weather Review paper published in 1933, 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.[4] The earliest storm to affect the state was the 1952 Groundhog Day Tropical Storm, and the latest storm to impact the state was a hurricane making landfall on December 1, 1925.
The strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall on the state was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which crossed the Florida Keys with a pressure of 892 mbar (hPa); 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 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 at least $93.5 million (2007 USD). Additionally, at least 109 boats or ships were either driven ashore, wrecked, or damaged due to the storms.
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 time period between 1900 and 1949, 104 tropical cyclones affected the state, which collectively resulted in about $3.86 billion (2007 USD) in damage. Additionally, tropical cyclones in Florida were directly responsible for about 3,500 fatalities during the time 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 6 systems. The 1905, 1908, 1913, 1918, 1927, 1931, 1942, and 1943 seasons were the only years during the time period in which a storm did not affect the state.
The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which is the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.[8] Several other major hurricanes struck the state during the time period, including the 1926 Miami Hurricane, the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, and a cyclone each in 1933 and 1949 which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane.
1950—1974
In the period between 1950 and 1974, 84 tropical or subtropical cyclones impacted the state, which collectively resulted in about $5.8 billion (2007 USD) 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 time period. The 1969 season was the year with the most tropical cyclones affecting the state, with a total of 8 systems. The 1954 and 1967 seasons were the only years during the time period in which a storm did not affect the state.
The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Donna, which was the 8th strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States.[8] Additionally, Hurricanes Easy, King, Isbell, and Betsy hit the state as major hurricanes.
1975—1999
In the period between 1975 and 1999, 78 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected the state, which collectively resulted in $42 billion (2007 USD) 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 8 systems. Every year included at least 1 tropical cyclone affecting the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the time period was Hurricane Andrew, which was one of only three Category 5 hurricanes to strike the United States. Andrew, at the time, was the costliest tropical cyclone in United States history. Additionally, Hurricanes Eloise and Hurricane Opal hit the state as major hurricanes.
2000—Present
The period from 2000 to the present was marked by several devastating hurricanes; as of 2007, 45 tropical or subtropical cyclones have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, cyclones in Florida over that time period resulted in over $60 billion in damage (2007 USD). Additionally, tropical cyclones in Florida were responsible for 68 direct fatalities and at least 77 indirect ones during the period. Eight cyclones affected the state in both 2003 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 time period was Hurricane Charley, which was the strongest hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Andrew. Additionally, Hurricanes Jeanne, Dennis, and Wilma made landfall on the state as major hurricanes.
Climatological statistics
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Deadliest storms
The following is a list of hurricanes with 100 or more deaths in the state.
| 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 | 141 |
See also
- Climate of Florida
- List of Atlantic hurricane seasons
- List of notable Atlantic hurricanes
- Tropical cyclone
References
- ^ "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)" (Database). United States National Hurricane Center. April 5, 2023. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ 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 July 20, 2024.
- ^ National Hurricane Center (2006). "Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Richard Gray (1933). "Florida Hurricanes" (PDF). U.S. Weather Bureau. Retrieved 2007-10-02.
- ^ Hurricane Research Division (2007). "Atlantic hurricane best track". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
- ^ Edward N. Rappaport, Jose Fernandez-Partagas, and Jack Beven (1997). "The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996: Cyclones that may have caused 25+ deaths". NOAA. Retrieved 2007-01-02.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Edward N. Rappaport and Jose Fernandez-Partagas (1995). "Notes to the Appendices for the Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ a b 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). pp. p. 26. Retrieved 2007-04-11.
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