History of Florida Hurricanes Since 1559 -10 Worst Florida Hurricanes

List of Florida Hurricanes By Year

1559 – In September 1559, a Florida hurricane ripped through the Gulf and destroyed the Spanish settlement in Pensacola. Conquistador, Tristan de Luna, had convinced the King of Spain that Pensacola was the best port in the “Indies”. The colony was abandoned two years later due to the storm’s destruction.

1599 – Storm surge, presumed to be a hurricane, swept over St. Augustine killing numerous residents, knocking down homes, and “Majesty’s supplies was destroyed”.

1622 – In September 1622 a hurricane in the Atlantic spread havoc across the Keys as well as shipping in the straits of Florida. One of the casualties of this storm was the Spanish galleon Atocha made famous when Mel Fisher of Key West discovered the wreckage worth millions.

1733 – A hurricane in 1733 drove a whole fleet of Spanish ships ashore near Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

1752 – On November 3, 1752, a hurricane struck Santa Rosa Island in the panhandle. It destroyed all the buildings on the island except the hospital.

1760 – An August 1760 hurricane hits Pensacola destroying a significant part of the stockade and tearing roofs from most of the houses.

1811– The hurricane of Oct. 5, 1811, in St. Augustine, was especially damaging. Hurricanes had struck here in 1804 and 1806 as well. Rebuilding the city was frustrating for the settlers. Many deserted or migrated inland.

1841 – Hurricane destroys Fort Dulany at Punta Rassa (near Ft. Myers) on the Caloosahatchee River.

1896 – Cedar Keys Hurricane of 1896, on September 29th, destroyed Atsena Otie, an island that was the original Cedar Key. The storm surge damaged the Eberhard Faber plant so badly it never reopened. The island is now a national refuge. This storm changed the economic base of Cedar Key from pencil-making to dependence on commercial fishing.

1906 – A hurricanes known then as the Florida Keys Hurricane struck on October 18th. The Keys were heavily damaged along with the southern tip of Florida.

1919 – The storm known as the Florida Keys 1919 Hurricane hit the islands running westward parallel to the Keys. It passed Key West on September 9, 1919 with winds reaching 150 MPH. A barometer reading of 27.37 was measured in the Dry Tortugas. Over 2 million dollars of damage was reported in Key West – One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1926 – On September 18, 1926, the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926, a hurricane with winds up to 150 miles per hour hit Dade County (Miami) killing 400 people. The first building codes in Florida were established after this storm. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1928 – 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane is named that because the September 17, 1928, storm killed an estimated 2500 people after Lake Okeechobee flooded the entire area. This hurricane was the deadliest ever in Florida and the second deadliest in the history of the United States. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1935 – On September 2, Labor Day, 1935, a hurricane raced through the Keys with winds near 185 MPH. Over 400 workmen on Flagler’s Overseas Railroad were killed. The railroad never ran again, selling the right of way to the state of Florida. This storm also impacted Ernest Hemingway and his writing. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1936 – On September 16, 1936, a Hurricane ripped through Palm Beach flooding Lake Okeechobee and killing almost 2000 people. This was the second deadly occurrence of flooding from the lake.

1945 – The Homestead hurricane was on September 15, 1945. Key Largo took a direct hit with winds in excess of 145 MPH. Four people died in the aftermath. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1947 – The Fort Lauderdale hurricane of September 16, 1947, was a category 4 hurricane at 145 MPH. As it hit Florida’s east coast and raced across the state. The storm killed 34 people and the damages on Florida’s west coast as it exited the state were significant with flooding in the Tampa Bay area. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1948 – A hurricane hit Florida near Boca Chica in the Florida Keys on September 21, 1948, as a Category 2 hurricane. It strengthened after leaving the Keys and hit on the peninsula of Florida near Chokoloskee the next day as a Category 3 hurricane with 145 MPH winds. Crop damages along with the destruction of several hundred buildings were a result. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1949 –The Delray Beach Hurricane hit the eastern coast of Florida with 130 MPH winds on August 26, 1949. Landing near Fort Worth the storm ripped north along the beaches from Miami to St. Augustine with hurricane-force winds. Estimates of over $50 million in damages were reported. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1950 – Hurricane Easy was the first of two major hurricanes of the 1950 Atlantic hurricane season. Landing on September 5, 1950, the storm lingered causing waves to batter Florida’s coastline from Homosassa to the panhandle.

1950 – Little known Hurricane King landed in downtown Miami on October 18, 1950. This was the sixth hurricane of the season, and it was the worst Florida hurricane of the year with 130 MPH wind. There were 4 fatalities. Damages included crops throughout south Florida which were estimated at $30 million. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

When did the weather service start naming hurricanes?

In 1953 the weather service started giving hurricanes female names. That ended in 1978 when both male and female names began being used. The history of naming hurricanes is here.

1960 – Hurricane Donna hit the Florida peninsula on September 10, 1960, after going through the Keys near Naples. 13 deaths and $300 million in damages were attributed to Donna. Winds were estimated at 145 MPH. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1965 – Hurricane Betsy was a destructive hurricane that brought widespread damage to areas of Florida. Landing on September 8,1965, Betsy battered the Florida Keys and the storm surge flooded the islands, and cut off the only road through the Keys. It was the strongest storm in the Keys since 1926.

1966 – Hurricane Alma landed on June 13, 1966, near Apalachee Bay (St. Marks, Florida). It was a rare (and the most recent) June major hurricane in the 1966 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the earliest Atlantic hurricane in the calendar year in fifteen years, as well as the earliest continental U.S. hurricane strike since 1825.

1975 – Hurricane Eloise was the most destructive hurricane of the 1975 Atlantic hurricane season landing on September 24, 1975, near Panama City, Florida.

1992 – Hurricane Andrew pounded south Florida on August 24, 1992. As the worst Florida hurricane to date, 65,000 homes were destroyed and 175,000 people were left homeless in this Category 5 storm. Only four category 5 hurricanes had hit the continental United States at this time. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

1995 – Hurricane Elena blasted the western Florida Gulf Coast for days beginning on August 30, 1985. Elena was unique in the fact it never made landfall in Florida but remained just offshore battering the coastline with wind and waves. The flooding, erosion, and beaches were hammered by this lingering Category 3 hurricane.

1995 – Hurricane Opal was a large and powerful Category 4 hurricane that caused severe and extensive damage along the northern Florida Gulf Coast after landing on October 4 1995, near Pensacola with 120 MPH winds.

2004 – Hurricane Charley hit the Dry Tortugas on August 13, 2004. Charley was epic for two reasons. It was one of four hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004. It was also the only hurricane to hit at the same time in Florida as another hurricane was also in Florida – Bonnie was in north Florida. Many people in southwest Florida were caught unprepared for Charley because it was forecast to hit Tampa on the west coast of Florida, but it intensified and turned into southwest Florida. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

2004 – On September 5, 2004, Hurricane Frances struck Hutchinson Island near Stuart, Florida with 120 MPH winds. The storm cut across central Florida in a path that will be mimicked three weeks later by Hurricane Jeanne.

2004 – Hurricane Ivan battered the panhandle near Pensacola on September 16, 2004. What made Ivan so dangerous was the breadth of the wind field and its slow-moving path. It was a category 3 but was degraded to a 2.

2004 – Hurricane Jeanne struck Hutchinson Island near Stuart, Florida on September 25, 2004. Jeanne was the fourth hurricane of the year. Jeanne also landed within a couple of miles of where Hurricane Frances hit less than three weeks earlier. Winds achieved 120 MPH as the storm raced across Florida.

2005 – Hurricane Dennis pummels the panhandle with Category 3 winds on July 10, 2005. Landing on Santa Rosa Island in the panhandle, the storm was narrow and fast. The damage was moderated in Florida as compared to Ivan the previous year which also landed in the panhandle.

2005 – Hurricane Wilma landed at Cape Romano Florida near the Everglades. Based on barometric pressure, Hurricane Wilma was the most intense hurricane in the Atlantic basin at the time. Wilma took an unusual path. Originating in the Caribbean, Wilma headed west to the Yucatan Peninsula and then abruptly turned northeast landing in Florida on October 24th with 120 mile per hour winds.

2017 – Hurricane Irma struck with a vengeance on September 10, 2017. The eye of the storm passed over Cudjoe Key midway between Key West and Marathon, Florida. Many of the homes along Route 1 in the Keys were totally destroyed by Category 3 winds. Piles of debris lined the highway a year later indicating the problem of getting damages out of the Keys. After the Keys Irma landed on Marco Island. At one point there were 7.7 million homes and businesses without power. There were 84 deaths attributed to Irma. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

2018 – On October 10, 2018, hurricane Michael attacked the panhandle with winds of 160 MPH. The storm was the worst Florida hurricane to hit the contiguous United States since 1992 (Andrew). The estimated damage to the United States was $25 billion. The beach towns along Rt. 98 got the brunt of the storm. Mexico Beach sustained nearly 80 percent of the total destruction of beachfront homes along with major roads being washed out. As of our visit in late 2023, Mexico Beach is still rebuilding. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

2022 – Hurricane Ian hit Florida on September 28, 2022. This was the worst Florida hurricane since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that came through the Keys. Ian was a direct hit on the island of Cayo Costa just north of Ft. Myers. The storm surge literally wiped out much of Ft. Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. Winds were deadly at 150 miles per hour, but the main damage came from the surge of water that hit the barrier islands. Ian is the costliest hurricane in Florida’s history of hurricanes with damages estimated at the time of this writing at $50 billion. Deaths from Ian were 148 at this time. One of the Strongest in the History of Hurricanes in Florida

As of June, 2024, our latest visit to Ft. Myers Beach and Sanibel Island found ongoing construction that is less than 50% complete. Residents are still struggling to recover from Ian. By July 2025, another visit found Fort Myers Beach recovering to the point of accepting a good tourist base, new resorts and up to 70% of repairs made to remaining structures.

2023 – On August 30, 2023, Hurricane Idalia reached the “Big Bend” area of Florida near Steinhatchee and Keaton Beach, as a category 3 hurricane.

The storm originated in the Caribbean and became a hurricane moving north on August 26th. The storm stayed offshore of Florida’s west coast for several days. It reaches category 4 briefly prior to the direct hit in the Big Bend.

Flooding and some wind damage occurred in Florida from the Venice area northward. Most damage came as a result of flooding rather than winds. We traveled through the impacted area two weeks later and found significant wind damage in and around Perry, Florida. 

We will update the post when more detailed information about damage valuation is available.

2024 update on Hurricane Idalia. So far, damages from Hurricane Idalia are 12 fatalities and $3.6 billion to structure, agriculture and businesses.

2024 – On August 5, 2024, tropical storm Debby became a Category 1 hurricane in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It made landfall just north of Steinhatchee in the Big Bend area. As of 8-6-2024, there have been 4 fatalities attributed to Debby. This was a slow-moving moving wide storm that set rainfall records along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Information will be updated as it is received.

2024 – On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene raced up the west coast of Florida. One of the fastest-moving and widest storms in history, Helene made landfall near Perry, Florida. Perry was a target of both Debby and Idalia. As Helene traversed the United States the hurricane cost over 250 people their lives. 19 deaths have been attributed to Helene in Florida, with over 125 deaths in North Carolina. More deaths in Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee. Based upon preliminary statements from government officials, this hurricane could be one of the biggest ever to hit Florida and the United States.

Governor Ron Desantis stated, “damage appeared to be greater than the combined damage from Debby and Idlalia”. More to follow up as the information becomes available. If you have followed Florida Travel Blog, you know that we live in Clearwater Beach and had a difficult time watching our beach being destroyed by the water surge Helene produced of over 6.5 feet. Other areas had more than 10 feet of storm surge.

Damage estimates prior to Hurricane Milton, two weeks later, were 47.5 billion dollars.

2024 – On Wednesday night, October 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton, two weeks after Hurricane Helene, made landfall at Siesta Key, a barrier island of south Sarasota. Milton slammed the southwest coast of Florida with winds in excess of 100 miles per hour at 8:30 PM.

On its way across the Gulf of Mexico from the Yucatan Peninsula, Milton became a Category 5 hurricane with winds over 180 miles per hour (one of only 9 hurricanes in history to reach 180 MPH). In addition, Milton’s pressure dropped to 897 millibars, the lowest observed in any Atlantic hurricane since Wilma in 2005. That also ranks as the fifth-lowest pressure on record for any Atlantic hurricane.

Fortunately, before reaching the Florida coast, Milton lost some strength as it approached Florida and landed as a Category 3 storm. Damages as of this writing included storm surges in excess of 6 feet throughout southwest Florida.

Milton set many records for rainfall as it crossed Florida with from 10 to 19 inches of rain in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties. St. Petersburg, Florida reported almost 18 inches of rain. Winds reached 105 miles per hour at Egmont Channel (mouth of Tampa Bay). There have been 23 deaths to date, with 5 of them as a result of tornadoes.

One of the most devastating factors of Hurricane Milton was the 126 tornados it spawned as it raced across Florida.

Damages from Milton are estimated to be 35 to 55 billion dollars in early reports.

Hurricanes 2025

As of this update on September 10, 2025, Florida has not suffered a hurricane.