Andros Island, Bahamas' History with Tropical Systems

Current Weather | Andros Island Major Hurricane History Video

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Andros Island most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 7th and September 13th

Years within or near core

1871br
1873ts
1876tsbr
1881tsbr
1883
1885ts
1886
1888m
1888tsbr
1891
1893brm
1893ts
1895ts
1895
1896m
1897ts
1898ts
1898tsbr
1899m
1899
1901tsbr
1903
1908
1909ts
1909brm
1916ts
1919m
1926-2m
1926ts
1926brm
1927ts
1928
1928m
1929m
1932ts
1932brm
1933br
1933-2m
1933tsbr
1935
1935brm
1936ts
1937ts
1937tsbr
1938ts
1941m
1941tsbr
1945m
1945
1946ts
1946tsbr
1947ts
1949m
1950br
1952
1958ts
1960m
1964br
1965m
1966
1970tsbr
1973tsbr
1974subts
1979
1984tsbr
1987tsbr
1992m
1994tsbr
1996br
1998br
1999brm
2001
2004br
2005ts
2007ts
2012tsbr
2016m
2017brm
2020
2020tsbr

82 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (I storms most likely to impact the area)

King
Fox
Janice
Donna
Cleo
Betsy
Inez
Greta
Gilda
David
Isadore
Floyd
Andrew
Gordon
Lili
Georges
Floyd
Michelle
Frances
Rita
Noel
Isaac
Matthew
Irma
Dorian
Isaias
Eta

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 36, 43.90%
H = 46, 56.10%

only 30% of all tropical systems in Andros Island are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

6 years 1909-1916 & 1919-1926

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 1.87 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for a few hours)

Once every 4.78 years. (32 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 9 years. (17 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

122 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

2 years overdue

Last affected by

2020 November 8th Tropical storm Eta brushes to the west with 65 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1883 September 9th 105 mph just east from the south-southeast while hitting Nassau 106 killed in Bahamas.
1886 August 22nd, 90 mph just west from the south.
1888 August 15th, 115 mph from the east-southeast north side of island. Hit map
1891 August 24th 95 mph from the east-southeast.
1895 October 22nd, 105 mph just west from the south-southwest.
1896 September 5th, 115 mph from the south-southeast just east. Hit map
1899 August 12th 120 mph just passes west side of island.
1899 October 30th 85 mph from the south.
1903 September 10th, 85 mph winds from the southeast just north.
1908 October 1st 80 mph from the south-southeast.
1919 September 9th 125 mph from the east-southeast.
1926 July 26th a 130 mph hurricane passes just north while moving northwest. All bridges totally destroyed and most stone dwellings destroyed.
1926 September 17th, 145 mph from the east-southeast.
1928 August 6th 85 mph from the southeast.
1928 September 16th, 155 mph from the east-southeast.
1929 September 26th a 140 mph hurricane devastates the island. There was a 12 to 18 foot foot storm surge & in combination with wind lasted almost 48 hrs with a forward speed of 3 mph.It was said that the water from the East coast & West coast merged during the storm. Many deaths were reported on Andros, and according to press reports 142 deaths. Damage shot #1 | Damage shot #2 | Damage shot #3 | Damage shot #4 | Damage shot #5 | Courtesy of Wayne Neely's "The major hurricanes to affect the Bahamas" | NOAA 1929
1933 September 3rd, 140 mph from the east-southeast passes just north.
1933 October 5th, 140 mph just northwest from the southwest.
1935 September 1st, 85 mph from the east.
1941 October 6th 115 mph winds from the east.
1945 September 15th 125 mph at south end estimated 25 dead on Andros Island. Barometer measured at 28.70 inHg on the 26th at 7 am.
1945 October 13th 75 mph from the south-southwest.
1949 August 26th, 130 mph north tip from the east-southeast.
1952 October 25th, Hurricane Fox 85 mph (HURDAT) hits coming from the south west in late October.
1960 September 9th Hurricane Donna passes approximately 55 to 60 miles to the south while headed to Florida with 150 mph winds. More here
1965 September 7th, Hurricane Betsy 125 mph grazes the north end as a category 3 from the northeast, area has gusts to 126 mph in early September. Betsy page
1966 October 2nd Hurricane Inez just northwest of here with 85 mph winds. NHC wallet
1979 September 3rd Hurricane David hits in early September as a category 1 with 75 mph winds on its way towards brushing Florida. Crops badly damaged island wide, no deaths but some roof damage & power lines down on the island. The storm destroyed many homes in the North Andros. (Wayne Neely) NHC wallet
1992 August 23rd Hurricane Andrew clips north part of island with 145 mph winds 932 mb. NHC Addendum
2001 November 5th, Hurricane Michelle hits direct with 80 mph winds moving quickly to the northeast some gusts to 100 mph pressure 28.84 inHg. Some roof damage and a lot of flooding. Newspaper article | Ham radio news reports | NHC report
2016 October 6th, Hurricane Matthew hits north part of island with 140 mph winds while moving northwest causing heavy damage. The east coast of Andros Island also experienced large and powerful surge and wave action, causing inundation that completely destroyed many coastal structures and infrastructure. Radar courtesy of Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School | Damage shot | Matthew timeline | NHC final report
2020 August 1st Hurricane Isaias passes directly over north part of island moving northwest with 80 mph winds. Radar loop

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......