Apalachicola, Florida's History with Tropical Systems

(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)

Apalachicola most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 24th and August 30th

Years within or near core

1871ts
1873br
1875ts
1877m
1878ts
1879tsbr
1880bd
1882brm
1885-2ts
1886br
1886
1887br
1894
1896
1898
1899
1901-2ts
1903
1906ts
1907-2ts
1915
1924br
1926m
1928ts
1929
1932tsbr
1936
1937ts
1939bd
1941
1953tsbr
1953ts
1953br
1957ts
1964bdtsbr
1965tsbr
1966
1970ts
1972
1975brm
1985m
1985
1994ts
1995ts
1995br
1995m
1996ts
1998
2004ts
2005brm
2006tsbr
2008tsbd
2009ts
2012ts
2016
2017tsbdbr
2018ts
2018m
2019ts
2021-2ts
2022bdtsbr
2023brm
2024-2mbr

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

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

Alice
Florence
Dora
Alma
Becky
Agnes
Eloise
Kate
Elena
Kate
Beryl
Allison
Erin
Opal
Josephine
Earl
Bonnie
Alberto
Dennis
Fay
Claudette
Debby
Hermine
Irma
Alberto
Michael
Nestor
Fred
Mindy
Nicole
Idalia
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 34, 50%
H = 34, 50%

only 16.18% of all tropical systems in Apalachicola are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

11 years 1942-1952

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.25 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (usually within 40 miles to include small hurricanes)

Once every 6.65 years. (23 hits) State stats

Average years between direct major hurricane hits. (major hurricane in advisory upon passage)

Once every 25.5 years. (6 hits)

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

96 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2026

This is just a statistical average & does not mean the area will be affected by that year.

Last affected by

2024 October 9th Major Hurricane Milton brushes well to the south by 189 miles at closest approach with 120 mph winds while moving east-northeast

This area's hurricane history

1877 October 3rd a 115 mph, 12 foot storm surge from the south-southwest. Hit map
1880 August 31st, 80 mph from the east-southeast.
1886 June 30th heavy flooding reported with 95 mph hurricane from the south-southwest with wind gusts over 100 mph here.
1894 October 8th heavy damage over a wide area 105 mph.
1898 an 11 foot storm surge 12 killed, August 3rd category 1 80 mph.
1896 June 30th, 95 mph from the south-southwest.
1898 August 2nd 80 mph from the southeast.
1899 August 1st, 95 mph from the south-southeast.
1903 a category 1, 90 mph causes a 10 foot storm surge September 13th from the southeast.
1915 21 killed from a category 1 80 mph from the south, September 4, lowest pressure at landfall 29.32 inHg. At Carrabelle the tide was 7 feet above normal.
1926 September 20th 125 mph winds to the southwest from the east-southeast.
1929 September 30th 75 mph from the south-southeast pressure 28.80 inHg winds gust to 100 mph.
1936 July 31st, 90 mph from the southeast passes just south.
1939 August 12th, 80 mph from the east-southeast.
1941 October 7th, 85 mph from the south-southeast passes just east.
1966 Alma 6 killed 90 mph, gusts to 125 mph 4 to 10 foot storm surge June 9th from the south-southeast.
1972 June 19th Hurricane Agnes hits with 75 mph winds & gusts to 95 mph from the south with a 5 foot storm surge, 9 killed in Florida. Sustained 55 mph from east 6:12 am.
1985 Hurricane Elena September 1st to south while moving towards west-northwest at Franklin County, winds 125 mph, causing roof damage, several twisters around the area & many trees down, tides 10 feet above normal. Apalachicola water height above mean sea level was 9 feet at Route 98 bridge, debris just below road at 11 feet. Damage survey
1985 November 21st, 95 mph from the south-southwest Hurricane Kate hits just west sustained winds measured here near 60 mph gusts to 85 mph a few regional gusts to 100 mph. Richard Horodner
1995 October 4th, 125 mph to the west even though Opal was 100 miles to the west this area still got a 6.6 foot storm surge and hurricane force winds for a few hours. FEMA declaration map
1998 September 3rd Hurricane Earl passes northwest from the west-southwest with 75 mph winds.
2016 September 1st Hurricane Hermine passes just east with 80 mph winds while moving northeast. Radar animation
2018 October 10th Hurricane Michael passes just west by 32 miles with 160 mph winds while moving northeast. 25 deaths in Florida. Total devastation to north in Mexico Beach, an additional 80 structures were reported destroyed in Franklin County. Coastal highways were also washed out in several places between Panama City and Alligator Point as per NHC report. 8.22 foot storm tide, gusts to category 1, sustained just below hurricane strength. Wind band map | NWS Tallahassee final reports | Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) NHC report

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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......