Barbados' 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)

Barbados most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 17th and August 23rd

Years within or near core

1872ts
1876tsbr
1877tsbr
1886
1887tsbr
1887-3ts
1891brm
1894
1895ts
1898
1898ts
1905tsbr
1918ts
1918tsbr
1943ts
1944ts
1949ts
1954ts
1955m
1960ts
1963
1966ts
1970tsbr
1978tsbr
1979brm
1980m
1986tsbr
1987tsbr
1995tsbr
1995
2001tsbr
2001ts
2002tsbr
2004brm
2007br
2010ts
2012ts
2013tsbr
2016ts
2017ts
2018ts
2019ts
2019tsbr
2021
2023ts
2024mbr

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

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

Hazel
Janet
Edith
Abby
Judith
Dorothy
Cora
David
Allen
Danielle
Emily
Iris
Marilyn
Chantal
Jerry
Lili
Ivan
Dean
Tomas
Ernesto
Chantal
Matthew
Harvey
Kirk
Dorian
Karen
Elsa
Bret
Beryl

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 35, 72.92%
H = 13, 27.08%

only 12.5% of all tropical systems in Barbados are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

24 years 1919-1942

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 3.19 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits.

Once every 19.13 years. (8 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 76.5 years. (2 hits)

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

94 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

Before the end of 2027

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

Last affected by

2024 July 1st, Hurricane Beryl passes 87 miles to the south with 130 mph winds while moving west-northwest.

This area's hurricane history

1780 the Great Hurricane on October 10th & 11th killed 4,326 in Barbados.
1886 August 16th, 90 mph from the east passes just north.
1894 October 11th, 80 mph from the southeast just south.
1898 September 10th, 95 mph hundreds killed from the east.
1955 September 22nd Hurricane Janet hits with 120 mph winds from the east killing 35 people & damaging 1,800 homes, 20,000 homeless.
1963 September 24th Hurricane Edith just north with 90 mph winds from the east-southeast. NHC Wallet
1980 August 4th Hurricane Allen hit as a category 3 with 125 mph winds from the east, causing heavy damage. The southern half of the eyewall passed over northern Barbados. Reports of roughly 6 million dollars in damage. The passage of Hurricane Allen destroyed 28 fishing vessels (including 5 moses boats) and damaged another 92. Picture
1995 Hurricane Marilyn to north September 14th with 75 mph winds from the southeast minor damage. Disaster survey report
2021 Elsa becomes a hurricane passes over on July 2nd with 75 mph winds while strengthening. At least 743 roofs were damaged by Elsa & power out over most of the island immediately after passage. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | NHC wind swath | 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......