Belize'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)

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

Years within or near core

1892
1893
1898-2ts
1906
1916ts
1916br
1918
1921ts
1924ts
1931ts
1931m
1931tsbr
1932-2ts
1933
1933ts
1934
1938ts
1939ts
1940ts
1941
1942ts
1942
1943ts
1945ts
1945
1954ts
1955m
1960
1961
1961m
1969
1971-2ts
1974m
1974
1978m
1980ts
1993ts
1996tsbr
2000m
2001ts
2001m
2007brm
2008ts
2010-2ts
2010
2011ts
2012br
2016
2017tsbr
2020
2022
2024-2ts

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

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

Gilda
Janet
Abby
Anna
Hattie
Francelia
Edith
Laura
Carmen
Fifi
Greta
Hermine
Gert
Dolly
Keith
Chantal
Iris
Dean
Arthur
Alex
Matthew
Richard
Harvey
Ernesto
Earl
Franklin
Nana
Lisa
Nadine
Sara

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 30, 52.63%
H = 27, 47.37%

only 15.09% of all tropical systems in Belize are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

9 years 1907-1915

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.68 years

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

Once every 6.38 years. (24 hits)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 21.86 years. (7 hits)

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

100 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 November 17th Tropical Storm Sara hits Belize with 40 mph winds while moving northwest.

This area's hurricane history

1892 October 12th 95 mph from the east-southeast.
1893 July 6th 90 mph from the southeast north part of country.
1906 October 13th, 80 mph from the south-southeast.
1918 August 26th 80 mph from the east.
1931 September 10th a hurricane with 130 mph (HURDAT) just north of Belize City 132 mph for 10 min 1,500 killed.
1933 September 12th, 80 mph very north tip of country from the south-southeast.
1934 June 8th, 80 mph mainly offshore islands affected from the south.
1941 September 28th, 85 mph from the east-southeast south part of country.
1942 November 8th, 95 mph north part of country from the east.
1945 October 14th, 85 mph from the east.
1955 major Hurricane Janet levels the area September 27th, Corozal town destroyed with 160 mph winds (914mb). Belize damage shot. A U.S. Navy hurricane hunter aircraft, Snowcloud Five, was lost & never found.
1960 July 15th, 75 mph winds Hurricane Abby from the east south part of country. NHC Wallet
1961 July 24th Hurricane Anna 85 mph (HURDAT) moving west. NHC Wallet
1961 October 31st, Hurricane Hattie hits just south with 27.17 inHg pressure 150 mph winds with gusts to 200 mph a 13 foot storm surge kills 275 as 75% of area is destroyed. Newspaper article | Monument
1969 Hurricane Francelia hits southern Belize with 90 mph winds on September 4th from the east. NHC Wallet
1974 September 2nd Hurricane Carmen hits the north part of country with 125 mph winds from the east.
1974 September 19th, Hurricane Fifi 105 mph, 85 to 100kt winds reported here, tides 10 to 12 feet. NHC Wallet
1978 September 19th Hurricane Greta a borderline category 3 115 mph from the east-southeast. NHC Wallet
2000 October 1st, Hurricane Keith hit the areas of Belize City & north. Sat just offshore as a category 4 135 mph winds, then slowly moved southwest nearing Belize City with 75 mph winds. Heavy damage on offshore islands & heavy flooding as 2 feet of water was standing in Belize City. Chetumal Bay emptied out due to strong north winds. Keith dumped nearly 33 inches of rain in Belize City or half of the yearly total for the area. NHC report
2001, October 8th Hurricane Iris hits southern Belize with 145 mph winds causing major damage as nearly 95% of buildings were heavily damaged. A 14 foot storm surge was reported & 31 killed as 20 of those were people on a dive boat. This was a very small hurricane with hurricane force winds extending out around 20 miles from the center. Total damage estimated at 66 million. NHC report | Ham radio reports
2010 October 24th Hurricane Richard comes ashore just south of Belize City as a category 1 with 90 mph winds. Flooding in many homes in Belize City but no deaths. Radar animation | Model history | Recorded ham radio and calls to radio stations (12m).
2016 August 4th Hurricane Earl hits with 75 mph winds from the east causing moderate coastal damage. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | NHC report
2020 September 3rd Hurricane Nana hits just south Belize City with a tiny 75 mph wind field while moving west-southwest. Hit map
2022 November 2nd Hurricane Lisa makes a direct hit with 85 mph winds 986 mb while moving west. Belize radar (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)

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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......