Brunswick, Georgia'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)

Brunswick most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 14th and September 20th

Years within or near core

1871ts
1871-2bdts
1873ts
1873bdtsbr
1874
1877bdts
1878
1878bdts
1880bdts
1881bdbr
1882bdts
1884ts
1885
1885-3bdts
1888bdts
1888bdbr
1893tsbd
1893-2m
1894
1894bdbr
1896bdm
1898m
1906ts
1907bdts
1910tsbr
1912-14ts
1915ts
1916ts
1919ts
1924bdts
1926bdts
1928bd
1932bdts
1935bdtsbr
1938bdts
1944ts
1945bdts
1947xts
1947ts
1947br
1949bdbr
1950bdbr
1952br
1960bdts
1964tsbd
1964br
1966bdts
1968ts
1976subtsbd
1976subts
1979
1981tsbr
1984tsbr
2002tsbr
2005ts
2006tsbdbr
2012ts
2013bdts
2016-3bdts
2016br
2017tsbd
2019brm
2020bdts
2021bdts
2022-2br
2023bdbr
2024bdts
2024-2bdbr

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

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

Able
Brenda
Abby
Cleo
Dora
Alma
David
Dennis
Isadore
Kyle
Tammy
Alberto
Beryl
Andrea
Colin
Hermine
Julia
Matthew
Irma
Dorian
Eta
Elsa
Ian
Nicole
Idalia
Debby
Helene
Milton

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 52, 67.53%
H = 25, 32.47%

only 8.70% of all tropical systems in Brunswick are major hurricanes

Longest gap between storms

17 years 1985-2001

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 1.99 years

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

Once every 15.3 years. (10 hits) State stats

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

Once every 38.25 years. (4 hits)

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

102 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 10th Hurricane Milton brushes well to the south by 166 miles with 85 mph winds while moving east-northeast offshore.

This area's hurricane history

1874 September 28th a hurricane from the southwest stays just offshore with 80 mph winds
1878 September 12th just offshore moving north 90 mph
1885 August 25th just offshore 105 mph while moving north
1893 August 28th a major hurricane with 115 mph winds just east kills over 2,000 in georgia & carolinas, reports had dowtown Brunswick under 6 ft of water for up to 12 hrs, offshore of St. Simons Island by 25-30 statute miles. Wind field map | Hit map
1893 October 13th just off shore while moving north-northeast 120 mph winds. Hit map
1894 September 26th, 85 mph just east while moving north.
1896 September 29th a category 2 115 mph passes over while moving northeast. Winds caused very heavy damage in the area. Hit map
1898 October 2nd, 130 mph from the southeast a hurricane leaves area under 4 feet of water October 2nd scores drowned. Winds estimated at 135 mph and data suggest that this hurricane may have been the size of Hugo (1989 South Carolina). Calm reported at 11 am, Dunn and Miller reported 179 killed in coastal Georgia and 16 foot storm surge in downtown Brunswick. Hit map
1928 September 18th from the south just inland with 90 mph winds
1979 September 4th David to east by 30 miles with 85 mph winds minor damage. NHC Wallet

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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......